"Write to Wreck Your Life"

(note: It is not that I don't have anything to say, but it is that I have been over the top busy recently: my first Paddling Poet - kayaking and writing - workshop is tonight and I've been making final plans for that; the Cascade Lakes Relay is in two weeks and, as captain, there has been increased activity in final preparations for that; training for the relay; a yard that needed - needs - immediate attention 'or else' ... Then there's the novel in revision and still working on completing the final draft of the memoir... So, luckily, there are many great events coming up and I'll pass them along as I run across them. I will return to writing more original posts - I promise! Meanwhile - this looks like an entertaining evening. I will be there at the Willamette Writers Conference - as volunteer and attendee.)


....from New Oregon Arts & Letters...

Write to Wreck Your Life: Chuck Palahniuk Live at Willamette Writers

There's no one quite like homegrown Northwest writer Chuck Palahniuk. Author of Fight Club and Tell-All, Palahniuk is a sometimes prankster who writes about death, sex, fighting, and fidgeting in a style that has been described as minimalistic and nihilistic, and that is apt to make audience members faint at some of his readings.

Chuck will inform Portland audiences how to “Write to Wreck Your Life (and Get a Better One)” at the Willamette Writers Conference banquet August 7.   “Writing about the most‐risky, most‐challenging subjects can feel miserable," he explains, "but that suffering will vault you to becoming a stronger, braver person. You might have to sacrifice your short‐term comfort and happiness, but that effort will bring you more happiness and success than you’d ever dreamed possible."

More information and reservations at www.willamettewriters.com or 503‐452‐1592.
—by Lisa Parsons

Night of Writing Dangerously

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Over the last couple of years I have written frequently about NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month ). It has been a great exercise, an amazing and inspiring experience, and the novel I am currently revising towards publication originated during the event. This year I am going one step further and plan to attend the "Night of Writing Dangerously" in San Francisco. This fundraiser is not for me - but for the parent organization and their Young Writers' Program, as well as NaNoWriMo.

The following is the official fundraising letter.

On November 21st, the Office of Letters and Light will be bringing together the most mighty of endurance novelists for an event that will define our generation forever. I'm speaking, of course, of National Novel Writing Month's Night of Writing Dangerously. It's a write-a-thon, and it will take place in downtown San Francisco at the beautiful Julia Morgan Ballroom.

I will be there, writing my heart out and raising money for the Office of Letters and Light, NaNoWriMo's parent nonprofit. Attendees like me must raise $200 to get in the door, and from there, a rich array of prizes, delicious food, and sumptuous writing time awaits.

But this is not about me getting a treat-filled night of literary abandon. This is about children and adults getting the encouragement, structure, and inspiration they need to achieve their creative potential. Proceeds from the event will fund National Novel Writing Month's free creative writing programs in hundreds of schools and communities around the world.

The Office of Letters and Light does inspiration like nobody else (did I mention they're making me write an entire novel this November?). And on their behalf, I am asking you to donate.

Thank you for supporting me in my novel-writing quest, and for helping the Office of Letters and Light create a more engaged and inspiring world.

If you'd like to make a donation to help support the Young Writer's Program and NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) - which will help get me qualified to be a Night of Writing Dangerously participant, visit my fundraising page - every $5, or $10, or $20 will help!

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A Not-to-miss Event

If you're in the Portland, OR, area on August 15th, this is a not to be missed event. Unfortunately, I am already scheduled for work or I would defninitely be there.

This has been one of the highlights of my year for the last few years: The Richard Foreman Mini Festival, sponsored by Linda Austin of Performance Works Northwest.

There are two performances - mostly different, with one or two overlaps - that have been on separate nights. This year there are two performances on one date.

This event is great for writers, performers, musicians, visual artists, playwrights - anyone who likes creativity and performance. This mini-festival has it all and I love the premise.

A phenomenal lineup of venturesome theater, dance, video and literary artists from Portland have accepted PWNW's dare to put together a short performance piece in ten days based on text selected from the notebooks of avant-garde writer/director Richard Foreman.

At 12:01 am on August 5, the performers will be given the text plus a few simple restrictions; ten days later audiences will be amused, bemused, shocked, and/or enlightened by the performance, dance, video that overflow the Someday Lounge stage. This year's text---which the artists will have the freedom to cut, paste, rearrange, and add to from other sources---will be selected and the rules of engagement devised by Chris Piuma.

Richard Foreman's "notebooks," which he makes available for anyone to use, are available to peruse here:  http://ontological.com/RF/notebooks.html

Event: 8th Annual Richard Foreman Mini-Festival
Time: Sunday, August 15 at 5:00pm - 9:30pm
Where: Someday Lounge
Purchase Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets

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"Paddling Poet" Writing Workshop Reminder

Reminder: There are still space available in the first kayaking-writing workshop that is taking place on Thursday, July 15th! Call Ridgefield Kayak to register (see below for contact information).

