On Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. five authors will have the opportunity to give short readings from their published works during “Author’s Night” at the Boston Public Library. The event, to be held in the library’s Commonwealth Salon, is being hosted by the Boston Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association. The event, which will showcase five members of the chapter, is free and open to the public.

Events like this, hosted across the country by writing centers, libraries, university creative writing programs, and writers unions and associations, give writers

• A reason to step away momentarily from the isolation of the laptop
• An avenue for introducing their work to the public
• An opportunity to practice speaking before an audience

If you’re in the Boston area, and love the written word, check out the event May 5^th. If you’re outside of Boston there’s bound to be a writing institution planning a similar kind of event.