An open collective of writers, readers, and listeners from Philadelphia and beyond.
In February 2019, I led a three-part writing workshop at the Arthur Ross Gallery. The connections formed there inspired me to start a writing group that would become Sit & Write, a weekly drop-in session for writers who struggle to stay on task while working alone. In the years that followed, S&W accumulated a diverse crew of regulars, most of whom reported a dramatic increase in productivity. Attendees also told me how much they appreciated the camaraderie and collective wisdom of our little community. The same was true for me.
Exactly four years later, I launched a companion group called Sit & Read, an elaborate way of forcing myself to read more books. It’s working as planned, and I’ve had a chance to connect with people who, despite not being writers, are passionate about literature—a vital counterpart to novelists, memoirists, and poets everywhere.
Things were getting unruly. How to refer to this pair of programs and the accompanying weekly newsletter? I plugged a few keywords into the much maligned ChatGPT and, after a few rounds of debate with my artificial assistant, settled on “Collective Lit.” I think it successfully captures the supportive vibe of our growing community.
You can lean more about these initiatives and other local (or virtual/hybrid) literary events and opportunities by subscribing to my Substack. It's free (unless you feel like paying for it).
Exactly four years later, I launched a companion group called Sit & Read, an elaborate way of forcing myself to read more books. It’s working as planned, and I’ve had a chance to connect with people who, despite not being writers, are passionate about literature—a vital counterpart to novelists, memoirists, and poets everywhere.
Things were getting unruly. How to refer to this pair of programs and the accompanying weekly newsletter? I plugged a few keywords into the much maligned ChatGPT and, after a few rounds of debate with my artificial assistant, settled on “Collective Lit.” I think it successfully captures the supportive vibe of our growing community.
You can lean more about these initiatives and other local (or virtual/hybrid) literary events and opportunities by subscribing to my Substack. It's free (unless you feel like paying for it).
