Fiction Writing

**📣** Welcome to **our second meetup in 2026!** Missed last meetup? Then its important you know that the Green Software Foundation and Sustainable IT Netherlands meetups, merged into one: **Sustainable IT Action NL!** Our mission is still to build connections around sustainable IT, exchanging ideas in a space for learning - and from there inspiring our members to take action. **🌿** We’re excited to gather peers who care about green, efficient, and responsible cloud practices on **April 23rd**, kindly hosted by **GreenPT** in Utrecht. **⏳ Time schedule** 17:30 – 18:00 Welcome 18:00 – 18:30 Vegetarian bites & networking 18:30 – 18:45 Kick-off & community introductions 18:45 – 19:15 Measuring the environmental impact of Google's AI - interactive explainer – Ozan Ogreden 19:15 – 19:45 Maryse Meinen– Holistic Digital Sustainability 19:45 – 20:00 Pitches 20:00 – 20:45 Drinks & networking **📍** 📍 **Location:** Plompetorengracht 4, Utrecht. GreenPT **❗ Capacity is limited to 50 participants, so please register early.** **✏️ Title: Measuring the environmental impact of Google's AI - interactive explainer** **💡 Speaker: Ozan Ogreden** **🍃 Abstract:** I built an "interactive explainer" that reproduces Google's methodology from Elsworth et al. (Measuring the environmental impact of delivering AI at Google Scale, Aug 2025, https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.15734). I'd like to share the explainer and my observations with the community. What stands out to me is a striking analytical (or rhetorical?) choice by Google team, which seems to be leading to a downward bias in headline-reported figures of their work. With the community, I'd like to attempt at two goals. One of them is a "narrow-minded goal", trying to find a charitable interpretation of what may have motivated Google's choices (specifically in the discussion related to measuring environmental impact of LLMs). The second is a goal with a more important perspective: Given our discussion, what's the best use of our time to move the needle in sustainable IT? *Ozan works at GreenPT:* GreenPT is a GPT-powered chat platform, and robust API, trusted by governments, businesses, privacy-focused organizations, and developers. Running on renewable energy and hosted in Europe for strict data protection, GreenPT gives you and your team the answers you need with a clear conscience and total transparency. [https://greenpt.com/](https://greenpt.com/) **✏️ Title:** Holistic Digital Sustainability **💡 Speaker:** Maryse Meinen **🍃 Abstract:** Less is More! This interactive session brings you inspiration and practical tips for embedding more sustainability all throughout your digital Product Development Cycle! Of interest for any role in the whole cycle of our process, from Product Owner to Agile coach and from business analist to tester! **📖 About the speaker:** Maryse works at the Rabobank improving our way of working and inspiring people to embed more sustainability in how we do Product Development. She is also a Stoic Practitioner. **🎤 Pitches** Our goal is connect people around Sustainable IT. In order to build more connections, we would like to offer the stage to everyone who wants to share something. We will timebox each pitch on 2 minutes exactly! Please note that this session is intended as a community gathering, so commercial pitches are to be avoided :) **🔎 Looking forward to seeing you there!** **👥 Organizing team** Tim van Bergenhenegouwen, Nick Batenburg (GreenPT, host) Wilco Burggraaf, Chris Stapper, Corina Milosoiu, Sabrina Hsieh (Sustainable IT Action NL)

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at Factor-ij Amsterdam on Thursday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 11: 15 AM - Quick introductions 11: 30 AM - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 12: 30 PM - The End: chat, take off, or keep writing OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 12:30 pm after the writing is wrapped. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you at Factor-ij! What Should I Bring? Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block the cafe’s overhead music or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Please come with your devices pre-charged, since we probably won't be always sitting somewhere with charging possibilities. Other Important Details: Travel by public transportation: 1. Take Tram 26 from the central station Amsterdam, and step out by the last stop. 2. Take bus 66 from the Amsterdam Bijlmer station, step out by Pieter Oosterhuisstraat, and further walk in the direction of the bus till the corner. FREE Wifi. Compulsory consumption is not required, but please do order a drink to honor our generous host.

Expand your visibility. Join a casual online hour to share you, your brand and business, and learn more about other business owners, locally and globally. Every session will close with gratitude and a mini creative activity, so have a pen and paper, tablet, or something available with which to write/create/draw. This usually occurs twice monthly. **RSVP here via EventBrite [here](https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/you-and-your-brand-a-casual-networking-hour-tickets-1984283125243).** *-* *\*\*\*The only requirements are a minimum age of 18 years old,* *and **at least three attendees** to make it a worthwhile hour for everyone.\*\*\**

