The Altar Collective editor-in-chief Katie Hogan reads a poem at TAC's October open mic night. (Eliza Moley/Neon Tommy)

The backyard of the Altar Collective house was full of people who gathered to support their friends and peers as they took to the dramatically-lit makeshift stage. I was struck by the talent of the artists standing before me—ranging in age from 18 to 24. Poets and musicians ascended the stage in succession and delivered an impressive array of original work with passion and enthusiasm.  

For the past 17 months, Editor-in-Chief and Founder Katie Hogan and her staff have been giving an incredible gift to the community with these monthly open mic gatherings, which Art Director Yo-Yo Lin calls “a safe space for people to express themselves.” 

Poetry/fiction editor, John Rockwell, believes that “[Altar] is a literary collective, technically, but it’s mostly concerned with people who are willing to put their insides outside for people to see.” 

The staff of The Altar Collective certainly exemplify this description. "Each staff member has a specific duty," says Hogan. "Rockwell is an editor, Yo-Yo Lin is the art director, Michael Matchen is the music director and William Akin is our social media guru."

The group is able to successfully run The Altar Collective because they share a commitment to and enthusiasm for the endeavor. "Not only am I working with my good friends," says Hogan, "but I'm working with people who are beyond talented, people who I really respect." 

SEE ALSO: Beyond Baroque: The Modern Epicenter of Literary L.A.

“Stay vulnerable,” is the overarching tagline for the press, a perfect compliment to the raw, supportive nature of their monthly open mic gatherings. 

In addition to stressing the emotional component of writing, TAC places emphasis on the traditional, non-digital format of poetry and prose. Hogan and her staff believe that “there’s something so special about the isolated experience of having a book in your hands. You’re taking the words in because you don’t have five tabs open.” 

When asked about USC's role in the Altar Collective's identity, Hogan reasoned, "I wouldn't say TAC is college-centric, since we attract a larger audience that reaches beyond college, but the USC community has certainly inspired us and strengthened TAC." 

Founding a literary collective in Los Angeles is no easy feat. “It’s hard to get something started in L.A.,” says Rockwell.  Hogan, too, refers to L.A.’s literary scene as “a little bit more underground.” But one welcome consequence of the underdeveloped nature of the scene is “that the people who actually attend the open mic, they’re interested in literature…because they actually have to work hard.”

Artwork by Marissa Borovay, featured in Volume VI (The Altar Collective/Facebook)

Hogan touches upon an important distinction between literary L.A. and the rest of the city. “Everything else in L.A. is full of ego, but the writing scene…is relatively humble. And people are doing it because they want to do it.” 

Although the collective is L.A.-based, Hogan cites other cities as contributors to its inception. “I went to Columbia University for a creative writing workshop over the summer about five years ago…I was in a very vulnerable spot when I went to New York, and just meeting a bunch of people in a workshop setting…really helped.”

"And then when I was in San Francisco, I was starting to look for more literary things," Hogan continues, "and I stumbled upon this reading series called Quiet Lightning, which absolutely changed my life. It inspired Altar Collective a lot."   

For writers and literary enthusiasts searching for haunts in L.A., Hogan recommends local independent bookstores, such as The Last Bookstore or Skylight Books, as well as Da Poetry Lounge on Fairfax. You could pay any of these institutions a visit, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a youthful and dynamic energy that matches that of the Altar Collective. 

Contact Staff Reporter Eliza Moley here or find her on Twitter here.