Solstice Breath

Last week I attended a writing workshop on food held at Hotlips Pizza--the inaugural session of Hotlips U.--sponsored by the William Stafford Studio. (The Studio is a new venture under works by Kim Stafford, one that you will certainly hear more about in coming months and throughout 2008 as Kim continues to develop this amazing organization.)

It turns out that Hotlips will focus its extra circular activities in 2008 toward the literary arts. Last year it was bicycles. This coming year: words. Bravo, Hotlips! So, we read aloud from works of poetry and prose, used these as prompts to write, shared our words, then feasted.

I was totally inspired by how location--the landscape and culture--have such a profound impact on our words. It was simply the perfect locale to inspire thoughts on food and community. Afterwards, Kim and I kept chatting and dreaming about how Writers' Dojo could host an event based on the energy and vibe of the location. Here's the result: the perfect workshop to help launch our space. What could be better than to combine the two disciplines of writing and movement... from two teachers I greatly admire.

Solstice Breath
with Kim Stafford and Michael Selin
A workshop in writing and movement

In breath, where kingdoms hide,
one little turn at the end
is king, again, again, again…

—William Stafford

At Writers' Dojo: Friday, 21 December 2007, 9 a.m. - 1p.m.
Co-sponsored by the William Stafford Studio

Please join us for our inaugural workshop at Writers' Dojo, featuring writing with poet Kim Stafford and movement exercises with aikido teacher Michael Selin. We will work with breath, the body in motion and at rest, and writing invitations designed to listen at the solstice.

Yes, this is a busy time. All the more reason to step aside from all that frenzy for this retreat, this gift to yourself. The movement and writing exercises will be restorative, leaving you ready for the rest.

Cost: Suggested donation of $25 with all proceeds to benefit Write Around Portland. Visit to learn more about this valuable organization, one of Portland’s treasures. (Checks payable to “Write Around Portland”).

Bring comfortable clothing to exercise (we have locker rooms and showers).

8:30 Caffeine and conversation
9:00 First writing
9:30 Breath and Movement
10:30 Break
11:00 Writing continues
12:00 Aikido class
1:00 Farewell

• Kim Stafford is director of the William Stafford Studio.
• Michael Selin is the instructor at Ecole de Budo RAJI, Portland.

Texts developed during the workshop will be shared with participants, and will become part of the digital archive for community service at the William Stafford Studio, and at Writers’ Dojo.

Visit here for directions, or call 503.706.0509.

Writers' Dojo
7518 (and 7506) N. Chicago Ave.
Portland, OR 97203

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.

We've launched WritersDojo.org

Today we launched WritersDojo.org. Please browse and share your thoughts. We're also proud to have a write-up in Portland Monthly Magazine, November issue (page 42).

ready to launch

Thanks for the Qs on our radio silence. We've been behind-the-scenes, working hard to keep the core training alive by writing daily. Meanwhile, the business side of Writers' Dojo continues to develop, to provide core members with outstanding resources. In just a few days, we'll launch a new WritersDojo.org Web experience. It's a good start, including a free podcast download with bestselling author Chelsea Cain.

Off line, we've been furniture hunting, to outfit the Dojo with beautiful office gear. The redesign continues. Painting, artwork, desks... Here are a few of our finds. Special thanks to our friends at ECOpdx for the salvaged wood masterpieces.

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.

peer-to-peer journal for literary artists

Volunteer editors and writers needed for beta peer-to-peer journal Website and online magazine. Please drop me a note if you're interested to learn more and assist. Basically we need a crew of intelligent folk to test, tear down, brainstorm, offer input and guidance... or just send some of your articles and ideas.

One of the projects underway here is a free access, peer-to-peer journal for professional literary artists in Portland, throughout Oregon, and around the Northwest. The underlying theme will be to advance the conversation of literary artistry and professionalism. We would include news, editorial, interviews, reviews, events, how-to articles on marketing, writers group info, MFA thoughts, and of course stories on craft... but the style remains local and peer-to-peer. So it is quick to the point, useful, interesting, and conversational in tone. Content certainly would be moderated and possibly edited (where necessary).

Think Poets & Writers meets Village Voice on the local lit scene with Web 2.0 flare, and that's sort of the idea.

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.