Fiction from a soapbox

In a pleasant contrast to the noisy construction, fiction writers shared their work aloud to passersby in Washington Square Park yesterday as part of Electric Literature's "The Soap Box Reading Series."

Despite the beautiful weather, the crowd was slim. Yet Molly Auerbach, an Electric Literature editorialist, said the size of the crowd doesn't mater.

"Most people think we're crazy, but for the four people that we might attract in one day, it's definitely worth it to spread the word," she said.

Among the readers was Stephen O'Connor, an accomplished writer who has penned stories for publications such as The New Yorker and Electric Literature itself.

"I'm getting a chance to do two things I've always dreamed of doing," O'Connor said. "One of them is to read to music, and the other is to proclaim my work in the midst of people who are much too busy to pay any attention to me."

He added: "I sort of feel like a crazy man, which is something I've always aspired to be."

CJ Hauser was also among the readers who shared their own work. Houser frequently reads at different venues across the city.

"I think it's great to read in a public forum," she said. "It's great that Electric Literature really cares about having everyone exposed to fiction."