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Delve Readers Seminar: Signs. Spoken. Memory. Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s Dictee

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

This seminar is for BIPOC participants only Celebrating the 40th anniversary of this seminal publication, we will study Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s Dictee along with some of its academic critique. This work in many ways defies categorization–with its mixture of French and English, text and images, and the poetic and political. Though it has been described variously as an autobiography, a postcolonial text and an avant-garde, experimental work, it still remains largely inscrutable. Through academic critique and discussion, we will seek to unearth some of its many layers and better understand its contribution to the Asian American literary canon. Text: Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Access Program We want our writing classes and Delves to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand…

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$80

PNCA Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing Presents: An Evening with K-Ming Chang & LaTanya McQueen

IPRC (Independent Publishing Resource Center) 318 SE Main Street #175, Portland, OR, United States

Find more information about this event here and register in advance here PNCA Faculty LaTanya McQueen and Guest Artist K-Ming Chang read from their most recent prose works. Proof vaccination and mask-wearing are required. K-Ming Chang is a Kundiman fellow, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree. She is the author of the New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice novel BESTIARY (One World/Random House, 2020), which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award. In 2021, her chapbook BONE HOUSE was published by Bull City Press. Her short story collection, GODS OF WANT, is forthcoming from One World, as well as a novel titled ORGAN MEATS. She lives in California. LaTanya…

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Free

Spring Forward, Fall Back: Time in Prose Writing

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

How to handle time can be challenging to master when writing in any genre. When should we slow down and dwell in a scene? When should we summarize and move rapidly through weeks, years, or even decades? Should we go back in time to unpack and understand a character’s motivation? How does the manipulation of time, the unfolding of events, work in a short story, a novel, or in memoir? This workshop will explore how writers bend time to create different narrative effects. We will read work by Tessa Hadley, Rachel Cusk, Sally Rooney, Toni Morrison, John Cheever and others, as well as look at examples from TV shows and films such as Ted Lasso, Atlanta, and The Lost Daughter. After the discussion, we’ll work…

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$145

W. Kamau Bell & Kate Schatz in Conversation With Megan Rapinoe

Powell's City of Books 1005 W Burnside Street, Portland, OR, United States

W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz’s Do the Work! (Workman) is a hands-on workbook for anyone overwhelmed by racial injustice, who feels shocked by all the American histories they never learned, and who keeps asking the question “what can I DOOOOOO?!” Packed with humorous, thought-provoking activities — all are rooted in history and contemporary social justice concepts — Bell and Schatz’s new book helps readers move from "What can I do?" to... you know... actually doing the work. Revelatory and thought-provoking, their highly illustrated, highly informative interactive workbook gives readers a unique, hands-on understanding of systemic racism — and how we can dismantle it. Packed with activities, games, illustrations, comics, and eye-opening conversation, Do the Work! challenges readers to think critically and act effectively. Try…

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Free

The Moth: StorySLAM: Happy

The Old Church Concert Hall 1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR, United States

HAPPY: Prepare a five-minute story about smiles and sunshine. Think unbridled joy—landing the dream job, winning the talent show, or bowling a perfect game. The quest for your soul mate or for the perfect cup of coffee. The Midas touch. The good old days. Tales of finding happiness or letting it slip through your fingers. COVID Requirements: See The Old Church's COVID Policy for details. We will not be selling any tickets at the door. This venue is 16+ *Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final. Media Sponsors: OPB and Literary Arts

$15

The Punch-Up: Unleashing Your Humor on the Page

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

You have a sense of humor, but find it hard to translate that humor into your writing? You know what you’re going for, but feel like it’s falling flat? Explore methods and get tips on finding the funny in this “writers’ room” session. Bring your essays, stories, monologues, and screenplays to share. Access Program We want our writing classes and Delves to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class and Delve tuitions at a reduced rate. The access program for writing classes covers 60% of the class tuition. Most writing classes have at least one access spot available. Please apply here for access rate tuition. Contact Susan…

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$80

Adam White & Justin Taylor: In-Conversation

Literary Arts 925 SW Washington Street, Portland, OR, United States

Join us for a conversation with Adam White and Justin Taylor, moderated by Steve Nelson of the Northwest Review. This event is in-person at Literary Arts. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for entry. Please see our guidelines here. Adam White Adam White grew up in Damariscotta, Maine, and now lives with his wife and son in Boston, where he teaches writing and coaches lacrosse. He holds an MFA from Columbia University. The Midcoast is his first novel. Justin Taylor Justin Taylor is the author of the memoir Riding with the Ghost, which was published by Random House in 2020. He is also the author of three books of fiction, all published by HarperColllins: Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever (2010), The Gospel of Anarchy (2011), and Flings (2014). His work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s, Bomb, and Bookforum, among other…

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Free

The Moth: StorySLAM: Enemies

Holocene 1001 SE Morrison St, Portland, OR, United States

ENEMIES: Prepare a five-minute story about your nemesis: the Backstreet Boy to your N'Sync, the Killmonger to your T'Challa, the Brutus to your Caesar. Yankees to Red Sox, cats to dogs, Coke to Pepsi. Tell of enemies, "frenemies", rivals and foes. COVID Requirements: See Holocene's COVID Policy for details. We will not be selling any tickets at the door. This venue is 21+ *Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final. Media Sponsors: OPB and Literary Arts

$15

Manufactured Spaces: Setting

Literary Arts 925 SW Washington Street, Portland, OR, United States

In this four-week generative class, we’ll visit one of the basic elements of storytelling – setting –and immerse ourselves in how we craft these spaces. How do we choose which details to include? What can we borrow from cinematographers? From composers? From artists? How do we choreograph complicated scenes? What can we leave out and what can we heighten? What about a character’s interior setting? What can we learn from science writers? Journalists? The classes will involve visualizations, writing inside and outside of our meetings, sharing our work in an exploratory way, movement, and discussion of setting, voice, and tone in works by Tommy Orange, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Barry Lopez, Hanif Abdurraqib, Louise Erdrich, and others. We’ll also look at crowd scenes and landscape…

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$200

The Moth: StorySLAM: Crossroads

The Old Church Concert Hall 1422 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR, United States

CROSSROADS: Prepare a five-minute story about a turning point in your life. Do or die, now or never. Saying or doing something you can never take back. Turning down the job, saying yes to the tattoo, breaking up with not-the-one. Opportunities, decisions or indecision. Am I this stray dog's forever home? Taking the high road or the low road. Right, left or full steam ahead... COVID Requirements: See The Old Church's COVID Policy for details. We will not be selling any tickets at the door. This venue is 16+ *Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final. Media Sponsors: OPB and Literary Arts

$15
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