3 Places to Find Literary Community
I moved to Philadelphia. Surprise!
Well, to be fair, in some ways this move is not a surprise at all. After trying to make it work in Massachusetts this past half-decade, this move has been a long-time coming. I first began considering a move to Philadelphia 5 years ago in the last year of my MFA program when the question of where next? began to loom. At the same time, Rachael, a childhood friend of mine, was pursuing a PhD at UPenn. Everytime I’d driven from Virginia to Massachusetts (and back) during the three years of my MFA, I’d stayed a night at her apartment in West Philly. We dreamed about moving in together after I graduated and, that last year, I applied for jobs in Philly that ultimately the pandemic would upend.
Worried about my mother weathering the pandemic alone, I moved back to Massachusetts, despite never really intending to return after I left at 18. I began seeing someone who, ironically, had an independent love-affair with Philadelphia and, ultimately, moved down to South Philly just months after we met.
Around the same time, a close friend moved to Fairmount.
Then two other close friends moved to Brooklyn, just a train ride away.
After over a dozen visits to Philadelphia, I can confirm: the sheer enthusiasm Philadelphians exude for Philadelphia is impossible to overstate. And it’s catching.
There are so many reasons why Philadelphia felt and feels right: I’d been craving living in a city again ever since I left Baltimore at 22. I love that my new home is in a racially diverse part of the city, and I love that my neighborhood is queer. I also love that I have multiple Middle Eastern grocery stores to choose from and that the other day I opened the front door to hear Persian rap blasting from a passing car window. Whereas in Western Massachusetts I struggled to find a gynecologist who would take my period pain seriously (so much so that I ended up having to drive 2 hours to Boston and back multiple times just to get diagnoses I already knew I had), there are multiple centers for my lAdY-prOblEmS in Philadelphia. Did I mention that there are over 50 bookstores in the city—and at least 5 within walking distance of my apartment? Did I mention the public transportation, affordable housing, green space, proximity to other major cities where people I love live? I could go on, but ultimately, I’m here because I finally listened to my gut. There’s a real sense of community and grassroots arts activism here, and I want to be a part of it.
Because I’m a Type-A introvert, however, I know that if I want to truly “put myself out there,” I need a plan. So many of the writers I work with through my workshops and through one-on-one coaching have listed “finding literary community” as a challenge and aspiration of theirs. I empathize! I’m sharing here 3 places I’m going to look for literary community in the coming months.
The Public Library
When I go register for a library card, I’m also going to pick up an events calendar because I know that most libraries also host book clubs, visiting writers, writers’ groups, and even one-off creative writing workshops. I know that there are 2 local branches that are about an equal length walk from my apartment, so I am going to make an effort to visit both in addition to the central branch. Ideally, I’ll find a recurring drop-in event that allows for the opportunity to build ties with people who return.
Community Writing Centers
One of many reasons I decided to move here is because I could see myself learning from, teaching at, volunteering with, etc., Blue Stoop, a nonprofit creative writing center in the city. What I love about Blue Stoop is that they truly care about the communities they are serving. In addition to their regular multi-week classes, they host creative coworking spaces and offer occasional free workshops for the local community. They also have a newsletter that includes local resources and a community calendar of literary events.
I am convinced that the way that adults make friends is through multi week art classes (of any stripe). Because Blue Stoop offers financial aid to local writers who want to take their classes, I’m crossing my fingers that my work schedule allows me to try out a multi-week class either this summer or fall.
Volunteering at a Literary Organization or Event
I am also convinced that the other way adults make friends is through volunteering. Local creative writing community centers, public libraries, literacy programs, bookstores, journals, and festivals often rely on volunteers. I have complicated feelings about the exploitation of unpaid laborers—whoops, I mean volunteers—under capitalism but, if it feels good and sustainable, go for it. Near me are a volunteer-run bookstore (with a killer curation of contemporary literature) and a chapter of Books Through Bars. If I must make small talk, there’s nothing I’d like more than an activity I can simultaneously fix my eyes and hands on.
There are so many other places to look for literary community! Pop-ups at bars and cafes, bookstore-run events, conferences, festivals, residencies, retreats, my upcoming Summer Writers’ Circle, but what I like about the ideas I highlighted here are that they are all in-person and either free or low-cost.