Featured Writers

Victoria Clemente and Kassandra Wooden

Writing workshop participants at Po'Shines Cafe de la Soul which is a non-profit soul food cafe in North Portland that serves as a training facility for at-risk high school youth. The cafe also hosts many community events that foster expression and community dialogue, including "Cornbred" an evening of spoken word that happens every Friday Night.

Victoria, 17, and Kassandra, 18, live in Vancouver, Washington and attend Hudsons Way High School, where they are a junior and senior, respectively.

Victoria was born in Portland at Legacy Emanual Hospital and moved Vancouver when she was four. Kassandra and her family are moved to the Northwest four years ago from Texas. Both girls work at Little Angels Daycare in the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland, where Write Around Portland met up with them to talk about their workshop experience.

You can read more about Victoria and Kassandra (pictured, right) and their writing, which will be featured in our upcoming fall 2008 anthology, Now/Past/Future, and below.

Change Ain't That Hard

By Kassandra Wooden

Discovering life is a challenge. Right when I think I’ve figured it out, it slips away so fast. It’s like I’m always running. I’m trying to catch something I will never grasp. But I think I’ve got it. Maybe stop trying to live life and let life live me. Freedom flows from within and floods the streets. I escape all the deep problems of today, and the problems to come. Anything is obtainable. Yeah, I finally understand: Let Life Live me. I’ll stop fighting.

Naive Mind

By Victoria Clemente

When you are young and don’t know the difference between good and evil you often do what’s bad. But when you are old enough to know that bad is no good, then excuses don’t look so innocent and your mind will trick you into believing anything someone will tell you, but little do you know half the shyt they say is all lies—just a trick to get what’s gold to them. That’s when you sucker in and give up. Then all the sudden you become the bad guy. It hits you like a bat when you are no longer blind-folded and you realize what you are doing or have done is what they call Sin! And that’s when my eyes focused and reality hit!

Interview with featured writers Kassandra Wooden and Victoria Clemente

Biography writer and interviewer: Hollie Hefferman, Write Around Portland volunteer.

Victoria Clemete, 17, and Kassandra Wooden, 18, were two participants in the Po’shines Workshop this past fall. They live in Vancouver, Washington and attend Hudsons Way High School, where they are a junior and senior, respectively. Victoria was born in Portland at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and moved to Vancouver when she was four. Kassandra and her family moved to the Northwest four years ago from Texas. Both writers work at Little Angels Daycare in the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland, where Write Around Portland met up with them to talk about their workshop experience.

What was your experience like in a Write Around Portland workshop?

K: I didn't like used to like to write, even though people told me I was good at it. [The Write Around Portland experience] has made me more confident, and I write outside of the workshop now. I love writing again.

V: After a stressful week, the workshop allowed me to express my feelings, and I found it soothing. [Writing] reflects who you are, and gives you an opportunity to learn.

What did you get out of the workshop?

V: I learned that there are lots of ways of writing. It opened my mind. There is no actual right or wrong way to write; everyone has their own style.

How was your experience in the group? How did you feel about sharing with others, and hearing other people's work?

K: I was shy and scared at first, but the feedback from the group helped me. It was cool to see everyone grow and mature. I made a lot of new friends.

V: I was open with my writing, but uncomfortable with feedback. I didn't really know what to say! But I found others' stories inspiring and original. Sometimes I would use [the other writers'] pieces as writing prompts.

What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer?

K: It gave me a lot of confidence, and helped expand my creativity.

V: It made me stronger. I really listened to the feedback on my writing, and it has made me a better writer.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

K: Yes, I invited lots of people!

V: Yes!

Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about yourself or writing?

V: My writing reflects me as a person. Some people make up stories, but there is always something personal in the story.

K: Writing is...the breath of life!


