Every month, The Writers Read series graces the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library with monthly readings by established local authors with polished deliveries ... but not this time. This month’s reading (March 9, 7pm) is an open mic for grades 7-12. With young writers reading their work for the first time, there’s youthful energy in the crowd. Each new voice that emerges gives the evening a sense of discovery. A sense of possibility. Don’t underestimate these young voices. They are closer than adults to their creative core, and they have the secret weapon of being too young to know they should be nervous reading to a large crowd. Eau Claire Poet Laureate Bruce Taylor tried the youth open mic concept last year – giving any area teenager up to five minutes to read original poetry or prose. He was so pleased with the results that he wanted to make it an annual event. Last year’s event felt like a triumph. A triumph that called for an annual encore.