The Raymond Carver Writing Festival takes place annually in Clatskanie, Oregon, the birthplace of Raymond Carver. This year’s theme is “Where I’m Calling From,” taken from the title of one of Carver’s short stories, and meant to be open to creative interpretation.
All efforts have been made to keep events free and open to the public, thanks to the contributions of organizations, businesses, and a volunteer committee of organizers. The festival is held at venues downtown Clatskanie, in walking distance from one another and from centrally located lodging.
Coming from out of town? The Clatskanie River Inn is offering a 10% discount off room rates for the weekend (May 17-19, 2024) when you tell them you are visiting for the Raymond Carver Writing Festival.
Get in touch with questions or to receive festival updates.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
May 17th-18th, 2024
Below is a general schedule of events for the weekend. Details regarding presenters, workshops, and readers will be added in the coming weeks. (Last updated: April 18, 2024)
FRIDAY MAY 17th
Publishers & Writers Fair
5pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center
Vendor tables by local authors, regional writing organizations, presenters
Reception
6-7:30pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center
Welcome to the Raymond Carver Writing Festival!
Introduction: Deborah Hazen
Keynote speaker: Kim Stafford, “Where I’m Writing From”
Guest presenter: Chad Wriglesworth, The Raymond Carver Review, “A Particular Way of Seeing the World: Raymond Carver on the Craft of Writing”
Evening Readings
7:30-8:45pm Storytelling/Prose at Fultano’s Pizza
Readers: Mac Stripling, Ben Parzybok, Scott MacGregor, Michael Mills
7:30-8:45pm Poetry at Flowers n Fluff
Featured poet: Robert Michael Pyle
Readers: Marianne Monson, Joseph Green, Robert Michael Pyle
8:30-10:00pm Readings at Colvin’s Pub & Grill
Line-up curated by Mother Foucault's Bookshop
Readers: Ed Skoog, Justin Taylor, and more TBA …
SATURDAY MAY 18th
A Conversation about Writing: “The World According to You”
10-10:45am at the Clatskanie Cultural Center
Presenter: Kim Stafford
Raymond Carver says in his essay “On Writing” that every writer describes a particular world, and has a particular way of seeing things. What is your “native place” as a writer? How are you a “native speaker” of the language of that place? We’ll have a conversation about these matters, and how this particular background makes you want to tell a certain kind of story or poem or song.
Writing Workshops
Presented by Astoria’s The Writer’s Guild.
Pre-registration for workshops is not required, workshops are appropriate for all levels of writers.
“Overcoming Procrastination and Writer’s Block”
1-1:45pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center
Presenter: Vicki (Vee) Lind
In the first part of this hands-on workshop, we’ll review tips from successful authors on external environmental factors conducive to activating your muse: place, time of day, support from others. As Annie Lamott said, “My mind is a neighborhood I try not to go into alone..” In the second part, we’ll focus on the internal environment of their mind. Through free writing exercises, participants will identify their patterns of critical self-talk that block creativity. They will then learn to befriend and reimagine that self-talk.
”Prose Poetry as Memoir”
2-2:45pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center
Presenter: Asher Finch
Where does the line cross between prose-poetry and memoir storytelling? Does there need to be a distinction between the two? The lyrical and abstract nature of prose poetry to tell the story of one’s life in a memoir style can be used to illustrate the art of memory, blended with the accuracy of a timeline. Join Asher Finch for a brief lesson in prose poetry and its use in narrative storytelling, open writing time, and a brief sharing session at the end.
Explore Carver in Clatskanie
A walking tour with presentations and participatory readings at local sites. Bring a poem, song or short story to share!
11:15-11:45am at The Castle/Thomas J. Flippin House/Clatskanie Historical Society
12:30-12:45pm at the Carver Mural/old Clatskanie hospital building
1-1:15pm at Evenson Logging Co. parking area
1:30-1:45pm at Raymond Carver Memorial Sculpture/Cope’s Park
Parking Lot Poetry
12-2pm at the Evergreen Shopping Center/Safeway parking lot
Readings of Raymond Carver poems and other works on the theme “Where I’m Calling From”
Hosted by Laura Moulton and the C.C. Stern Type Foundry
Steal Time to Write
11:45am-12pm, 12:45-1pm, 1:45-2pm at the Clatskanie Library
Writing prompts at quarter to the hour, 15 minute sessions. Pop in to the library and spend a few minutes writing to short prompts from festival writers. A different prompt will be offered at each session, so plan on stealing time for all three!
Youth Poetry Contest Award Ceremony
4:30-5pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, Birkenfeld Theater
Awards and readings from the winners of the 2024 Poetry Contest.
Closing Event: Poetry and Pie
6-9pm at the Clatskanie Food Hub
Pie was Raymond Carver's favorite dessert, and as part of the 2024 Raymond Carver Writing Festival, we’re closing out the activities with a last slice of deliciousness.
The dinner requires a paid reservation, community pie potluck, award presentation and Poetry Jam are free!
6pm Catered dinner (reservations required, $20 per person)
Whimsical and seasonal Farm-to-table pies featuring a menagerie of locally grown savory delights handcrafted by Bluebell Bakeshop. Non-alcoholic beverages supplied by The Wild Locals.
… and a community pie potluck!
Bring a homemade pie to share after dinner -- your best recipe, a sweet treat using the remainder of last year’s harvest, or a regional favorite. Perhaps we will have prizes.
