THE 2025 RAYMOND CARVER WRITING FESTIVAL MAY 3, 2025
The annual Raymond Carver Writing Festival will take place in Clatskanie, Oregon for a one-day celebration on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Check here for updates and get in touch if you would like to be involved in planning the next gathering of writers here in Raymond Carver’s birthplace. (Updated November 2024)
ARCHIVE: THE 2024 RAYMOND CARVER WRITING FESTIVAL WAS HELD MAY 17-18, 2024
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 RAYMOND CARVER WRITING FESTIVAL POETRY CONTEST WINNERS
Ages 8-10 Years First Place—Audrey Hepler, Second Place—Emily Fuller
Ages 11-12 Years First Place—Annabelle Byrne, Second Place—Hailee Neely
Ages 13-15 Years First Place—Olivia Fantus, Second Place—Kylee Smith
Ages 16-18 Years First Place—Estella Hamilton, Second Place—Tristan Reeves-Bocanegra
Adult First Place—Mandy Ellen, Second Place—Casey Twining
Support for this contest was provided by Wauna Credit Union, PGE, and the Clatskanie Arts Commission.
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. Read more about this year’s participants here.
(Last updated: May 13, 2024)
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), and more …
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”
This workshop has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Please join us at The Castle at 11:15am to learn more about our regional history and see Carver memorabilia.
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/brief regional history and Carver memorabilia
12:30-12:45pm at the Carver Mural/old Clatskanie hospital building
Presenter/Reader: Michael Calvin Mills + you!
1-1:15pm at Evenson Logging Co. parking area
Presenters/Readers: Deborah Hazen, Chad Wriglesworth + you!
1:30-1:45pm at Raymond Carver Memorial Sculpture/Cope’s Park
Readers: 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
GUMBALL POETRY:
April 18th (Poem in Your Pocket Day)-May 19th, 2024
A new issue of “Gumball Poetry” presented by Benjamin Parzybok is installed at the Clatskanie Library especially for the 2024 Raymond Carver Writing Festival! The Gumball Poetry kiosk contains 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 | Adult
April 1-30, 2024 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.