Featured Writers

Jared Llund and Carl Gerhardt

Writing Workshop Participants with Streets Roots and REACH Station Place Tower (Jared) and Thought Auction (Carl).

Born 50 years apart, Jared and Carl struck up a friendship when they both participated in a Write Around Portland workshop at Street Roots last spring. Meeting with them for this interview, it was evident the respect they shared for one another’s writing, and it seems that their friendship has allowed both men to expand their horizons and try new things. Friendships like this one are emblematic of the success of Write Around Portland’s belief that writing together can build community. Individuals who may have never otherwise crossed paths can find inspiration and support from other writers. Jared's and Carl's writing and interview follow.

- Marianna Hane Wiles, Interviewer

paraph*

by Jared Llund

paraph me with swirls
metes-and-bounds
guild, embellish

surround with primal light
from before I was
wrap, tie, bind
secured, sutured
the autograph
no more

*a flourish at the end or under a signature,

originally to prevent forgery

Nurse

by Carl Gerhardt

From where I stand – I gaze upon you with intelligent eyes.

I see your bruised self, coated with pain.

Trust is lacking in you as the fears of death seem more and more real.

Your fears are unjustified though, as my want is only to heal.

I am here to help reassemble your shattered self.

I search your body – testing all the jigsaw pieces.

My puzzle solving skills create chance again in your eyes.

Your precious soul understands how we have intervened fate this day.

You smile a smile of love for life anew.

I do not smile, but clearly radiate a loving smile from within.

I will always now appear to you as an angel.

Despite my halo being just a hat, and my wings that do not exist.

I am just a human, living to help others live.

Giving chance to the impossible, and hope to the forgotten.

I am just a mortal, but my grace and goals are divine.

Interview with featured writers Carl Gerhardt and Jared Llund

Interviewer and Photographer: Marianna Hane Wiles

Write Around Portland Volunteer Workshop Facilitator

How did you two meet?

Jared: We had heard each other read before we had a group together…at the release party for Echoes [the fall 2006 Write Around Portland anthology]?

Carl: No, I didn’t make it to that reading. I think we met while volunteering…stuffing envelopes or doing the selections for the anthology?

Jared: Yeah, I guess we must have met at the selection meeting for Echoes last fall. …I just remember that I’d already met Carl before we started the Street Roots group together, and then I really liked the things he wrote in the workshop. There was one called “Numbers Problem” that I liked more than he did. I just thought: it’s so innovative, fresh and original...

We started talking each week before the group started…he told me a lot about science fiction, which is a genre I didn’t really know much about. We talked about RPGs [role-playing games], avatars; he loaned me some books.

Have you kept up with one another since your workshop ended?

Jared: We’ve emailed a bit after the workshop ended. [To Carl:] Are you going to do one of these ‘Returning Writers’ groups [this fall]?

Carl: Yeah, I was looking at the one on character development…to help with this novel I’m trying to write.

Jared: Oh. I think I’m going to do the Write On: Returning Writers group….

Jared, had you written much before you joined a Write Around Portland workshop?

Jared: I’d written letters and things at work, but I hadn’t done much ‘writing-writing’ before participating in one of these workshops. I always sort of knew I could write well, but it gave me confidence to find out I really could write creatively. Three participants from my first Write Around workshop have started a weekly writing group to continue working on memoir. We take fieldtrips sometimes and come up with prompts for each other—prompts that will encourage us to write about our pasts. I wrote for two days on soaps I remembered from childhood.

Carl: That kind of writing is not for me. I’m not going to write anything true—I’m not very good at writing about the present.

What about you, Carl? Had you written much before you joined a Write Around Portland workshop?

Carl: Oh yeah. I have a book in mind that will someday get past five pages. I have a big story I want to write; it’s mostly outlines right now. I want to write a really long book or series. It’s hard to sit down and write all the character and setting parts though. That’s why I’m thinking about taking this workshop on character and plot development…

Sometimes I get a great idea, but then it’s only five lines long. It’s hard to take that and attach it to an existing story or try tying it together with another idea…it seems to require at least a third original idea…and so on from there.

