Writing Events, Resources, and Opportunities for Writers and Poets in Vancouver, WA and beyond!

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​​Family Friendly Beatnick Hootenanny (Poetry, Music, Dance, Reading & Conversation, etc.)

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***Collaborate & Meet Cool People in Downtown Camas!***

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Location: LiveWell Camas: Non-Profit Yoga & Fitness for All, 417 NE Birch St, Camas, WA 98607

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Date: Every First Friday @ 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

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No cost. Always Free to Attend. However, donations to LiveWell Yoga Studio are always welcome.

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LiveWell Website: https://www.livewellcamas.com/

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Ghost Town Poetry Open Mic

 

***Featuring Erin Aurelia on December 11th!***

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Location: Art at the Cave, 108 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98660

 

Date & Time: Second Thursdays of each month from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (arrive early to sign up to read!)

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• Featured readers with open mic

• LGBTQ+ friendly, pro-science, anti-fascist, pro-choice, all ages, and uncensored since 2004

• Suggested donation: $5.00 made in person or through Christopher Luna’s PayPal account (christopherjluna@gmail.com); include a memo stating that your payment is for Ghost Town Poetry

• Contact Christopher Luna and Morgan Paige, hosts, at christopherjluna@gmail.com

• Visit https://printedmattervancouver.com/ and  https://www.facebook.com/GhostTownPoetryOpenMic/

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​​​​​​Youth Uptown Poetry Workshop at the Metallion Cafe

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Location: Metallion Cafe, 1906 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98660.

 

Date & Time: First Sunday of each month (December 7th) from 5 pm - 6:15 pm​

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For ages 19 y.o. and under. ​​

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 Contact: Rachel Hunter, 360-750-5693

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Youth Uptown Poetry encourages local youth to share their voices and written word in a

safe and supportive environment. All youth 19 and under are welcome to attend and

share. All ages are welcome to join and listen. Family friendly and reoccurring every first

Sunday of the month.

 

Hosts: Rachel Hunter, Jacob D. Salzer, & Elmo Shade

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GENERAL GUIDELINES:

• Youth Uptown Poetry creates a safe and inclusive platform for all readers

• Generative writing from prompts & readings, as well as table discussions

• Bring writing instruments & notebooks for each meeting

• Read your original work or favorite poems 

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The Work - Saturday Poetry Workshop with Christopher Luna

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***A Highly Recommended Poetry Workshop!*** 

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Location: The Vancouver Arts Hub:1007 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98663

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Date & Time: Saturday, December 13th 2 pm to 5 pm (last The Work of 2025) ​

 

• A poetry workshop series lead by Christopher Luna with example poems, prompts/questions, generative writing time, sharing, and constructive feedback with fellow writers and poets

• There is a suggested $25 donation to attend. People will not be turned away for lack of funds.

• More info can be found here.

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*** from Celeste Colasurdo:

 

“Thursday, December 4, 2 pm in the Multnomah Arts Center’s Dance Studio: I will introduce and present information and then read poems.

 

Dec 4, 5, 6 Multnomah Art Center Holiday Sale: there will be a table with books and assorted calligraphy for sale.

 

Dec 7, Oregon Historical Society Holiday Cheer Sale: I will be at an author’s table with books for sale. Thank you so much for your interest and support. I hope to see you in Portland. In gratitude, Celeste Colasurdo”

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Poetry in Motion is a one-night performance of interdisciplinary collaboration between poets and the dancers who bring spoken word to life. Watch spoken word come alive through the language of dance! Poetry in Motion is a ONE-NIGHT-ONLY showcase performance that combines the raw energy of spoken word with dynamic, expressive movement. Dancers and poets come together to create original, unique pieces that invite the audience to soak each word into your body and feel poetry in a new way. Tickets: $18 in advance, $20 at the door

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/poetry-in-motion-tickets-1918607369289

 

Venue: Dekum Street Theater, 814 Northeast Dekum Street Portland, OR 97211

 

Date: December 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM (Pacific Time)

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Shut Up & Write - Vancouver, WA ​

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***A Safe Space to Write & Meet Local Writers!*** 

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SU&W Vancouver Meetup Webpage: https://www.meetup.com/shutupandwritevancouverwa/?eventOrigin=your_groups

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Location: The ARTS Centered: 1007 E Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98663​

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Date & Time: Every Tuesday each week from 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm PST

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Host: Leela Ha, with Co-Hosts: Jacob D. Salzer, Tyler Wickstrom, Christiana, and Armin Tolentino

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The Arts Centered Website: https://theartscentered.org/

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We need to raise $2,000/year to pay for the space.

 

Suggested Donations can be made at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-make-a-difference-theartscentered (make a note that your donation is for Shut Up and Write!, and adjust the transaction fee as you wish)​​​​​​​​​

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Humble Poets (open mic)

 

Location: The Stacks Coffee House, 1831 N Killingsworth St., Portland, OR 97217

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Date & Time: Sunday, December 14th @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

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Humble Poets open mic is usually on the last Sunday of every month.

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We are encouraging poets and storytellers to come share their works, and musical accompaniments are welcome as well. The address is 1831 N. Killingsworth (between Interstate and Denver). And even though poets are generally quite wealthy, this event will be free, with only a suggested donation for those who can. Hope to see you all there!

