Behind the curtain

Dearest readers,    Everyone's been asking: What's the plan for Blue Stoop's summer classes? Well, here's a quick (if vague) update on timing for summer and beyond.    We're currently in the process of booking a small group of guest lecturers for summer. Like last year, these will be single-session classes led by familiar, published writers. Classes will be mostly virtual, taking place in July and August. I wish I could tell you more, but I really shouldn't make any promises until we finalize the details! We're aiming to have another update for you in the next couple weeks, so stay tuned.    Bear with me while I get into the administrative weeds for a moment. Perhaps you're wondering:  Why this format for summer, instead of a full slate of multi-week courses? Frankly, because it's easier. By temporarily lightening our workload, Taylor and I will have more time and capacity to prepare for the next few semesters. Our ultimate goal is to build a longer runway for planning. If successful, we'll have more time to advertise and strategize without rushing, resulting in a better experience for students and teaching artists alike. We're incredibly grateful for your patience as we continue improving our process!   In the meantime, check out this upcoming workshop at Philadelphia Small Works Gallery. We're co-sponsoring, which means helping promote the event and managing the registration process. The workshop was designed by Alison Lubar and Taylor Alyson Lewis, and will explore and challenge the limitations of the teacher/student and poem/reader binaries. Tap the image below to learn more and register.      Here's another great way to tap into the broader literary community: Pitch a Thursdays on the Stoop session! No experience required, but I do recommend watching this short presentation about what makes for a strong proposal.    All are welcome to pitch, but we are especially interested in hearing from BIPOC writers and/or those living in our service area: Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Camden County.    We keep all past TOTS applications on file, so even if we don't curate you into this upcoming semester, we'll keep considering you for future rounds. Applications are rolling, but I'll be making decisions about the next batch of sessions very soon.    PITCH A SESSION And of course, there's always our community calendar. Use it to find upcoming open mics, curated readings, and more. There's something literary happening almost every night of the week — gotta love Philly for that. In solidarity,   Julian Shendelman Co-Director   P.S. Looking for more local literary connections? Check out our community resource page. ON THE STOOP Wednesday, 5/28, 3:30 – 5:30 pm ET: Creative Coworking on Zoom. 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/VIRTUAL) 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 an excerpt from our community calendar. Adding an event is easy and free! ~~~~~~~~~   Start time 5/28/2025 7:00pm UTC   Location Upstairs at Abyssinia, 229 S 45th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19139   Description The Writing Club is a growing group that meets biweekly to work on free-writing prompts in a community setting. We will be having a reading with open mic time to honor the great writing that has come from our regular sessions.   Contact info siob.e.dougherty@outlook.com   Cost Free   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Premonitions Poetry   Start time 5/28/2025 7:00pm    Location Fergie's Pub, 1214 Sansom Street Philadelphia, PA   Description premonitions is a poetry show and artist mixer for you and your friends and your strangers. 3 readers and a mingling sesh + a small open mic. it’s a time to be inspired and connect. to be disgusted and argue. all of that is welcome. within reason. don’t make us send you into the void. or do? Featuring: Love McTiernan, Adiah Siler, and Myles Matunis.    Link https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3_8uJxCBx/   Contact info @premonitionspoetry on Instagram   Cost Free, 21+   ~~~~~~~~~   Event title Creative Practice Club - First session   Start time 6/1/2025 12:00pm ET   Location Zoom   Description CREATIVE PRACTICE CLUB is an initiative from UneARTh Arts Collective to help you maintain a consistent, playful, and nourishing creative practice. We meet every other Sunday at 9am PDT / 11am CDT / 12pm EDT beginning June 1st via Zoom to check in with each other about what we’ve been up to creatively (whatever that means to you) and share inspiration.   Link https://forms.gle/cBjJ4edaBSatDyWE7   Contact info unearth@artmeetsearth.com   Cost Free and open to all!   ~~~~~~~~~   VIEW MORE EVENTS 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19107, United States Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences