Storytelling hubs for the first-timers

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To speak or not to speak? Most amateur poets ask themselves this when deciding whether to recite their poems for an audience. If you've been looking for small yet supportive spaces to cheer you on, we found some for you.

Aahang
Aahang's aim is to be "a hub for art and artistes". Like its Urdu name, which means melody, the community started by poet and motivational speaker Mazahir Jaffri aims to promote the love for classic literature, including ghazals and shayaris. Prior to Aahang's inception last year, Jaffri had launched Markaz-e-Adab foundation, also known as the Mushaira community.
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Instagram: @aahang__

The White Crow Poetry
This is a personal pick. The White Crow poetry (TWC), named after the Bandra east bookstore it is held at, regularly hosts poetry events every month. Actor Rahul Saini started hosting the poetry open mics alongside book discussions for Paperbacktalks, his three-year-old book club. TWC, he says, is a space for first-time poets to find their voice. It started with six to seven people, and now has 30 to 40 poets taking the stage. "It's all about taking the plunge and believing in yourself," he shares. Paperback Talks is hosting the second edition of its literature fest at KMC, Fort, on February 10.
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Instagram: @thewhitecrowbooksandcoffee

Poets of Mumbai
For Poets of Mumbai, poetry and storytelling are inclusive spaces of communication, especially for shy writers and poets who are introverts. Ravi Vishwakarma founded the Delhi-based community in Noida, and Ripal Dixit took it up in Mumbai in 2017. She tells us that poets and storytellers from all age groups and walks of life have started sharing their words: "From ten-year-olds to retired senior citizens, there's no age barrier to sharing their stories and narratives."
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Instagram: @poetsofmumbai

Awaken Words
This platform started as a storytelling community in 2019 to make open mics accessible to all. Nisar Shaikh, the founder, says he soon realised that the popular platforms are intimidating spaces for new poets and writers, from both a financial and supportive standpoint. Awaken Words aimed to showcase poets who couldn't afford to pay for a slot.
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Instagram: @awakenwordsofficial