The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center Writers Forum meets every first Tuesday of each month at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, 225 E. Stenger St., in San Benito.

The meetings are open to anyone interested in writing. Participants have ten minutes each to read whatever they choose. Some regularly bring guitars and perform original music and once or twice flamenco dancers have taken a turn.

For further information, call Co-Facilitators Beto Conde at (956) 350-3905 or Mel Hinojosa (956) at 244-3713.

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The Writers Forum’s start came one night in May 2001 outside the Lopez Bar in San Benito. Beto Conde, Joe Premont (Pérez), Cosmé Rodriguez, and Gene Novogrodsky had just participated in the Lopez Bar Annual Reading and wanted more. Once a year was not enough, and they decided the answer was to form their own writers group. So they did, the next month, June. Over the years, more than fifty people have participated and the monthly meetings have an attendance somewhere around fifteen. Beto, Rosa, Joe, and Gene are still members (even though there is no official membership).

The meetings are relaxed and informal. First time participants are often surprised by the enthusiastic reception of their work and the lack of negative criticism. The feedback they receive is universally positive and constructive and comes as part of the fellowship and conversation that often keep members well past the meeting’s formal end.

If you’ve been writing away and would like to have a place to try out your work, this may be it. Come to the next meeting and see.

The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center is named for the renowned Mexican accordion player known as the Father of Tex-Mex Conjunto — a popular form of music in South Texas. The San Benito center promotes Latino heritage through art, music, theater, film, dance and literary programs. (956) 361-0110.

The video shows Don Narciso and bajo sexto player Ramiro Cavazos of Los Donneños in an unnamed bar.