Hey friends, During our first installment of Novels in Progress, I had a great conversation with an attendee about a super common anxiety regarding joining the Blue Stoop community. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say that they're not a “real enough” or “good enough” writer to take a class with us. So, I thought I'd take this opportunity to reassure anyone who's been held back by self-doubt: We want you here! Yes, you! I know what you're thinking — “Julian, this sure sounds like a clever ploy to sell classes!” First off, it's not that clever. And second off, I am indeed trying to get you sign up for classes. But I'm also trying to get you to sign up for our free events. And most importantly, I'm trying to get you to take yourself seriously as a creative person. Neither Taylor nor I have MFAs — we've learned to write from classes in and outside of academic settings; we've gleaned lessons from craft books and comp titles; we've learned by observing our talented peers. This, too, is an education. Here's the thing: the more I learn about writing, the more I understand how little I know about writing. Imposter syndrome makes it so easy to disregard the value of your preexisting wisdom, or how much you have to teach others, or how capable you are of growth. If your creative practice, whatever it may be, involves putting your thoughts into words at some point, you are a real writer. You are good enough. You know enough. You are ready. I hope you'll join us for a fall class, or perhaps one of this week's events. You deserve it! |
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- Wednesday, 10/9, 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.
- Thursday, 10/10, 4:00-5:00pm: Thursdays on the Stoop — Writing from the Roots. Join Kalela Williams for one hour of writing exercises that explore the power of place, history, and memory in poetry and prose. This is a virtual and free event, donations welcome.
- Friday, 10/11, 6:00-9:30pm: National Coming Out Day Poetry Reading & Open Mic. Join us for a luminous night of queer poetry to celebrate National Coming Out Day! Features will be followed by an open mic. This is an in-person fundraiser with a suggested donation of $5 — but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
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Starts 10/10 | 6 weeks | Thursdays, 6–8 pm ET | Zoom This 6-week class will guide students through the audio story production process, from pitching and finding stories to final sound mixing. This course is open to students of all experience levels — beginners will learn the fundamentals of podcast creation, and more experienced students will hone their skills, narrative voices, and sound design chops. Students will walk away from the course having produced a short audio story or structured interview. No special equipment required. Instructors: Alex Hanesworth (they/them) is a radio maker interested in the liberatory potential of memory work, place-based storytelling, oral history, queer history and community archives. They work in museums, currently as the digital media specialist for the Undocumented Organizing Collecting Initiative. In the past, they have made audio tours for the RISD Museum, worked as a curatorial assistant for the Center for Restorative History, taught queer oral history for the Providence Public Library and given tours for the Wharton Esherick Museum. They currently live in West Philadelphia with their little dog, Luca. Clare Boyle (he/they) is telling stories about trans histories and futures, grief, harm reduction, and people generally fucking shit up towards collective liberation. Alongside their writing and editing practices, Clare works in harm reduction and is passionate about offering people within justice movements the tools to share their own stories. They live in Philadelphia and are especially proud of being from the Midwest. Thursday, 10/24, 5:30–8:30 pm ET | Single session | Zoom In the words of Voltaire, "doubt is an uncomfortable position, but certainty is a ridiculous one." In this generative 3-hour workshop, students will examine the power of uncertainty in art and literature. Through writing exercises inspired by poems dealing with doubt and insecurity, students will learn techniques to inject the power of "perhaps" into their work. While this course is geared toward poetry, it is open to writers of all genres, and will include exercises that incorporate nonfiction and playwriting. Instructor: Chukwuma Ndulue is a writer and teacher. He is author of the chapbook Boys Quarter (Ugly Duckling Presse). He has been the recipient of fellowships from Columbia University and the Kenyon Review. He is co-founder of the Aftermath Arts Cooperative. |
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All of our fall classes are eligible for financial aid. If you're based in the greater Philadelphia area and low-income, you could save up to 75% on listed tuition prices. Applying for aid is quick and easy, with instant results. |
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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 Beyond the Page: Tequila Slammers Start time 10/9/2024 6:00pm Location H&H Books, 2230 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19125 Description Our Beyond the Page series kicks off with an open mic, poetry feature, and tequila cocktails from Middle Child to celebrate our featured poet, Brandon Melendez! Come with new shit, old shit, or a piece that inspires you to share with us! Brandon Melendez is a Mexican-American poet and software engineer from California. He is the author of 'Gold That Frames The Mirror' (Write Bloody 2019). He is a National Poetry Slam finalist and two-time Berkeley Grand Slam Champion. A recipient of the 2018 Djanikian Scholarship from the Adroit Journal, and the 2018 & 2019 Academy of American Poets Awards, his poems can be found in Black Warrior Review, Muzzle Magazine, Shenandoah, and elsewhere. He currently lives in Philadelphia. Link Contact info Cost By donation ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Megan Quigley, "Eliot Now" Start time 10/9/2024 6:00pm Location Main Point Books, 116 N. Wayne Ave, Wayne, PA 19087 Description Main Point Books welcomes Megan Quigley to celebrate the launch of her new anthology "Eliot Now." This event will be in our lower level event space. RSVPs are requested via Eventbrite. About the Book Eliot Now collects new and established voices in Eliot studies, integrating contemporary critical approaches with careful attention to the newly published materials. Whether grappling with the controversial new two-volume Poems, narrating the experience of opening Eliot's letters in the Emily Hale papers (until 2020 the “most famous sealed archive in the world”), or rereading his works through ecocritical or trans studies lenses, Eliot Now shows how this most effusively celebrated and heatedly criticized 20th-century writer continues to change the way we read literature in the 21st century. Link Contact info Elliott batTzedek Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Speakeasy Open Mic Night Start time 10/9/2024 7:00pm Location Kelly Writers House, 3805 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Description This student-run open mic night welcomes all kinds of readings, performances, spectacles, and happenings. You’ll have three minutes at the podium to perform. Bring your poetry, your guitar, your dance troupe, your award-winning essay, or your flash fiction to share. Link Contact info wh@writing.upenn.edu Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ Event title Open Mic Night for Writers Start time 10/11/2024 7:00pm Location Zoom Description Our popular Open Mic Night is now online on Zoom! If you are a poet, an author, a blogger, or someone who just writes for enjoyment, come share your work in an engaging and fun setting. Enjoy the opportunity to network with other practitioners of the writing craft. Readers are limited to five minutes or four pages, whichever comes first. Registration is required for writers or listeners. The evening will be hosted by author Rich Conti. Link Contact info contir@juno.com Cost Free ~~~~~~~~~ |
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1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States |
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