We did it. And by “we” I mean ALL of us: friends of 49 writers, volunteers, members of the new 49 Alaska Writing Center, broader members of the Alaska writing and reading community. From Ketchikan to Barrow, we came together this year and propelled our vision from its virtual origins into a physical reality, anchored […]
We Did It! 49@Raven Place opening a smash hit! Read More »
A few more photos from the May 22 Heather Lende fundraiser! Jen, our Green Thumb volunteer, reacting to her lovely pipecleaner flower award. Deb, co-founder of the 49 Alaska Writing Center, tells us how we arrived at this day. Whew! Special guest Heather Lende signs a book for volunteer event leader Paula. Note the mug
That’s what I promised, in print, that attendees at our upcoming May 22 fundraiser would get: a “sneek peak” at Raven Place. Just a little embarrassing, to misspell two words side-by-side in an announcement about a writing center. I missed it completely. It was my kids, ages 15 and 12, who pointed out the error
Andromeda: “Sneek Peak” and other thoughts on imperfection Read More »
Constructing a new website for the writing center, and I’d like to have some quotes about writing that refresh each time one visits. Here’s a quote that’s been hanging on my bookcase for years: “You should have the feeling, as every experienced writer has, that there are more ideas where that one came from, and
Andromeda: I need your inspiring writing quotes! Read More »
Poets fixing light switches. Novelists painting trim. Journalists and creative nonfiction writers and screenwriters raking, scraping, hammering, even — my heart soars with gratitude — scrubbing out a toilet. It was a fantastic day last Saturday at Raven Place, the 49 Alaska Writing Center’s new home on L Street. (“L for literature!”) We had sun,
Andromeda: Drill, Baby, Drill — Work Party Success at Raven Place Read More »
The 49 Alaska Writing Center now has a home with a name: Raven Place. As of today, we have a key. Pop the champagne! We’re still finishing paperwork (will there ever be an end to paperwork?) but time is short. We plan to have an evening fundraiser on May 22, and we plan to open
We have a key! 30 Days to Opening Raven Place Read More »
Spent the day looking at real estate with Deb (who was, thank goodness, a realtor in her past life) and facing some very exciting but urgent, time-sensitive decisions. Does this look like a little Alaska writing center to you? (Note that just a few yards to the left is Snow City Cafe, with great coffee
Sometimes, opportunity knocks… but when do you listen? Read More »
When Deb and I started researching the viability of an Alaska writing center several months ago, we wanted to aim for thoroughness. From the beginning — and always knowing these ideas would evolve as we get input from more Alaska writers, and learning all along the way — we considered things like our starting rationale
Andromeda: On Transparency and the Writing Center Vision Read More »
We asked lurkers to step forward, and here’s one of several who did: Vivian Faith Prescott, an Alaskan MFA poet writing to us from Puerto Rico. Before reading Vivian’s post, which arrived via email, I figured some folks refrained from commenting out of shyness. Now I’m thinking that perhaps a ‘comment’ is simply too limiting
A writer from Wrangell/Puerto Rico on the Alaska Writing Center Read More »
On my trip last week to Seattle and Denver, I had a great time meeting directors of many Lower 48 Writing Centers. I also discovered that these centers have their own combined organizational identity as part of the “WC & C” (Writing Centers and Conferences) component of the 34,000-writer strong “AWP” (Association of Writers and
Andromeda: From the million-dollar Loft to the basement-based CityLit, models abound Read More »
