Open Mind Seattle
Open Mind Seattle is an open mic for ideas. Writers share original essays on people, politics, philosophy, psychology, and more. Each reader gets up to 10 minutes and then engages with the audience. Big ideas without the pretension. Come listen, question, and be part of a community of open minds.
Essayists Wanted
If you have an essay ready to go or even an idea about something, we'd love to hear about it. Fill out this form and we'll get in touch.
Writing Guidelines
Open Mind Seattle is attempting to create a space where ideas are explored collectively as a social activity.We host essayists willing to share and engage in dialogue about politics, philosophy, psychology, society, technology, ethics, etc... We aren't looking for narrative works or poetry; we want pieces with a thesis, ones that invite curiosity, questions and challenges. We welcome anyone - students, writers, thinkers, or lifelong learners - who approach their topic with a view towards collective exploration.My personal hopes for any writing is for it to invite thought rather than reaction; questioning rather than agreement or disagreement; to provide ground for meaningful discussion rather than trading certainties.I would encourage those wishing to contribute to this event to keep these goals in mind - to see yourself in a shared activity with the audience; that your piece
Speaker Pledge
I am here to share an idea that sparked my curiosity. I am not an expert, but I have done my best to meaningfully consider it and present it honestly.
I am not here to recruit people to an agenda. This space values reflection over opinion and exploration over persuasion.
I have prepared to read out loud and will meet the time limit
I welcome questions and contributions from the audience.
I am not here to sell, pitch, or network professionally.
Audience Pledge
I am here to listen with curiosity. I will treat each presentation as an honest offering, not a performance to be judged or a position to be attacked.
I will engage ideas, not people. My questions and feedback will challenge thoughts, never the person sharing them.
I will contribute in good faith. Whether through a question, a note, or a conversation after the event, my aim is to build understanding, not division.
Vision
Open Mind Seattle is dedicated to cultivating a community where curiosity and philosophical inquiry thrive and grow. Our vision is to create a public forum for ideas that stand apart from the noise of debate, persuasion, and self-promotion. In this space, everyday thinkers: students, workers, writers, and citizens of all backgrounds, share their original essays, not to win arguments or sell agendas, but to spark reflection and inspire curiosity in others.We envision a cultural ritual where people come together to practice the art of listening and questioning with openness and respect. By grounding our gatherings in mutual pledges of earnest contemplation from speakers and the audience, we aim to nurture a kind of public intellectual engagement that values inquiry over rhetoric, reflection over performance, and community over isolation.Our ultimate purpose is to restore trust in the act of thinking collectively, reminding us all that ideas need not be weapons or commodities but can be things that we shape and evolve together, building community bonds in the process.