Paddling Poet:

a creativity series that is not for poets only

Dot Hearn, poet and author, has teamed up with Ridgefield Kayak

to offer creativity workshops on the water.

A two-hour guided paddle on Lake River with the intent

to be in flow with the water, the wildlife,

letting nature be our guide

and our muse.

Join us as we share poetry and inspiration,

being present as our creativity blooms.

Writing and note-taking time will be included.

Dates:

Thursday, July 15th; Thursday, August 5th; Friday, August 27th

Location:

Ridgefield Kayak in Ridgefield, WA

visit their website for directions 

Time:

Thursdays we will meet at 6:00 pm for paperwork and discussion; paddle begins at 6:30, returning to the boat house at 8:30.

Friday we will meet at 10:30 am, and paddle from 11 – 1.

Cost:

$55 each session, which includes kayak rental, paddle, PFD, and guide.

Pre-registration is required

by contacting Ridgefield Kayak at (360) 727-3120 or (503) 319-1146
and paying the $35 paddling fee. The balance of $20 will be due at the time of the workshop, payable to Dot Hearn.

photograph c. Ridgefield Kayak

truth in a picture

I still haven't found the words to describe my experience rafting the Grand Canyon. The saying about a picture being worth a thousand words comes true in the picture below. My MissFit Dragons teammate, Joanie, and I went on a little hike exploration the first day. We climbed up and over some boulders and a couple of rock ledges; she went up another layer of boulders and rocks to see if there was a path up there and didn't see one. (We found out the next morning that there is one up there; but, it being our first night on the river, we didn't want to get ourselves into trouble when we couldn't see a path or a trail...)

I didn't realize Joanie took this picture of me. And I'm glad she did. It summarizes quite accurately how I'm feeling right now about being there for eight days - wow, big, openness, incredible, amazing, inspired, happy. Awe.

And, yes, I would go back. I will go back.

photograph by JD Sampson

Big Tent Poetry event

I admit that I'd never heard of "Big Tent Poetry" until today. But there it was in my blog reader - via Sage Cohen's blog, "Writing the Life Poetic." Unfortunately, I can't go to the event - but I am reading up on Big Tent Poetry and will be reading up about that group and their offerings (readings, workshops, etc). It looks great - and I wish I could go - maybe the next one!

...from Sage Cohen:

July 17, noon: Big Tent Poetry reading and celebration

I'll be hosting a Big Tent Poetry reading on Saturday, July 17 featuring a number of poets involved in Big Tent Poetry, an online site that provides weekly poetry writing prompts, friendly community, inspiration and fun. Come on out and celebrate poetry with  Big Tent Poetry founders, contributors and participants. Featured poets will include Tiel Aisha Ansari, Sage Cohen, Dale Favier, Deb Scott and Carolee Sherwood. We'd love to see you there.

Saturday, July 17, 2010
12:00pm - 1:00pm
St Johns Booksellers
8622 North Lombard Street

You can read more about the poets at Writing the Life Poetic.

photograph, Boys Looking Into Circus Tent,
   on Flickr by Wisconsin Historical Images

Return

I arrived home yesterday afternoon from the 8-day rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. It was an amazing experience: incredible people (friends, new friends, guides, and swampers), scenery that makes one's mouth drop open, water and water and more water, layer upon layer of rock with the oldest dated at 1.8 billion years. And more. I'm still integrating it all and wondering how to incorporate the vastness of space and time and breath into my life here.

I will write more soon - but, for now, here is one picture of our descent into the lower Havasu pools. The two rafts are on the other side and down a little, tied tightly to the rocks because the pull-over place for the large rafts is in the lower end of a rapids. We climbed up and over and around the slabs and rocks and into the Havasu canyon. Then we had to wind through a trail over more rocks and sand, and then, as seen below, make a descent where it required sitting on our butts and sliding, letting our left foot catch on a small lump of a rock in the slick surface and find our footing with our right. Then climb and step over more boulders to get to where I am standing to take a picture. We went up further to what our guides called the "big kids' pools" - which were amazing. A few of our group hiked up another three or so miles into the heat of the canyon to another squat waterfall; I stayed with the majority of the group at the big pools. More on that later.

More on all of it later.

For now, enjoy the view!

Descent Into Havasu Canyon

by Dot Hearn

day 8: Grand Canyon rafting

This is the final day on the river. We will motor the last 40 miles or so to the take-out. Then a three-hour or so bus ride back to Las Vegas. To a shower, clean clothes, a real bed. I followed their advice and will be staying overnight. The time we'll get back to Las Vegas is unknown and they recommend not trying to catch a late flight in case it's later than expected.

day 7: Grand Canyon rafting

I think this is the last day of rapids. I know that tomorrow - the final day on the river - has 40 miles of flatwater through which we will be motoring.  I thought this video with a view from within the raft was fitting. And fun. Hold on!