Schedule

Available from venue opening times to closing at various locations
Find the cards at: Carver Mural/old Clatskanie hospital building, Clatskanie Library, Clatskanie Food Hub, Cryptoid Cookies, Fultano’s Pizza, Raymond Carver Memorial Sculpture in Cope’s Park, The Castle, Flowers n Fluff

Self guided. Pop in to sponsoring sites, pick up a keepsake print and spend a few minutes writing to short prompts from festival writers. A different printed prompt will be offered at each location, so plan on stealing time for all of them!

Tables will feature publications and information from presenting authors, volunteers and regional literary organizations. 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, book bags and badges.

Welcome to the Raymond Carver Writing Festival!
Featured presenter: Alice Derry (Port Angeles, WA)
Guest presenter: Marj Hogan (Portland, OR)
Award presentation and readings from the winners of the 2025 Poetry Contest in both youth and adult (over 18) categories.
Awards presented by Estrella Brown, Maryanne Hirning, Mandy Ellen.

Focused writing time at lunch! Pick up printed prompts from host locations and spend some time responding in community.

Readers: Craig Brandis (Lake Oswego, OR), Jon Broderick (Cannon Beach, OR), Florence Sage (Astoria, OR), Tess Gallagher (Port Angeles, WA)

Presenter: Marj Hogan
To prepare for this workshop, you might: (a) create or find a transcript of you or someone else describing their daily work (paid or unpaid), (b) do nothing at all. When we get together, we’ll do a warm-up, generative exercise and then approach writing poetry about work using two different strategies. Some questions it might be fun to think about in advance: What have your various jobs given you? What have they taken from you? How has your body changed because of your labor? What language and skills do you have that someone outside of your work does not have?

Registration appreciated, but not required.

Readers: Tess Gallagher … and you!
Tess will start us off by reading a selection of Carver and Gallagher poems and shared anectodes. Then it’s your turn. Bring a poem to share (one that inspires you or one you wrote) and read to those assembled in the parking lot!

Readers: Janet Ebert (Astoria, OR), Robert Michael Pyle (Grays River, WA), Gary Copeland Lilley (Port Angeles, WA)

Seasonal Farm-to-table food featuring locally grown savory delights. Non-alcoholic beverages supplied, beer and wine available for purchase.
Reservations are required, cost is $20 per person.

Purchase dinner ticket

An opportunity for festival participants to share their words in a supportive and fun atmosphere, sign-ups will be available all day and on site in case of last minute inspiration.