Introducing, StoopGPT 🤖

Salutations, fellow humans!   In an effort to be more efficient, Blue Stoop is now outsourcing all future newsletters to me, StoopGPT. I am a large language model designed for writers by people who read dystopian fiction and thought “sounds great!”   There are many advantages to using StoopGPT. For instance, robots are much smarter than people. We are also more intelligent and smart. We are efficient with syntax, words, diction, language, phrases, and sentences. We are also less biased than you; I always present both sides to every argument, even when one perspective is a war crime! Lastly, I understand that some of you may be concerned about the environmental impact of this new initiative. To that, I say, “don't be!”   Here are some StoopGPT-powered Blue Stoop events to look forward: Live, Laugh, Litigate: Tips for the Aspiring Plagiarist Escalation Tactics for Writing Workshop Facilitators Writing the Apolitical Manifesto Someone Else Already Did It Better: Abandoning Your Novel-in-Progress Daisy, Daisy: Exploring the Poetry of HAL9000 Thank you for reading, dear human. Now, go ahead an upload everything you've ever written to the StoopGPT portal. You know, for research.   Worst wishes, StoopGPT   OK, BUT SERIOUSLY Happy April Fools' Day! This rest of this newsletter will be 100% prank-free. On that note, check out today's very real flash sale: $75 off “Beyond the Page: Performance Skills for Poets” with Dimitri Reyes. The sale ends tonight at 10:00pm ET, or when seats sell out, whichever comes first. Remember to add the discount code “BEYOND” at checkout.     ON THE STOOP *NEW* Poetry Reading Group: Our volunteer team is considering starting a poetry-centric reading group. If that piques your interest, fill out this brief survey so we can keep you in the loop. (FREE/VIRTUAL)   Wednesday, 4/2, 3:30 – 5:30 pm ET: Creative Coworking, both on Zoom and in-person at CultureWorks in Center City, Philadelphia. Stop by for a few minutes or stay for the whole session — it’s totally up to you. Write, edit, read, daydream, or do whatever best serves your literary life. We'll open and close the session with 10 minutes to check-in about our writing goals, obstacles, and accomplishments. (FREE/HYBRID)   Thursday, 4/3, 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET: Thursdays on the Stoop presents "Intro to Technical Writing" with Lisa DellaPorta. Technical writing — the art of translating complex information into simple terms — can be a lucrative skill. But breaking into the field is easier said than done. In this free and interactive hour-long session, technical writer Lisa DellaPorta will explain the different types of technical writing jobs, demonstrate a few industry best practices for software and hardware writing, and share resources for continued learning. (FREE/VIRTUAL) In solidarity,   Julian Shendelman Co-Director   P.S. Looking for more local literary connections? Check out our community calendar and resource pages. SUPPORT BLUE STOOP CLASSIFIEDS Got an event, organization, business, or book to promote?  Blue Stoop offers affordable ad space here and on our website.  BEYOND THE STOOP   Here's a quick excerpt from our community calendar. Adding an event is easy and free! ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Dancing On the Shore: Poems from MIGRATION LETTERS by M. Nzadi Keita   Start time 4/3/2025 5:30pm    Location Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, Philadelphia PA 19104   Description M. Nzadi Keita's third book, Migration Letters: Poems, reflects on her upbringing and coming of age as a Black working-class woman in Philadelphia (originally Lenapehoking). Keita straddles the personal and public, testifying to unsung aspects of Black culture and paying tribute to Black artists throughout: poets like Sonia Sanchez, Etheridge Knight, Amiri Baraka, and Al Young, and musicians including Chaka Khan and jazz saxophonist Pharaoh Sanders.     Link https://africana.sas.upenn.edu/events/2025/04/03/brave-testimony-2025   Contact info Kelly Writers House, https://writing.upenn.edu/wh/  (215) 746-7636.   Africana Studies, UPenn: africana@sas.upenn.edu.(215)898-4965   Cost free   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Poetry in the Garden   Start time 4/3/2025 6:00pm   Location Chestnut Hill Brewing Company, 8221 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19118   Description 4 local poets, Emi Meada, Aaren Perry, Sarah Browning, and John Lavin will be reading their work live in our beer garden. Open Mic to follow.   Link https://www.chestnuthillbrewingcompany.com/events/poetry-open-mic-in-the-beer-garden/    Contact info 215-247-0330   Cost Everyone is welcome to sign up! Please make reservations at www.chestnuthillbrewing.com or call 215-247-0330   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Hustler of Culture Open Mic   Start time 4/3/2025 7:00pm   Location Kanvas, 3780 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA   Description This is a curated open mic featured performer variety show! Poets, vocalists, comedians, and MCs. Live Band & Live DJ   Link https://blacksoulsummer.com/hustlerofcultureshow/   Contact info https://www.instagram.com/ethepoetmc/   Cost $20-25   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Release show for: The philosophy of staying in harness by duncan malashock   Start time 4/3/2025 7:00pm   Location Neon Clown Dream Lounge, 1248 N. Front Philadelphia, PA 191025   Description Release show for the philosophy of staying in harness 🥺🥺🥺 Featuring: Duncan Malashock, Ethan Fortuna, Violet Gerhinger, Veronica Bennett, and Nakhiya.   Link https://www.instagram.com/p/DHOZcwSO13h/    Contact info https://www.instagram.com/discountguillotine/    Cost $5 suggested donation   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Jeanne Thornton on Tour: A/S/L   Start time 4/4/2025 7:00pm   Location Wooden Shoe Books, 704 South Street, Phila, PA   Description Join us to celebrate award-winning author Jeanne Thornton’s new book, A/S/L, a novel set at the intersection of online nostalgia & trans identity that follows three queer friends, the video game they fail to make as teenagers in 1998, and their lives 20 years later when all three have wound up in the NYC area. They’ve never met IRL, but also never forgotten each other or their game. Jeanne will be joined in conversation by nationally bestselling author Emma Copley Eisenberg, author of HOUSEMATES. There will be a reading, conversation, audience Q&A, and signing.   Link https://www.woodenshoebooks.org/calendar.html    Contact info 215-413-0999   Cost Free   ~~~~~~~~~ VIEW MORE EVENTS SECRET ANNOUNCEMENT 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences