Each week, Literary Arts staff will round up news, events, and more happening in the literary community. Let us know if you have any events or news to share.
WHAT WE’RE READING
Beverly Cleary: Plucky, adventurous kids can be fun! (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Capturing the Moment – Stories from a Pandemic (Regional Arts & Culture Council)
Seeing Cleary (Powell’s Book Blog)
A touching tribute to Beverly Cleary from Powell’s Books staff.
VIRTUAL EVENTS
PSU ALUMNI READING (Portland State University)
Friday, April 9 at 4:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Featuring Chelsea Bieker, Susan Leslie Moore, and Candace Jane Opper
Free & open to all, with ASL interpretation
Register here to receive a Zoom link
Jeff Vandermeer in conversation with Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Friday, April 9, 2021
6:00–7:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Tickets are $32 and include a copy of Hummingbird Salamander.
Presented by San Antonio Book Festival in partnership with Portland Book Festival
Wordplay Festival: West x Midwest presents Cheryl Strayed in conversation with Alison Bechdel
Thursday, May 6
2:00–3:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Wordplay Festival: West x Midwest presents Intercontinental Series: Catherine Chung with Helen Oyeyemi
Friday, May 7
10:00–11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
BIPOC mentorship program (Street Roots)
Street Roots is seeking an emerging writer of color who is interested in learning more about journalism for our 4- to 6-month mentorship program. The mentee would be mentored by a reporter or editor at Street Roots, who will help them develop several articles for publication.
There are no prerequisites required for this program other than a passion for writing about issues that matter to our community.
The mentee would get a crash course in reporting, as well as some published articles for their portfolio. When appropriate, Street Roots will retain graduates of the program as paid freelance writers, or assist them in finding their next internship or a job in journalism with one of our media partners.
While we hope to develop this program into an opportunity that pays a living wage, at this time writers will be compensated $300 to $400 for each of their published articles. However, time spent learning from and shadowing the mentor would be unpaid. The total number of hours and schedule for this program are flexible and will depend on the availability and needs of the mentee.
To apply, please send a writing sample and cover letter explaining a little about yourself and why you’re interested in this opportunity to Street Roots Managing Editor Emily Green at emily@streetroots.org. Please put “Mentorship Program” in the subject line of the email. Deadline to apply for the Summer 2021 mentorship position is April 30 at midnight.
More Writing Opportunities at Street Roots
Call for Submissions for “Climate” (Oregon Humanities)
Submissions due April 11
For the summer issue of Oregon Humanities magazine, we want to hear stories and ideas about what global climate change means for the people and land of this place. Tell us about how climate change and its myriad consequences affect your work, or how you choose what work to do; how you raise your children, or whether you decide to have them; how you vote; where you live; what you eat. How are Oregonians adapting to climate change personally and politically? Who are building visionary communities in these rapidly changing climates? What possibilities does climate change provide, and what does it foreclose? What about other kinds of climate—political winds, social ambiance, architecture and infrastructure, work environment, and other prevailing conditions?
If you are interested, submit one proposal or one draft by Sunday, April 11, 2021, to editors@oregonhumanities.org.
The City of Portland is seeking candidates to serve as our next Creative Laureate.
FOR KIDS/ TEENS
Bodecker Foundation Spring Workshops
Led by professional artists, writers, musicians, and educators, our FREE creative workshops for high school students include a mix of online group activities and offline individual and/or collaborative project work. Class size is generally limited to 12 students.
Game Changers: Youth-led Action on Climate Change
Wednesday, April 21 from 5:00—6:30 p.m.
Join Art Works for Change, the ISB Intersectional Activism club, and Beaverton City Library for a climate change-themed game night, featuring student art, poetry, and presentations from climate change organizations. This event is one of a series of interactive experiences to promote action on climate change, and is part of a new storytelling project that will help people visualize the impact of global warming and the pathways to solving the climate crisis. All ages are welcome. Registration required; register with an email address and we’ll email the link prior to the event.
Submit your Climate-Change Themed Limerick
Deadline: April 15 to be featured at the Game Changers event above.
For students in Washington Co., Oregon.
Virtual Genre-Based Writing Camps (Write the World)
In each session, up to 25 campers will explore new styles of writing and connect across continents as they create pieces they’re proud of. Writers of all levels are invited to participate in the following offerings (for full camp descriptions, please click here):
Sci-Fi/Fantasy — July 5-9
Screenwriting — July 12-16
Writing Poetry for Social Justice — July 19-23
Flash Fiction — July 26-30
Writing to Change the World — August 2-6
Humor Writing — August 9-13
Learning from Agents & Editors: Writing for Publication — August 16-20
Micro Memoirs — August 23-27
AND MORE…
Photoshoot: Six Oregon Poets, by K.B. Dixon (Oregon ArtsWatch)
Blog cover image: Photo by Jaredd Craig on Unsplash