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Website: https://oregonpoets.org/events/humble-poets-open-mic/

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Poetry Street PNW (featured poet + open mic) – The Camas Public Library​​

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***Featuring Poet Legend Christopher Diaz***

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Location: Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave., Camas, WA 98607

 

Date & Time: Wednesday, December 10th from 6:15 pm to 7:45 pm (Day Change)

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*** Usually every fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:15 pm to 7:45 pm ***

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• A Poetry Open Mic Where Every Voice Is Heard

• Read Aloud Your Original or Favorite Work, and Listen to Monthly Featured Poets.

• All Ages Welcome. Family Friendly. No swearing.

• Hosted by our Clark County Poet Laureate, Susan Dingle and her co-host Julie Sparling

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Library website: https://www.cityofcamas.us/library

 

Event calendar: https://camaspl.librarycalendar.com/events/​​

 

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Support Your Local Bookstores!

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White Oak Books (in uptown Vancouver, WA): https://whiteoakbooks.net/

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Birdhouse Books (in downtown Vancouver, WA): https://birdhousebooks.store/

 

Birdhouse Books is merging with Ronald Records: https://www.ronaldrecords.club/

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Autumn Leaf Books (in Camas, WA): https://autumnleafbookstore.com/see-the-store

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Willamette Writers: Community. Craft. Career.​​

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When: No Meeting in December 2025

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Where: Three Creeks Community Library: 800 NE Tenney Rd, Vancouver, WA 98685​

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Time: Doors Open at 6:15 pm, and program begins at 6:30 and runs until 7:45 pm

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***Check out the calendar for more events + info: https://willamettewriters.org/vancouver/***

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***Our Vancouver Chapter meets the Second Monday of the month, except for August and December.***​​

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About your chapter meetings

Willamette Writers meetings are open to all writers, 18 and up. Young writers are encouraged to join our Young Willamette Writers meetings. Guests are welcome to make a donation to help support the cost of the meeting (we believe in paying our speakers for their time and skills). This meeting is run by volunteers. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Willamette Writers is the largest writers organization in the Pacific Northwest. Willamette Writers Chapters are local writing communities where writers improve their craft and acquire the career skills required in today’s publishing world.

 

The Vancouver Chapter meets at: Three Creeks Community Library, 800-C NE Tenney Road, Vancouver, WA 98685

 

Vancouver Willamette Writers meets monthly, online and in-person at the Three Creeks Community Library. Please make sure you check the events calendar for meeting details, as they are subject to change. We welcome members from other chapters and all writers aged 18 and older (unless otherwise stated).

 

Become a Willamette Writers Member today to enjoy membership benefits and discounts.

 

Our Vancouver Chapter meets the Second Monday of the month, except for August and December. Check our events calendar to confirm any changes.

 

Vancouver Chapter website: https://willamettewriters.org/vancouver/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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The Timberline Review: A Literary Magazine from Willamette Writers

 

https://www.timberlinereview.com/

 

The Timberline Review is an all-volunteer literary journal published by Willamette Writers. Our focus is on showcasing emerging talent. We are proud to share our new issue of the Timberline Review, available now at Bookshop.org and Amazon.

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The Portland Haiku Group

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We meet on the 3rd Saturday of each month

 

Location: Sellwood Community House (SCH), 1436 SE Spokane St, Portland 97202 

 

Our mission is to provide a respectful, fun meeting for all people where we can come together to share our haiku and other short poems and support each other in the further development and appreciation of poetry forms frequently originating from the Japanese culture.

 

Date & Times: ​We meet in-person on the 3rd Saturday of the month from noon to 2 pm at the Sellwood Community House (SCH), 1436 SE Spokane St, Portland 97202 

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• The Sellwood Community House charges $3 to attend.

• To join our mailing list, please contact Shelley Baker-Gard at: sbakergard@msn.com

• Sellwood Community House website: https://www.sellwoodcommunityhouse.org/

• We also have bi-monthly Zoom meetings (for HSA* Oregon poets and others). 

• Regarding the bi-monthly Zoom meetings, please contact Tanya McDonald at: tanyamc1375@gmail.com for details.

 

For more information, please contact Shelley Baker-Gard at: sbakergard@msn.com 

 

*HSA = Haiku Society of America. To become an HSA member, please click here. (more information is below)

 

The Portland Haiku Group Website: https://jsalzer.wixsite.com/portlandhaikugroup

 

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The Haiku Society of America

 

“The Haiku Society of America is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1968 to promote the writing and appreciation of haiku in English. Membership is open to all readers, writers, and students of haiku.”

 

Website: https://www.hsa-haiku.org/index.htm

 

Frogpond: The Journal of the Haiku Society of America

https://www.hsa-haiku.org/frogpond/index.html

 

Frogpond Submissions: https://www.hsa-haiku.org/frogpond/submissions.html

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To become an HSA member: https://www.hsa-haiku.org/join.htm

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Western Washington Poets Network

 

An online listing of 91 poetry and critique groups in 28 cities and 125 venues for poets each month!

 

https://www.westernwashingtonpoetsnetwork.org/home