Greetings, friends!
Have you heard about Office Hours? These one-on-one chats are a great way to get extra support with your literary goals. Schedule a 30-ish minute call with me to discuss your publishing dreams, your work-in-progress, tapping into your local poetry scene, or whatever else strikes your fancy. You can book up to one month in the future; just be sure to sign up at least 24 hours in advance.
Paid subscribers get free access to these sessions at least once a month, potentially more depending on my availability. As for everyone else, I request a $20 donation—but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
SIT & WRITE
Picking up the pen is easier with company. Join Sit & Write this weekend for a few hours of mutual productivity. First time? Check out this FAQ!
WHEN: Saturday, 4/27, 11:00am-2:00pm ET
WHERE: Zoom
LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87402707981?pwd=awYhUV372z8UbR7GZq9EtQoILHfPT4.1
MEETING ID: 874 0270 7981
PASSCODE: 956233
OTHER EVENTS
Wednesday, 4/24, 7:00pm ET: Moonstone Arts Poetry Reading @ Fergie’s Pub (Philadelphia). Featuring: Warren C. Longmire and Kirwyn Sutherland. (FREE/HYBRID)
Wednesday, 4/24, 7:00pm ET: Blooming, a poetry open mic @ Green Line Cafe on Locust (Philadelphia). Hosted by Allayna Nofs. (FREE/IN-PERSON)
Thursday, 4/25, 4:00pm ET: Trains of Thought with Jackie Torres. “A journaling space for writers of all kinds to explore new possibilities for personal expression. Using performance methods and the integration of audio journaling, Trains of Thought will encourage writers to reclaim the practice for themselves, reframe writing as a full circle sensory experience, and begin to take the first steps to overriding the trap of compulsory self-editing.” (FREE/VIRTUAL)
Friday, 4/26, 8:00pm ET: Variety show @ Beautiful World Syndicate (Philadelphia). “There will be all kinds of things: poetry, clown, ventriloquism, and perhaps the tuning of emotion across a number of scales and systems.” ($10 BUT NO ONE TURNED AWAY/IN-PERSON)
Saturday, 4/27, 6:30pm ET: Birdsongs Release Party @ Philadelphia Small Works Gallery (Philadelphia). Birdsongs is a book of poetry written by Collective Lit’s C.M. Crockford. The event includes readings by Crockford, Peter Webb, Alexandra Naughton, and Chloe Williams. “Beer and wine available for donation. No outside beverages please. Dressing up encouraged!!!” ($10/IN-PERSON)
Saturday, 4/27, 8:00pm ET: Frank O’Hara’s Last Lover @ Sam’s Morning Glory (Philadelphia). Featuring Jared Stanley, Katie Fuller, Patrick Blagrave, and MC Hyland. (FREE/IN-PERSON)
Saturday, 4/27, 8:00pm ET: Mother Tongues @ Pig Iron Theatre (Philadelphia). “Do you want to hear some music and poetry about language, authenticity, culture, motherhood, and more? You’re in luck! Come to Babel’s end of the year showcase on April 27th. Tickets at the door, refreshments at the space, featured performances by us and an open mic for you.” ($7/IN-PERSON)
Sunday, 4/28, 2:00pm ET: Bring a Blanket #9 @ Philadelphia Small Works Gallery (Philadelphia). “Four amazing local features (including Mike Bagwell, Leila ElManfaa, Miriam Kramer, and Dustin Wright) at a midday reading perfectly aligned to listen, participate, engage.” Snacks provided, cash bar on site. (FREE/IN-PERSON)
Sunday, 4/28, 7:00pm ET: Scribes On South @ Tattooed Mom (Philadelphia). “The reading begins with a 20-minute featured reader and then moves through the open mic list for the rest of the night. Open mic readers have 5 minutes. There will be a space for poets to sell books. … This reading’s featured reader is Carson Jordan.” (FREE/IN-PERSON)
Monday, 4/29, 7:00pm ET: OK Zoomers with the Mad Poets Society. “This virtual event will feature readings by A. Rob, Mary Brucker, Mike Cohen, and Hadeel Salameh. An open mic will follow. Event hosted by Maria Masington.” (FREE/VIRTUAL)
