Phew! October has been a whirlwind. In case you missed last friday's email, we have officially announced the 2024 – 2025 Jennifer Weiner Fellows and Finalists. We're also about halfway through the fall semester already, with just a few classes still open for enrollment. The momentum will carry us into November — we've got the second Novels in Progress salon coming this Saturday, followed by “What's Next?”, a trio of free workshops on navigating publication, courtesy of Penguin Random House. We'd love to see you here, there, and everywhere! |
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- Wednesday, 10/30, 3:30-5:30pm: Creative Coworking, on Zoom. Stop by for a few minutes or stay for the whole session — it’s totally up to you. You can use this time to write, edit, read, daydream, or whatever best serves your literary life. This is a virtual and free event, donations welcome.
- Saturday, 11/2, 2:00-4:00pm: Novels in Progress at Parkway Central Library. Join Maya Afilalo and Chandler Myer for an interactive, salon-style reading from two unfinished novels. Masks are encouraged/provided, and free refreshments are available too. This is a free event, donations welcome. RSVP requested, but optional — if tickets are sold out, show up anyway!
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Saturday, 11/9, 1:00–4:00 pm ET | Single session | In-Person Have you ever read about a place you've never been, but whose sights, smells, and textures have stayed with you well after you finished reading the book? By crafting scenes that envelop the senses, writers can transport the reader to places they've never visited, worlds they yearn to explore, and settings that feel lush and layered. In this 3-hour class, students will dive into work by authors who create vivid settings, then channel all of their senses into writing vivid backdrops and worlds of their own. At the end of the session, participants will walk away with freshly drafted work and the prompts and guidance needed to generate more layered, compelling settings in the future. Instructor: Nicole Young is a writer and artist whose non-fiction work has been featured in Elle, YES!, Vox, Scalawag, and Bitch magazines. She’s a part of the editorial team of Jacaranda Books, working to bring a non-fiction book series on Black American culture to life. She attended the 2024 Tin House Summer Workshop and was selected as an Aspen Summer Words Emerging Writers Fellow in 2023. Nicole previously served as a writer at The African American Policy Forum, co-host of the Kidlit These Days and Worth Noting podcasts, and contributing editor for Book Riot Media. In addition to her freelance writing, Nicole is dreaming up fantastical worlds for middle grade and young adult readers in her fiction novels and short stories. Starts 11/12 | Tuesdays, 6:00–8:00 pm ET | Zoom It's hard to break the mold without first understanding its shape. In this 3-week workshop, students will learn about both classic and contemporary forms of poetry, from the sonnet to the duplex. Open to poets of all experience levels, this class will explore the limits and opportunities of poetic forms through early and modern examples, generative writing exercises, and peer sharing. Instructor: Alison Lubar teaches high school English by day and yoga by night. They are a queer, nonbinary, mixed-race femme whose life work has evolved into bringing mindfulness practices to young people. Their poetry collection, The Other Tree, was the recipient of Harbor Editions’ 2024 Laureate Prize. They’re the author of four chapbooks: Philosophers Know Nothing About Love (Thirty West, 2022), queer feast (Bottlecap Press, 2022), sweet euphemism (CLASH!, 2023), and It Skips a Generation (Stanchion, 2023), as well as one full-length, METAMOURPHOSIS (fifth wheel press, 2024). Find out more at alisonlubar.com or on Twitter @theoriginalison. |
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Saturday, 11/16, 1:00–4:00 pm ET | Single session | Zoom This 3-hour session will introduce writers to the world of e-poetry through the fundamentals of programming. Students will learn about the work of artists and writers, includingc Nick Montfort, Lillian-Yvonne Bertram, Porpentine Charity Heartscape, and John Cayley, who have all used programming to create new and exciting textual works easily adapted to websites, gallery installations, or live performance. This class is suitable for those with little to no programming experience; no special software is required. Instructor: Warren C. Longmire is a writer, software developer and educator from the bad part of North Philadelphia. He is the host of House Poet: A Spoken Word Dance Party and founder of _mixlit productions. He was featured in the Best American Poetry 2021, edited by Tracey K. Smith and will be featured in the anthology A Black Philadelphia Reader: African American Writings About the City of Brotherly Love (Pennsylvania State University Press) in June 2024. As a developer, he has worked at companies including Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Vanguard Animation Studios and has worked in computer science education for four years. His latest book, Bird/Diz [an erased history of bebop] (BUNNY Presse) was released in Nov. 2022. Warren will be attending the Iowa Writer's Workshop in the Fall of 2024. Wednesday, 11/20, 6:00–9:00 pm ET | Single session | Zoom Writing the work is one thing, but talking about it is another. This 3-hour class is designed to take the panic out of the pitch and help writers find joy and confidence in talking up their work. Using interview clips and podcasts, students will dissect what makes someone a successful ambassador of their work, and explore which key phrases can make readers’ (and agents’) ears perk up. There will also be an opportunity for students to get feedback on their pitches. Designed for writers of any genre, this class is perfect for those who are ready to start sharing their work with the world. Instructor: Elizabeth Gassman is a freelance editor, writer, and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. Before starting her freelance career, Elizabeth was an assistant editor at Little, Brown, where she published "Set the Night on Fire" by Robby Krieger of The Doors. Other notable books she has edited include "Blood Farm" by Cara McGoogan (shortlisted for the Lukas Prize), "The Double Life of Bob Dylan" by Clinton Heylin, "A Measure of Intelligence" by Pepper Stetler, and "The Impostor Heiress" by Annie Reed. Elizabeth has also contributed to the editorial teams at independent publishers such as Diversion Books, Other Press, W.W. Norton, Grove Atlantic, and Soho Press. Early in her NYC career, she worked as a part-time bookseller at Book Culture on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Elizabeth is a dedicated book professional, passionate about both the business and craft of writing. |
