How to use the Kelly Writers House

Four ways to get involved

1. RSVP for events

To RSVP for an event, email the Writers House (wh@writing.upenn.edu) or call 215-746-POEM.

2. Schedule space

The Kelly Writers House is open to the general Penn community as a place to gather for writing-related conversation. If you would like to schedule space at the Writers House for a writing-related program, please check the Writers House web calendars to see if the room is already scheduled, and then email wh@writing.upenn.edu with your request. Please give us at least 3-5 days to reply to your message.

3. Subscribe to listservs

Writers House affiliates can subscribe to one of two listservers:

Kelly Writers House Weekly: This list receives a weekly announcement about upcoming events at the House. We welcome anyone, from anywhere, to join this list if you would like to know what goes on here.
Kelly Writers House Circle: This is a smaller group of individuals who receive announcements about House events, Philadelphia-area readings, internships, calls for submissions, and general writing-related news.

If you would like to be placed on either of these lists, email the Kelly Writers House.

4. Propose a program

To those interested in proposing events at the Writers House:

We are constantly in the process of planning writing-related programs, and are open to ideas and suggestions. We schedule programs at least 3-6 months in advance. Please direct your proposal here:

The Kelly Writers House
Program Proposals Group
3805 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Proposals are discussed and considered on a rolling basis by the Program Proposals Group, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can -- usually within two months, during the academic year (September through May).

Please also refer to our monthly calendars when you are making proposals, to give you an idea of the dates and times we have available (again, we usually schedule programs at least 3-6 months in advance). Feel free to be creative with your planning. We are always looking for ways to diversify our programs, innovate, and collaborate. Also try to be specific, and to give us a clear sense of what the program you're imagining might be like. Please include a writing sample that represents the type of work that would be read or performed in the program.

Please think about and include the following things in your proposal:

How is this program writing-related?
Is there a particular date-range that you have in mind? If so, what is it?
What are the, if any, financial costs of this program (i.e., travel, hotel, honorarium)?
Why is the Kelly Writers House a good place for this program?
Will the program be free and open to the public? (Please note that all of our programs are free, and the vast majority are open to the public.)
What aspects of the organizing, publicizing, etc., will you expect the House staff and volunteers to do? What will you be able to do?
Who is the expected audience for this program?

Allocation of House space and funds is determined according to feasibility (time/space/budget constraints), expressed interest of the Kelly Writers House Planning Committee (the group of student, staff, and faculty volunteers who help organize, publicize, and attend programs), and involvement level of the individual/group making the proposal. Our funds are reserved for activities which take place in the Kelly Writers House.