Monday, 4/29, 7:30pm ET: Amy Tan in conversation with Beth Kephart @ Parkway Central Library (Philadelphia). “In The Backyard Bird Chronicles, Tan pecks out a thoughtful ode to birding and the hidden beauty that lives around us, nested together with her own soaring illustrations.” Tickets include a copy of the book. ($45/IN-PERSON)
Tuesday, 4/30, 5:30pm ET: Live Poetry: Save Chinatown Anthology Reading @ Independence Library (Philadelphia). “The Save Chinatown Coalition includes: Pennsylvania United Chinese Coalition, Philadelphia Chinatown Dragon Boat Team, Asian Americans United, Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School, Chinese Restaurant Association of Greater Philadelphia, Concerned Citizens of Chinatown Association, Philadelphia Suns, and Asian Arts Initiative. Join us as people respond in poetry to the fight to preserve neighborhoods, preserve culture, and against displacement or gentrification.” (FREE/HYBRID)
Tuesday, 4/30, 7:00pm ET: Moonstone Arts 2024 Chapbook Contest Reading. Featuring: Guy D’Annolfo, Sheleen McElhinney, Cathleen Cohen, John DiMenna, Tyler Dunston, and Alexandra McIntosh. (FREE/VIRTUAL)
Tuesday, 4/30, 8:00pm ET: Authors of Bottlecap Press Spring Reading 2024. “Hosted by Sara Matson, this event will be recorded live on Zoom and feature readings from: Sara Matson, Zach Spruce, Mike Bagwell, Ebs Sanders, Yael Valencia Aldana, Marlee Alcina, Ariya Bandy, William Erickson, and Bri Stokes.” (FREE/VIRTUAL)
Wednesday, 5/1, 6:00pm ET: América del Norte: A Novel - Special Early Release Event @ Taller Puertorriqueño (Philadelphia). “Join us on May 1 for an early release of América del Norte by Nicolás Medina Mora, with conversation and Q&A moderated by Lucas Iberico Lozada, followed by a book signing and reception.” RSVP requested. (FREE/IN-PERSON)
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
OPPORTUNITIES
DEADLINE 4/30: A call for readers for Novels in Progress, a new Philly reading series. “Novels in Progress is a cross between a reading and a workshop, designed for the particular needs of writers in the midst of a long project. Each participant will have the opportunity to stretch out and present their work to an audience of readers and writers who are interested in the process. A conversation about the work will follow. Project must be one- to two-thirds complete with a viable path to The End and a projected length of 200+ pages. This series focuses on literary and experimental fiction. Please email mollysbookstore@gmail.com for more information and an application. Put ‘Novels in Progress’ in the subject line.” (NO FEE/NO STIPEND)
DEADLINE 5/20: Collide Zine is looking for submissions of flash fiction, poetry, and visual art from those in the Philadelphia region. There is no theme. (NO APP FEE/FREE DIGITAL CONTRIBUTOR COPY)
DEADLINE 5/24: West Philly Zine Fest is accepting applicatons through 5/24. The fest will take place 6/22 at The Rotunda. Tables are $25, with sliding scale options for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists. (NO APP FEE/SLIDING SCALE SPOTS)
DEADLINE 5/31: The Black River Chapbook Competition. “Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or prose between 16-36 pages in length. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers. The winner will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, ten copies of the book, and comprehensive marketing and publicity suppoort.” ($18 FEE/$500 PRIZE)
Find even more opportunities via my Instagram highlights! (IG account required)
I’M KVELLING
I’m thrilled to share that Collective Lit member Josefine Parker has published an excerpt from her novel “Holy Must and Great Dirty, Oh Mary” in GARLAND Issue 1. GARLAND is a guest-edited literary magazine published by fifth wheel press. Josefine says: “Although the excerpt is expository and full of Slavic pagan research, it reads like a fever dream prayer.” Get your copy today!
Got an event, opportunity, or accomplishment to share? DM @collectivelit on Instagram or send details here.
Alright friends, that’s all for today.
Warmly,
Julian Shendelman
www.collectivelit.com