**Bitcoin Meetup met Crazy Pool!** Deze maand organiseren we iets leuks: voorafgaand aan de meetup (voor wie dat wil) spelen we Crazy Pool bij Timestamp op de Korenmarkt. Crazy Pool lijkt op minigolf, maar je speelt het met een keu en een bal die je door verschillende obstakels moet stoten. De speeltijd is ongeveer 45 minuten. Aansluitend eten we bij Flor Fina. Je kunt ook na het diner aansluiten als je alleen voor een drankje wilt komen. De Bitcoin Meetup is geschikt voor zowel beginners als ervaren bitcoiners. Stel je vragen en praat mee over de nieuwste ontwikkelingen in de wereld van bitcoin. Wil je meedoen met Crazy Pool of mee-eten? Laat het ons even weten, dan houden we daar rekening mee bij de reservering. * 16:30 — Crazy Pool @ Timestamp (Korenmarkt) * 17:30 — Diner @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) * 19:30 — Drinks @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) ## English Bitcoin Meetup with Crazy Pool! This month we’re doing something fun: before the meetup (for those who want to join) we’ll play Crazy Pool at Timestamp on Korenmarkt. Crazy Pool is similar to mini golf, but you use a cue to strike a ball through various obstacles. Playtime is about 45 minutes. Afterwards we’ll have dinner at Flor Fina. You can also join later if you only want to come for drinks. The Bitcoin Meetup is suitable for both beginners and experienced bitcoiners. Ask your questions and join the conversation about the latest developments in the world of bitcoin. Would you like to play Crazy Pool or join us for dinner? Please let us know so we can account for it when making the reservation. 16:30 — Crazy Pool @ Timestamp (Korenmarkt) 17:30 — Dinner @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) 19:30 — Drinks @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) ## Deutsch Bitcoin Meetup mit Crazy Pool! Diesen Monat organisieren wir etwas Schönes: vor dem Meetup (für alle, die möchten) spielen wir Crazy Pool bei Timestamp auf dem Korenmarkt. Crazy Pool ähnelt Minigolf, aber man spielt mit einem Queue und stößt eine Kugel durch verschiedene Hindernisse. Die Spielzeit beträgt etwa 45 Minuten. Anschließend essen wir im Flor Fina. Du kannst auch später dazukommen, wenn du nur auf einen Drink vorbeikommen möchtest. Das Bitcoin Meetup ist sowohl für Einsteiger als auch für erfahrene Bitcoiner geeignet. Stelle deine Fragen und diskutiere über die neuesten Entwicklungen in der Welt von Bitcoin. Möchtest du bei Crazy Pool mitspielen oder zum Abendessen kommen? Bitte sag kurz Bescheid, damit wir es bei der Reservierung berücksichtigen können. 16:30 — Crazy Pool @ Timestamp (Korenmarkt) 17:30 — Abendessen @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt) 19:30 — Drinks @ Flor Fina (Korenmarkt)

**No skills. No plan. Just colour and flow.** **This is not a painting class.** This is a gentle space to relax, play, and express through color. *Come alone or with your friends.* **No painting or drawing experience required.** We start with *playful warm-up exercises* to get you out of your head and into the moment. Then, you’ll experiment with a *creative technique* we introduce, allowing you to explore freely on smaller sheets. In the second half, you’ll shift between: * a *slower, mindful creation round* * a *faster, intuitive expression round* **No rules. No perfection. Just flow.** ✨ Note: This is a pay what you feel event ***

PLEASE NOTE: WE DON'T MEET IN THE LOBBY. THAT'S JUST THE ONLY AVAILABLE OPTION FOR THE LOCATION. PLEASE COME TO THE 7TH FLOOR (ACCESSED BY ELEVATOR A) AND WALK BACK TO THE REGISTER WITH THE PIZZA OVEN. WE SIT AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE LONG RECTANGULAR TABLES. The group was born in November 2016 as a Nanowrimo write-in group. We met for the whole month and at the end decided to stick together as a group. We wrote our own work, but sometimes did word wars, sprints, and even prompts on occasion. We met at OBA Amsterdam. Then we discovered Scheltema. It ticked all of our boxes: with tables, comfy and not-so comfy chairs, power, internet, and coffee. Video may have killed the radio star, but Covid killed Scheltema for us. Now we're back where we started at the Central Library in Amsterdam on the 7th floor in the restaurant by the hot food pickup point at one or both of the two big rectangular tables. To find us, take elevator A (to find the elevator, walk up the steps once you enter the library, then look to your right) to the 7th floor. Walk straight back past the first register and the buffet until you reach the hot food pick-up point. We write for 1.5 hours and then go for drinks afterward. The best way to stay current is via our What'sApp group. To be added, please contact Tina at +31627194553.

Hi all, We’re back at Mick O’Connells and ready for another strong evening! We’ve got our own space again. Walk in, turn right at the bar, head past the dart boards, and you’ll find us in the side room. We've introduced a simple rotating format that gives you the chance to actually speak with everyone in the room. Short, focused conversations, good energy, and a lot more fun than it sounds. We’ll throw in a few conversation topics to get things going, but how you use the evening is entirely up to you. Come with intention, or don’t. Talk business, find clients, meet future partners, make friends, or just unwind with people who get it. We’re all building something, and we all have to roll with the punches. Only rule: you’re an entrepreneur, freelancer, or about to become one within the next 3 months. If not… the clock starts now ;) Try to arrive on time so we can kick things off properly. Can't find us? Look for the grey Gnome. He’ll guide you better than any sign ever could. See you there.

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

Let’s meet and share our thoughts about Carson McCullers’ novella, The Ballad of The Sad Café.

**We are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a quiet writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**