Covered inPORTLAND

We're donning the cover of inPORTLAND in today's Oregonian. The press is great. Naturally, we're now card-carrying members of the Anna Griffin and Fred Joe fan clubs. Surely, their members are legion.

The kind, congratulatory notes and inquiries have flowed in steadily throughout the day. Thank you, Anna, for helping support our burgeoning community.

Ah, but we can't help but chuckle at one or two small editorial wonders. For instance, I didn't realize I was so well published.

Here's the online version.

It's edited differently than the print version. It claims I have: "managed to escape a career in advertising copywriting to write full time, publishing a couple of novels along with numerous short stories and nonfiction." Well, that's sort of jumping ahead. For the record, if we replace the word "publishing" with "penning" we'd be spot-on accurate.

By the way, the article doesn't offer any contact info save for this blog. So if you made it here after reading the story...

WritersDojo.org
503-706-0509
info@writersdojo.org

Get Your Daily Fix

Thanks to the folks at the PSU Writing Center for the cool blog and resource: PDX Daily Writer.

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...

Deep Breath after the Solstice

Our first official workshop on December 21st was a huge success. With just 10 days notice, we had 20 people join us for 4 hours of movement and writing. And we raised a few hundred-plus bucks for an amazing cause.

Our instructors, Kim Stafford on the writing side (center in picture), and my brother, Michael Selin, for Aikido (in his gi on the left), were AWESOME! Basically, they were a brilliant pair. Thank you, gentlemen!

What better way to launch and connect the space here: a writing seminar with an Aikido class? We'll have to do it again soon.

If you have any ideas for a killer event, with amazing instructors, stellar content, to help showcase the Writers' Dojo as a center of excellence for writers, one that will be talked about and memorable for years to come, of course I'd love to hear from you. Shoot me your ideas. Maybe we can make it happen.

thanks, links and tours

We don't have furniture quite yet, but we're already filling the writers dojo with creative, literary energy. Thanks to everyone for stopping by and sharing ideas. Local authors like M.K. Hobson, James Bernard Frost, and Kristina McMorris are just a few of the folks who deserve special thanks.

We're hoping these writers and many more will find a base for their artistic endeavors. M.K.'s work on the literary journal Diet Soap and James' group PEW are perfect examples of the types of projects we want to support. Please help us support them by following the links.

If you'd like the tour, please give me a call. 503-784-1449. We're at 7506 N. Chicago Ave. (writersdojo.org coming soon.) Driving directions are here.

What can interested people do to help?

Wow, the Portland literary community rocks! The emails and support have been keeping us completely inspired. One Q that's been repeated: how to help. Thanks for asking! I'll share more insight on this soon, but here's the shortlist for today:

Spreading the word. Please share this blog with folks word-of-mouth style. Once we have the doors open and an actual Web site up, we'll do our best to connect with groups in town.

Keep sharing your ideas, comments and emails. OK, this is sounding slightly referential. But this is huge for us on this side. What do writers in Portland need?

Finding a few core folks. I'll be penning fiction full time from the St. Johns location as of Sept. 15. I'm looking for a few serious writers interested in monthly or weekly desk rental. By getting in now, these writers can help shape the space. I don't have all the digits figured out yet, but something like $400/mo or so that includes all the office stuff you'd need. By sometime in October, we'll be open for writing groups, events, and workshops... really whatever the literary community seems to need.

Thanks to a Literary Rockstar

Portland's literary community is among the most creative and accessible in the galaxy. We're chatting up folks to help launch the writers' room, to advance the conversation, to provide fiercely informative and entertaining resources... and start an A-list party that we can attend in our flip-flops.

So it's with great pleasure that we've received a preemptive nod from one of our benevolent, artistic superheroes among local writers. Ah, the momentum builds. Please stay tuned for the unveiling.