Wednesdays On the Stoop, a series of free programming by Zoom every Wednesday from 4 pm - 5 pm. The sessions will range from sit-togethers to read a story or poem, writing quietly together, open mics, and more. The sessions are designed to be a constant structure--every Wednesday at 4 you can count on Blue Stoop to plug you into writing energy as well as being a chill and supportive space for those looking for community, prompts, or any engagement with writing craft in this tough time. Some of them are going to be run by Blue Stoop staff, and some by community partners or past teachers.

Two more-or-less facts:
—Writing can be an isolating experience. As writers, we are often blocked up, distracted, or unmotivated. Finding time to write is hard. Making ourselves write during a scheduled block can be even harder.
—Research published in the Harvard Business Review found that working beside a more productive person increases your own productivity by an average of 10%. https://hbr.org/2017/02/want-to-be-more-productive-sit-next-to-someone-who-is. Accepting your work habits as they are is infinitely easier than radically changing them.

In collaboration with Blue Stoop, Julian will be hosting a special mid-week Sit & Write. We’ll have a brief conversation about the benefits of mutual accountability, then get to work for about 45 minutes. If you’re looking to write, I think you’ll find that even the digital presence of peers focused on a similar goal will trick you into getting work done. If you’re looking to start your own Sit & Write gathering with friends or strangers, Julian can share the lessons learned along the way. Either way, join on Wednesday for a low-stakes opportunity to build community and generate new work!