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.

FRIDAY MAY 17th

Publishers & Writers Fair
5pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, Ballroom
Vendor tables by local authors, regional writing organizations and presenters.
C.C. Stern Type Foundry (Clatskanie, OR), Clatskanie Historical Society (Clatskanie, OR), Clatskanie Library (Clatskanie, OR), Columbia River Writers Group (Clatskanie, OR), FisherPoets (Astoria, OR), Joseph Green/Peasandcues Press (Longview, WA), Scott MacGregor (Clatskanie, OR), Mother Foucault’s Books (Portland, OR), Kelley Jaquez (Clatskanie, OR), Laura Moulton (Portland, OR), Ben Parzybok/Gumball Poetry (Portland, OR), Raymond Carver Podcast (Port Angeles, WA), The Raymond Carver Review (online), Robert Michael Pyle (Grays River, WA), Salal Review (Longview, WA), Kim Stafford (Portland, OR), The Writer’s Guild (Astoria, OR)

A select assortment of Raymond Carver books will be for sale at the event. We’ll also have merch available from the Raymond Carver Writing Festival including commemorative posters, stickers, postcards and badges. Maybe even a few t-shirts in random sizes!

Reception
6-7:30pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, Ballroom
Welcome to the Raymond Carver Writing Festival!
Introduction: Deborah Hazen (Clatskanie, OR)
Guest presenter: Chad Wriglesworth, The Raymond Carver Review (Waterloo, ON), “A Particular Way of Seeing the World: Raymond Carver on the Craft of Writing”
Keynote speaker: Kim Stafford (Portland, OR), “Where I’m Writing From”

Evening Readings
7:30-8:30pm Storytelling/Prose at Fultano’s Pizza
Readers: Mac Stripling (Westport, OR), Ben Parzybok (Portland, OR), Scott MacGregor (Clatskanie, OR), Michael Mills (Port Angeles, WA)

7:45-8:45pm Poetry at Flowers n Fluff
Featured poet: Robert Michael Pyle
Readers: Marianne Monson (Astoria, OR), Joseph Green (Longview, WA), Robert Michael Pyle (Grays River, WA)

8:45-10:00pm Readings at Colvin’s Pub & Grill
Line-up curated by Mother Foucault's Bookshop
Readers: Ed Skoog (Portland, OR), Justin Taylor (Portland, OR)

SATURDAY MAY 18th

A Conversation about Writing: “The World According to You”
10-10:45am at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, Ballroom
Presenter: Kim Stafford (Portland, OR)
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.

“Prose Poetry as Memoir”
11-11:45am at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, Ballroom
Presenter: Asher Finch (Astoria, OR)
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. 

“Overcoming Procrastination and Writer’s Block”
1-1:45pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, Ballroom
Presenter: Vicki (Vee) Lind (Portland, OR)
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.

“What We Write About When We Write About Love: A Readers Write Workshop”
2-3:30pm at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, Ballroom
Presenter: Nancy A. Cook (Astoria, OR)
This workshop will celebrate one of Ray’s most famous short stories “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”, which served as the creative inspiration for The Academy Award Best Picture “Birdman”. The workshop will include a brief history of the story, close reading focused on Carver’s fine minimalist craft, a pertinent clip from “Birdman”, and some fun writing prompts suited for nonfiction, story scenes, or poetry. This will be fun!  All are welcome! 

Explore Carver in Clatskanie 
A walking tour with presentations and participatory readings at local sites. Bring a poem or short story to share!
11:15-11:45am at The Castle/Thomas J. Flippin House/Clatskanie Historical Society
Presenter: Deborah Hazen + time to browse memorabilia
12:30-12:45pm at the Carver Mural/old Clatskanie hospital building
Presenter: Michael Calvin Mills + you!
1-1:15pm at Evenson Logging Co. parking area
Presenters: Evenson Logging, Chad Wriglesworth + you!
1:30-1:45pm at Raymond Carver Memorial Sculpture/Cope’s Park
Presenters: Scott MacGregor, Ben Parzybok, Gumball Poetry + you!

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”. Bring your own favorite or select from poems provided to read aloud. This fun event is inspired by Tess Gallagher and Raymond Carver’s 1984 parking lot reading at this very site.
Hosted by Laura Moulton (Portland, OR) and the C.C. Stern Type Foundry (Clatskanie, OR)

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 Michael Mills, Laura Moulton, and Robert Michael Pyle. 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.
Award Presentors: Mayor Robert "Bob" Brajcich, with Joseph Green (poet) and Maryanne Hirning (librarian)

Festival Finale! : 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, beer and wine available for purchase.

… and a community pie potluck! (free)
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 (free)
Awards and readings from the winners of the 2024 Adult Poetry Contest
followed by an Open Mic Poetry Jam hosted by Joseph Green