New sites abound

We have some exciting online developments with enormous enhancements coming soon to WritersDojo.org. Stay tuned for our relaunch as an art-house style online magazine for Pacific Northwest writers. More on this topic throughout August, when this blog will migrate over to the Website.

In the meantime, please check out this fabulous blog for all things literary in Oregon, from our friends at Literary Arts: http://paperfort.blogspot.com. There's a great wealth of resources and information brewing with interviews and more. Please take a gander and help us support and applaud their efforts.

And Off We Go

Ode, to the Launch Party... Wow, a blast! It was amazing to see all the writers who came out to play. Everywhere I turned, folks were chatting about their next project, deadlines, book deals, agents, the local literary scene... Almost a week later and I'm still pumped up from the night and still feeling slightly overwhelmed with everyone's generosity. We make for such a friendly, hilarious, lovely bunch of creative intellects, introverts, misfits, goof balls, and performers. This was exactly the kind of energy Writers' Dojo needed for our launch. Thanks, everyone, for helping make our party such a fabulous time.

Super-special-I-can't-say-it-enough thanks to our readers: James Bernard Frost, Kim Stafford, Chelsea Cain, Alison Clement, Tom Spanbauer. Each of you... phenomenal! As were the Dojo members who pitched in to help. Kristin, Caelan, Ellen, Dana, Skye: thank you.

Showing off Writers' Dojo was cool. But I hope we helped showcase St. Johns as a literary venue. Many of our friends who own the small businesses here are ready to open their doors and hearts to writers, to help out and play host. There are all these great spots, just within a few blocks around N. Lombard. Our local bookstore, St. Johns Books, is ready to team up for more readings. The Urban Soul is a tattoo parlor and art gallery with an amazing space for rocking parties. The Red Sea Church where we had our readings can hold up to 350 folks. Proper Eats, who helped cater the event, has a small stage and regular open mic nights. Anna Bananas, who provided coffee, has a cool cafe wine bar. The list goes on. The owners are ready and happy to connect. So stay tuned for more from NoPo.

Many wondrous notes have flowed in post party. Sweet, delicious thoughts from our new friends. So good! We did lose a healthy number of friends to the flu season, but our attendance numbers swelled nonetheless. We guess there were about 130-to-150 guests, most of us writers. The transition was especially surrealistic to see: a stream of party goers with wine glasses meandering across N. Chicago. Love it!

We'll do another party-like event soon. Maybe the summertime, maybe a garden party. Hey, shoot me a note with your ideas. We'll stick to the party formula: heaps of tasty wine, delicious food, friendly writer folk abound.

Okay, I did the little speech of thanks at the show, but here I go again. So many people donated their toys, expertise, and energy to help celebrate our opening.

A standing ovation, then, please, for: Emerald, my sister-in-law, who handmade a gagillion dumplings, egg rolls, and pieces of sushi; Michael, my brother and Aikido teacher, for opening the mat as a kids' playground; Jessica from Cameron Hughes Wine, who donated six delicious cases to our cause; our new friend and photographer, Doug, who should have amazing photos of the party to share soon; Piper and James from Proper Eats who helped with some catering; Shawn and Nathan at the Red Sea Church across the street who offered use of their home for the readings; freelance artist and coolest friend ever, Kim, who created these hilarious posters for us; Aaron, Web Master and music dude, dj Ujeen, who shared his mixing expertise; Albert who played keyboards; Kristina, who offered her party planning expertise; Hanny, who helped pour the wine; Jim, who lent his In Focus machine...

News from our writing friends

News from NoPo poet, Ariel Zimmer

North Portland Poetry Jam
When: 1st and 3rd Sundays, 7-9pm
Where: Trippin Billies Coffeehouse

Open mic this Sunday. Sign up begins at 6:30. Beer, wine and treats for purchase. All ages. Free. The coffeehouse is at 3226 N Lombard (across from US Bank).

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News from author and teacher, Ariel Gore

Call for Submissions

PORTLAND QUEER
A New Anthology Edited by Ariel Gore

Greetings Portland Queers!

I'm looking for first-person literary narratives by queer-identified Portland writers for a new anthology showcasing the diversity, hilarity, and talent of emerging and established local writers. Stories can be fiction or nonfiction, but should have a clear Portland connection.

I'm looking for:

• Experimental and traditional short stories / short memoirs featuring queer characters
• Character-driven literary narratives
• Stories that mention specific Portland neighborhoods, landmarks, haunts, or nearby destinations
• Up to 5,000 words (shorter pieces welcome)

I'm not looking for:

• Opinion essays on what it's like to be queer in Portland
• Erotica (sex isn't taboo-- I just don't want it to be "the point")
• How-to or travel pieces
• And I'm not looking for trouble! Please be prepared to change the names of the guilty.

Send submissions to
Ariel Gore / Portland Queer
P.O. Box 12525
Portland, OR 97212

Send your questions to
arielfiona@gmail.com
Subject: Pdx Queer

Deadline is May 1, 2008
Payment to be determined

Ariel Gore is the editor of Hip Mama and the author of seven books
including The Traveling Death and Resurrection Show, Atlas of the
Human Heart, and How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead.
Click to www.arielgore.com

Literary Events, Portland and this blog

How many blogs can a writer have and properly maintain? In the future we'll keep this one updated more regularly as it evolves slightly to share reports and thoughts on Portland's literary scene. We'll still keep you updated on our progress and development for community projects and the larger Writers' Room idea, but these efforts have led us to many fascinating literary corners of Portland.

The laundry list of artists, professionals, and total characters whom we've been honored to meet, share and exchange ideas with, to network, to chat with about possibilities for our beautiful city's future as a beacon for writers... it reads like a gigantic Torah scroll that just several months ago I would have thought impossible to manage.

We've been out tromping through giddy, fun-filled literary afternoons: from meeting with the Oregon Literary Coalition, to small readings at places like Powell's and the St. Johns Bookstore, to the monthly meetings of Willamette Writers, to the Ooligan Open House, to Wordstock, to the OR Book Awards, to Dangerous Writers, to the ongoing creation of the William Stafford Studio... so many names come to mind of people I want to hang out with daily for their kind, cool, awesome, literary thoughts, amazing creative energy, and general sweet disposition as movers and shakers in Portland's creative writing arts.

Basically I'm in awe of how many amazing writers surround Portland (and Oregon in general). If ever a place were a candidate for that ever-sought amorphous community a la the next Algonquin Round Table, methinks Portland is its home. No need to wait to be invited to the table with these larger-than-life literary characters. Just step out to any of a hundred events a month happening all around us.