At Literary Arts, our Writers in the Schools (WITS) program hires professional writers to teach creative writing residencies in public high school classrooms in Portland, Woodburn, and Gresham. Residencies culminate in student readings, our annual anthology publishing student work from these creative writing residencies, and a celebration at Portland Book Festival.
Belen Mendoza Cortes was a WITS student at Woodburn Wellness, Business and Sports School (WeBSS) and was published in the 2021–22 anthology, To The End, Through the Tunnel, which is named after a line from her poem. She then read her poem at Portland Book Festival in November 2022 (watch an excerpt here) in front of a crowd of around 200, followed by a reading at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in February 2023 in front of over 1,700. Read below for a Q&A with this remarkable young writer.
- Congratulations on being published in this year’s Writers in the Schools anthology, To the End, Through the Tunnel, which is titled after a line from your poem! How has your experience been getting published?
My experience has been phenomenal, something I would have never thought would happen. I know that it is probably what many people say. Still, it has truly been a massive accomplishment for me. Writing has always been a passion of mine. Yet, I never thought to pursue it seriously, probably because I lacked confidence in my writing, but I have grown so much as a person and as a writer over this whole process. I also tend to downplay a lot of stuff, so I kept it hidden when I first found out. I was not ready to share my work with the world, but the more and more people congratulated me, especially people I had never talked to before; I realized this wasn’t just an accomplishment for me but also for my family and my community.
- In November, you read your poem “The Room at the End of Apartment 20” at the 2022 Portland Book Festival to nearly 200 festival attendees, and in January 2023, you read it at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to an audience of over 1,700 readers. What was it like? Were there any similarities or differences between the two that stood out?
The reading at the Portland Book Festival was the first time I had ever read my poetry out loud to an audience. I was beyond nervous and had been preparing for it in advance, yet I was worried about missing a word or stuttering. I wanted to own my story, which is something that I’ve struggled a lot for in the past. And in a way, I was reading it to my parents and my siblings.
The second time, at the Arlene Schnitzer Hall, I felt as if I was reading it for myself. As if all the effort up to this point had been worth it. I was a lot less nervous and a lot more excited; I had been able to come into my own identity and embrace it. The experience was surreal; my sister and I still joke about how we were taken backstage and given food, just like you see in the movies. It was one of those moments where you feel like you belong, like you were made to do this.
- We’d love to hear what it’s like to have a professional writer lead a creative writing residency in your classroom. What was the most inspiring part of the class?
This is actually interesting because when I submitted my poem, I wasn’t a student in Sanderson’s class; I would hang out in his classroom a lot. But I did partake in some of the activities of the class. JP, the writer in residency, was always so welcoming and encouraging, and I know I wasn’t the only one that felt like that. Targeting the youth is so important to offer them opportunities to thrive, and this residency program did just that. When you have someone that believes in you, it really makes an impact. That’s why I am so grateful to JP and CJ, who was my writer-in-residence when I had Sanderson class, and to Sanderson for going above and beyond; he has put so much time and effort into making this collaboration happen, and there’s not a lot of people that willing to do that; he’s truly amazing.
“Targeting the youth is so important to offer them opportunities to thrive, and this residency program did just that. When you have someone that believes in you, it really makes an impact.”
4. Who’s your favorite poet and/or poem? Why?
My favorite poetry book of all time is Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo. It’s the book that got me into poetry and sparked my love for it. I had never before read a book that caught my attention so quickly. I read it before bed, during class periods, and during passing periods. Reading about people you can identify with was so rare for me, even living in a heavily Hispanic environment. In every poem, there was something I could relate to; with the witty jokes and the use of Spanglish, I felt seen. Now, I feel like we see more representation for the Latino community, so to be a part of that really brings me joy.
- Where are your favorite places in Oregon to write?
My favorite place to write is my room. My room is my safe haven, where I can go and leave the rest of the world behind. It is a place where I can let my imagination flourish. There are no boundaries; it’s limitless.
- What advice would you give to other students taking classes with residencies taught by Writers in the Schools instructors who hope to be published?
Portland Book Festival’s anthology launch
My advice to other students is to always, always, always try because you never know when the opportunity will arise. Ask the residents for questions. They are there to help and support you. And to keep writing, even if it’s just a little. I know it can be difficult sometimes to find time or space in your day, but do it for fun, don’t make it into an obligation because, in the end, writing is a way to express yourself freely.
- Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience with Literary Arts?
My experience with Literary Arts was great! I worked with a couple of people, and they were all so welcoming and attentive, always trying to make me feel comfortable. Olivia was amazing; she was always happy to answer any questions or concerns. I am just grateful to Literary Arts for the opportunity and all of the great work that they do!
From Writers in the Schools to Students to the Schnitz, your support helps engage and inspire the readers and writers of tomorrow like Belen Mendoza Cortes. Give today.