7-8:30pm Adult Poetry Contest Awards and Poetry Jam
Awards and readings from the winners of the 2024 Adult Poetry Contest
followed by an Open Mic Poetry Jam hosted by Joseph Green
GUMBALL POETRY:
April 18th (Poem in Your Pocket Day)-May 19th, 2024
A new issue of “Gumball Poetry” presented by Benjamin Parzybok will be installed at the Clatskanie Library especially for the 2024 Raymond Carver Writing Festival! The Gumball Poetry kiosk will contain a selection of poems related to the festival theme, drawing from local and regional poets. Visit gumballpoetry.org to learn more about the participating poets.
Cost: 25¢ per encapsulated poem
POETRY CONTEST:
April 1st-30th, 2024
2024 Theme: “Where I’m Calling From”
In Raymond Carver’s writing the characters are often observed for just a snapshot in time, in ordinary situations. There is no background history provided, no foreshadowing of what will happen in the future. He describes and then places the reader fully in the moments in front of them.
Guidelines: This poetry contest is open to young people, ages 8-18, who live in the Clatskanie School District and adults from the Lower Columbia region. Entries are limited to two poems per person. Cash prizes will be awarded and judged in each of the following age categories:
Ages 8-10 | Ages 11-12 | Ages 13-15 | Ages 16-18 | Adults Published | Adults Non-Published
After April 1st, visit the Clatskanie Library website for contest rules and entry forms.
Awards will be publicly presented to winners on May 18th as part of the Raymond Carver Writing Festival.
2024 FESTIVAL SPONSORS
The Raymond Carver Writing Festival is sponsored by the Clatskanie Arts Commission, Clatskanie Library, Clatskanie Foundation, Wauna Credit Union, Clatskanie Farmer Collective, PGE Beaver and Port Westward, Astoria’s The Writers Guild, Clatskanie Senior Citizens - The Castle, C.C. Stern Type Foundry, Mother Foucault’s Bookshop, Clatskanie Safeway, Craft Printing House, Gumball Poetry; and by support from venues Flowers N Fluff, Colvin’s Pub & Grill, Fultano’s Pizza, Clatskanie Food Hub and Clatskanie Historical Society.
ARCHIVE: THE 2023 RAYMOND CARVER WRITING FESTIVAL WAS HELD MAY 19-20, 2023
2023 DINNER RESERVATION
Presentations of awards and readings by youth winners of the poetry contest in the Birkenfeld Theatre at the Cultural Center is set for 4:30 p.m. on May 20th, followed by dinner in the ballroom, at 5:30 p.m. Cost of the chicken fettuccini dinner and pie dessert is $20. Reservations are required and may be made online at
https://www.clatskaniearts.org
After dinner, the winners of the adult categories in the poetry contest will read their winning poems, followed by an open mic poetry jam.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MAY 19-20, 2023
Oregon Poet Laureate Anis Mojgani will be the featured presenter at a reception on Friday, May 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 S. Nehalem Street. The reception also will feature speakers on Carver’s connection to Clatskanie, local authors, and refreshments. There will also be a commemorative bookmark printing in collaboration with the C.C. Stern Type Foundry
Prior to the May 19th evening reception, a pop-up poetry booth will offer readings of Carver poems beginning at 1 p.m., festival information, maps for a self-guided walking tour of Carver’s birthplace, mural and sculpture, and the Clatskanie Historical Museum at the Castle where Carver memorabilia is on display. Also available for purchase will be keepsake posters and t-shirts, while supplies last.
A free showing of the 1993 movie, Short Cuts, based on Carver works is set for 2 p.m. May 19 in the Clatskanie Cultural Center’s Birkenfeld Theatre. The movie is R rated. Free popcorn will be available.
On the schedule for Saturday, May 20, will be workshops by Mojgani, Michael Mills, host of the Raymond Carver Podcast; Marianne Monson, founder and president of Astoria's The Writer’s Guild, and Cathlamet poet Dayle Olson.
Presentations of awards and readings by youth winners of the poetry contest in the Birkenfeld Theatre at the Cultural Center is set for 4:30 p.m. on May 20th, followed by dinner in the ballroom, at 5:30 p.m. Cost of the chicken fettuccini dinner and pie dessert is $20. Reservations are required and may be made online at
https://www.clatskaniearts.org
After dinner, the winners of the adult categories in the poetry contest will read their winning poems, followed by an open mic poetry jam.
2023 POETRY CONTEST
This poetry contest is open to young people, ages 8-18, who live in the Clatskanie School District and adults from the Lower Columbia region. Entries are limited to two poems per person. Cash prizes will be awarded and judged in each of the following age categories:
Ages 8-10 | Ages 11-12 | Ages 13-15 | Ages 16-18 | Adults Published | Adults Non-Published | Haiku (All ages)
The contest will kickoff with Poetry and Pie (Carver’s favorite dessert) from 5 to 7 p.m.
on Tuesday, April 4, at the Clatskanie Library, 11 Lillich Street.
2023 SPONSORS
The Raymond Carver Writing Festival is sponsored by the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Humanities, Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Historical Society, State Historical Preservation Office, Columbia County Cultural Coalition, Oregon Cultural Trust, Clatskanie Foundation, Clatskanie Library, Wauna Credit Union, Astoria's The Writer's Guild, C.C. Stern Type Foundry, Clatskanie Arts Commission, and Jerome White.