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writers Victoria Clemente and Kassandra Wooden Writing workshop participants at Po'Shines Cafe de la Soul which is a non-profit soul food cafe in North Portland that serves as a training facility for at-risk high school youth. The cafe also hosts many community events that foster expression and community dialogue, including "Cornbred" an evening of spoken word that happens every Friday Night. Victoria, 17, and Kassandra, 18, live in Vancouver, Washington and attend Hudsons Way High School, where they are a junior and senior, respectively. Victoria was born in Portland at Legacy Emanual Hospital and moved Vancouver when she was four. Kassandra and her family are moved to the Northwest four years ago from Texas. Both girls work at Little Angels Daycare in the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland, where Write Around Portland met up with them to talk about their workshop experience. You can read more about Victoria and Kassandra (pictured, right) and their writing, which will be featured in our upcoming fall 2008 anthology, Now/Past/Future, and below. Change Ain't That Hard By Kassandra Wooden Discovering life is a challenge. Right when I think I’ve figured it out, it slips away so fast. It’s like I’m always running. I’m trying to catch something I will never grasp. But I think I’ve got it. Maybe stop trying to live life and let life live me. Freedom flows from within and floods the streets. I escape all the deep problems of today, and the problems to come. Anything is obtainable. Yeah, I finally understand: Let Life Live me. I’ll stop fighting. © Kassandra Wooden and Write Around Portland Naive Mind By Victoria Clemente When you are young and don’t know the difference between good and evil you often do what’s bad. But when you are old enough to know that bad is no good, then excuses don’t look so innocent and your mind will trick you into believing anything someone will tell you, but little do you know half the shyt they say is all lies—just a trick to get what’s gold to them. That’s when you sucker in and give up. Then all the sudden you become the bad guy. It hits you like a bat when you are no longer blind-folded and you realize what you are doing or have done is what they call Sin! And that’s when my eyes focused and reality hit! © Victoria Clemente and Write Around Portland Interview with featured writers Kassandra Wooden and Victoria Clemente Biography writer and interviewer: Hollie Hefferman, Write Around Portland volunteer. Victoria Clemete, 17, and Kassandra Wooden, 18, were two participants in the Po’shines Workshop this past fall. They live in Vancouver, Washington and attend Hudsons Way High School, where they are a junior and senior, respectively. Victoria was born in Portland at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and moved to Vancouver when she was four. Kassandra and her family moved to the Northwest four years ago from Texas. Both writers work at Little Angels Daycare in the Kenton neighborhood in North Portland, where Write Around Portland met up with them to talk about their workshop experience. What was your experience like in a Write Around Portland workshop? K: I didn't like used to like to write, even though people told me I was good at it. [The Write Around Portland experience] has made me more confident, and I write outside of the workshop now. I love writing again. V: After a stressful week, the workshop allowed me to express my feelings, and I found it soothing. [Writing] reflects who you are, and gives you an opportunity to learn. What did you get out of the workshop? V: I learned that there are lots of ways of writing. It opened my mind. There is no actual right or wrong way to write; everyone has their own style. How was your experience in the group? How did you feel about sharing with others, and hearing other people's work? K: I was shy and scared at first, but the feedback from the group helped me. It was cool to see everyone grow and mature. I made a lot of new friends. V: I was open with my writing, but uncomfortable with feedback. I didn't really know what to say! But I found others' stories inspiring and original. Sometimes I would use [the other writers'] pieces as writing prompts. What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer? K: It gave me a lot of confidence, and helped expand my creativity. V: It made me stronger. I really listened to the feedback on my writing, and it has made me a better writer. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? K: Yes, I invited lots of people! V: Yes! Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about yourself or writing? V: My writing reflects me as a person. Some people make up stories, but there is always something personal in the story. K: Writing is...the breath of life!	"Write Around Portland has expanded my abilities, expanded my ideas and most of all, expanded my circle of friends. " Paula Nielson, Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a writing journal, pen, bus tickets, and an anthology. Featured Writers Victoria Clemente and Kassandra Wooden Click here to read about past featured writers.
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