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Financial aid: If you're based in the greater Philadelphia area and low-income, you could pay less than half of the listed tuition prices. Applying for aid is quick and easy, with instant results. It's also first-come, first-serve, so don't procrastinate! Don't qualify for aid? Here's a 10% off code: FALL24 Need more time to pay for your class? Reach out to info@bluestoop.org to request a payment plan. |
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In solidarity, Julian Shendelman
Co-Director P.S. Looking for more local literary connections? Check out our community calendar and resource pages. |
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Got an event, organization, business, or book to promote? |
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BEYOND THE STOOP Here's a quick excerpt from our community calendar. If you've got an upcoming literary event, add it to the page. It's free! |
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~~~~~~~~~ Event title Democracy as Creative Practice: A Collaborative Conversation Start time 10/31/2024 12:00pm Location Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Description Join us for a collaborative conversation inspired by the new anthology Democracy as Creative Practice: Weaving a Culture of Civic Life, a collection of essays by artists and cultural activists exploring the connection between theater, performance art, dance, and literature, and the bolstering of democracy through voter engagement, community development, collective healing, and dialogue across differences. Democracy as Creative Practice is home to essays by thirty-five contributors representing seven countries; for this event, co-editor Andrew Zitcer will be joined by three Philadelphia-based artists from the anthology, in conversation with Julia Bloch and students. Link Contact info wh@writing.upenn.edu Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Encountering Pleasure, Writing Delight Start time 11/3/2024 2:00pm Location Philadelphia Small Works Gallery, 1609 N Delaware Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125 Description Join the Philadelphia Small Works Gallery, and guest teacher Miriam Saperstein on November 3rd for a generative writing workshop inspired by the exhibition, “If Pleasure Wasn’t A Fantasy." We will view the exhibition together (on its last day!), using the artwork as a jumping-off point for creative writing about how we experience and seek out joy in our lives. Open to all levels of experience. ~November 3, 2-4 pm ~$40 ~Free parking across the street or around the corner on Susquehanna ~Accessibility info: One half-step at entrance; bathroom is not wheelchair accessible ~Masks required; we will have masks available at the door About the artist: Miriam Saperstein is a Philly-based writer, visual artist, and arts educator. They find joy in gardening, fall weather, and tacky glue. Miriam has received support from the Sachs Program for Arts Innovation and the Hopwoods Program at the University of Michigan. Their writing appears in publications such as Syllabus and BathHouse, and their art has been exhibited at the William Way LGBT Community Center and The Head & The Hand Books. Find them online at MiriamSaperstein.com Link Contact info Cost $40 ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Writing the Wave with Louise Bierig Start time 11/4/2024 7:00pm Location Zoom Description Whether you’ve been writing for years, just want to get started, or are ready to reboot your writing practice, the Lansdowne Writers’ Workshop provides support and focused, quiet time to access your authentic voice and write your deepest, most honest, stories. The first hour of each session is devoted to a writing prompt. The second hour is available for participants wishing to receive verbal and written feedback on a piece of writing and learn how to take it to the next level. In the workshop we write fiction, poetry, memoir, and creative non fiction. We use the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Each session is designed to include returning participants and welcome newcomers. This supportive and encouraging workshop is designed to help you: - Generate writing, including writing in forms you may not have attempted before
- Learn craft, including dialogue, characterization, voice, point of view, and use of concrete detail
- Make new writing friends and connections; learn about local literary events and opportunities
- Receive positive, encouraging feedback on your writing that inspires you to take your piece to the next level
We believe: “A writer is someone who writes.” –Pat Schneider, author of Writing Alone and With Others Monday Night Fall Session starts Monday, November 4, 2024! We will be meeting on zoom on November 4, 11, 18, 25; December 2, 9, 16 from 7-9 Eastern on zoom. To sign-up, please contact Louise Bierig at lsbierig@verizon.net or 610.892.7604 Link Cost $210 for seven-week session and includes one manuscript review. ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Andre Robert Lee | A Conversation with the Documentary Filmmaker and Author Start time 11/6/2024 7:30pm Location Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Description André Robert Lee most recently served as the executive producer of Notes from America with Kai Wright. The show is broadcast on WNYC, the largest public radio station in America. André was the driving force behind the show’s expansion from 80 to over 120 NPR stations. André was tasked with reshaping and redesigning the live radio show. He is also a filmmaker, keynote speaker, consultant, writer, and educator. André has committed his entire career to building an army of change agents. His process includes many things: New York City public schools, The Ford Foundation, Miramax Films, Urbanworld, Film Movement, Diana Ross, BET, Universal, PBS, HBO, Sundance, Picturehouse, and Dreamworks. André directed and produced The Prep School Negro and served as producer on the documentary I’m Not Racist… Am I? André created The Election Effects Project for Paramount TV. André told the story of incarcerated youth in Richmond with the award-winning film Virtually Free. Link Contact info https://libwww.freelibrary.org/contact/ Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Temple University Poets & Writers Series: Dinaw Mengestu, Visiting Fiction Writer Start time 11/7/2024 12:00pm Location Mazur Hall Room 821, 1114 W. Polett Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19122 (closest intersection is 11th and Berks). Description Free reading with visiting fiction writer Dinaw Mengestu on Temple University's campus. Books will be available for purchase. Link Contact info tara.lemma.diffley@temple.edu Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ |
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1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States |
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