IF YOU WANT TO CATCH some literary readings this weekend, it might be worth hitting the hot, hard pavement at Bumbershoot. Bumbershoot's press release promises "poets, performers, and pen-jockeys of every sort" (pen-jockeys? That's dir-tee!). While big names like David Guterson, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, and Andrei Codrescu are sure to draw standing-room-only crowds, it's usually the lesser-known writers that give the stellar readings -- last year's Sister Spit is a perfect case in point. The nice thing about Bumbershoot is that you get to hear literature with a diverse audience, from khaki-clad yupsters to cuticle-gnawing 16-year-olds. It was fun to see a wide range of reactions to Sister Spit's sometimes man-hating, heroin-harrowed, punk art lambast last year, instead of having to suffer the well-behaved, stone-faced, jaded audience that usually populates readings.

This year offers a chance to hear local talent such as Matt Briggs, Jerome Gold, John Olson, Chuck Palahniuk, Claudia Mauro, and Matthew Stadler (see Bumbershoot Guide insert), as well as a rare appearance by Dennis Cooper (see "Kicking a Dead Horse," this page). You might also want to check out Abrecaminos, a group of Mexican Americans from Yakima who have a recently published anthology of stories, poetry, and essays out from Blue Begonia Press (Friday, 2:15 p.m., Starbucks Literary Stage). Blue Begonia also presents poets Jody Aliesan, Lee Bassett, Charles Potts, and Jim Bodeen on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. on the Starbucks Stage. Another local press, Calyx Books, presents their 23rd anniversary reading, with the very talented Kathleen Alcalá, author of The Flower in the Skull, Monday at 2:15 p.m. on the Starbucks Stage. Gregory Hischak (see Bio: Readings box, page 81), editor of Farm Pulp, never fails to offer a reliably brilliant performance, reading from his funny and frequently allegorical stories (Saturday, 2:45 p.m., Starbucks Literary Stage).

If all this fails to thrill you, why not offer up your own talent? Sign up for the Bumbershoot Open Mic, hosted by Red Sky Poetry Theater, Sunday at 8:30 p.m., Starbucks Literary Stage.