Blue Stoop

Before we go away to enjoy our holiday, a sneak peek at what’s to come in the new year and a chance to secure your spot in spring classes! We’ve just posted a preview of our spring semester on bluestoop.org/classes (link in bio!) Sign up for the waitlist and we’ll email you as soon as registration opens. Some classes fill very quickly, so we recommend getting a head start on enrollment! Can’t wait to see you on the Stoop in Spring 2026!!! 💙

Our fundraiser auction closes 12/31 at 11:45pm ET—don’t miss your chance to bid on an array of services and fabulous prizes. All proceeds support financial aid and scholarships for low-income Philly writers, and free public programs for all. Browse the auction today at givebutter.com/lastword25

Unfortunately, our host venue has recommended we postpone tonight’s event due to the wintery weather. We are actively working with them to reschedule for sometime in January. We sincerely apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience.

We will update you ASAP regarding the new event date. Any tickets purchased for tonight’s fundraiser will still be honored in January — however, we can refund your ticket instead, if you prefer. Please check your email/spam folder for refund instructions.

Stay safe out there and hope to see you at The Last Word in the New Year!

The Last Word has been and continues to be an amazing opportunity to celebrate the work that goes into and comes out of each semester - uplifting and highlighting our teaching artists, students, facilitators, volunteers, board members, and overall community. Join us this Sunday to do just that and more - register at givebutter.com/lastword25 (link in bio)

We’ve got some fun new Blue Stoop merch available in the Stoop Shop. If you’re looking for holiday gifts, I recommend ordering before 12/10 for arrival by 12/25. But, hey, if you’re a procrastinator like us, there’s always a digital gift card! Check these out at bluestoop.org/shop

This Thursday marks our final free workshop of the year! Join Jeff Joseph Katz on 12/11 at 4:00pm ET for Exceeding Ekphrasis, an hourlong virtual workshop on working with visuals on the page. Register today at bluestoop.org/events
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How can visuals (from simple drawings to found photos) help creative writing argue a position, tell a story, or activate a poetic effect? In this free, hour-long session, we’ll analyze essays, poems, and hybrid works where images act as illustration, as counterpoint, as breath, as ghost. We'll study works by Lena Moses-Schmitt, Claudia Rankine, and other visually-engaged writers, then take to the page to test the possibilities of combining text and image. To prepare, please bring one picture cut out from a magazine, one piece of blank paper, and something to write with.
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Jeff Joseph Katz is a white q***r writer and artist based in Philadelphia. He works across mediums, mapping the secret passages between thinking and feeling. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Offing, The Seventh Wave, and v.1. He wrote and performed the drag performance-lecture Capability Pink Designs A Pleasure Garden With You, a study of landscape architecture, climate change, and gay B**M. He wants to be closer with you.

Blue Stoop’s second annual Auction Fundraiser is live and we’ve got some exciting prizes to bid on - your bid and/or direct donation will support Blue Stoop’s financial aid and free public programs. Check out these and more at givebutter.com/lastword25 (link in bio!) . Get a gift for yourself or a loved one (or share with a friend!)

It’s that time of year - Blue Stoop’s second annual Auction Fundraiser is live and we’ve got some exciting prizes to bid on - your bid and/or direct donation will support Blue Stoop’s financial aid and free public programs. Check out these consults, critiques, and more at givebutter.com/lastword25 . Get a gift for yourself or a loved one (or share with a friend!)

This month, we're raising $15,000 to replenish our financial fund and support our free public programs for Philly writers. An overview of our 2025, by the numbers:

88 free public programs (76% increase from 2024)
625 students (18% increase from 2024)
42 tuition-based writing classes (2.5% increase from 2024)
$10,590 in financial aid/scholarships (44% increase from 2024)
$28,000+ paid to teachers and facilitators (27% increase from 2024)

Here are 4 ways to help us reach our goal:

1) DONATE: Make a one-time or recurring donation — click here ( http://givebutter.com/c/lastword25 ), select “Donate & Tickets,” then select “I'd just like to donate” in the bottom left corner of the ticketing pop-up. Or, just write us a check (instructions here: www.bluestoop.org/donate ).

2) PARTY: RSVP to our end-of-semester student showcase and celebration on December 14th, 2025. This festive evening at Fleisher Art Memorial will feature appetizers and drinks (all included with your $15 ticket), interactive games, and performances by Fall 2025 students and faculty. http://givebutter.com/c/lastword25

3) SHOP: Bid on one of our fabulous auction items! Prizes include an array of literary consults, works by local artists, bundles of books, gift cards to local businesses, kayaking and walking tours, and so much more. http://givebutter.com/c/lastword25/auction

4) SHARE: Help us spread the word by sharing any or all of the above links (or one of our Instagram posts: https://www.instagram.com/bluestoopphl ) with a friend. Word of mouth is truly the best advertising money can't buy. If you've got a writer (or lit-curious friend) in your life, let them know about our fundraiser, classes, and events!