Jared: You know you don’t have to start writing your book at page one. You can just write anything you want, and then go back through and ‘mine’ it, rearranging all these ideas into the form for a book.

What was it like writing and sharing with a group?

Jared: It gives me a real appreciation of people and how different their voices are. For instance, I’m so conventional in my thinking while Carl’s writing is so outside the box.

Carl: Yeah, that’s how I describe it too—“outside the box.”

Jared: When I hear things like what he’s writing, it encourages me to think outside the box too.

Carl: Sometimes I found it hard to pay attention to other people reading while my mind was focused on my own writing…

Jared: He gets so into it that he just wants to keep writing.

Carl: Yeah, I sort of felt like the workshops rush you through from one idea to another, and sometimes I’m just getting going on an idea when the writing time is up.

Jared: But the workshops teach you so many different things that you kind of have to keep things moving. And you can always find another time to keep writing for longer.

Carl: That’s true. I’m still working on some pieces that I started in the last workshop.

Do you have any advice for someone thinking about joining a Write Around workshop?

Jared: Do it. No worries if you’re shy or any other excuse. Anybody can do well.

Carl: Even shy people should do it. The [volunteer workshop] facilitators are nice people who don’t force you to read [your writing to the group] if you don’t want to.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writers Jared Llund and Carl Gerhardt Writing Workshop Participants with Streets Roots and REACH Station Place Tower (Jared) and Thought Auction (Carl). Born 50 years apart, Jared and Carl struck up a friendship when they both participated in a Write Around Portland workshop at Street Roots last spring. Meeting with them for this interview, it was evident the respect they shared for one another’s writing, and it seems that their friendship has allowed both men to expand their horizons and try new things. Friendships like this one are emblematic of the success of Write Around Portland’s belief that writing together can build community. Individuals who may have never otherwise crossed paths can find inspiration and support from other writers. Jared's and Carl's writing and interview follow. - Marianna Hane Wiles, Interviewer paraph* by Jared Llund paraph me with swirls metes-and-bounds guild, embellish surround with primal light from before I was wrap, tie, bind secured, sutured the autograph no more a flourish at the end or under a signature, originally to prevent forgery* Nurse by Carl Gerhardt From where I stand – I gaze upon you with intelligent eyes. I see your bruised self, coated with pain. Trust is lacking in you as the fears of death seem more and more real. Your fears are unjustified though, as my want is only to heal. I am here to help reassemble your shattered self. I search your body – testing all the jigsaw pieces. My puzzle solving skills create chance again in your eyes. Your precious soul understands how we have intervened fate this day. You smile a smile of love for life anew. I do not smile, but clearly radiate a loving smile from within. I will always now appear to you as an angel. Despite my halo being just a hat, and my wings that do not exist. I am just a human, living to help others live. Giving chance to the impossible, and hope to the forgotten. I am just a mortal, but my grace and goals are divine. © Jared Llund, Carl Gerhardt and Write Around Portland Interview with featured writers Carl Gerhardt and Jared Llund Interviewer and Photographer: Marianna Hane Wiles Write Around Portland Volunteer Workshop Facilitator *How did you two meet?* Jared: We had heard each other read before we had a group together…at the release party for Echoes [the fall 2006 Write Around Portland anthology]? Carl: No, I didn’t make it to that reading. I think we met while volunteering…stuffing envelopes or doing the selections for the anthology? Jared: Yeah, I guess we must have met at the selection meeting for Echoes last fall. …I just remember that I’d already met Carl before we started the Street Roots group together, and then I really liked the things he wrote in the workshop. There was one called “Numbers Problem” that I liked more than he did. I just thought: it’s so innovative, fresh and original... We started talking each week before the group started…he told me a lot about science fiction, which is a genre I didn’t really know much about. We talked about RPGs [role-playing games], avatars; he loaned me some books. *Have you kept up with one another since your workshop ended?* Jared: We’ve emailed a bit after the workshop ended. [To Carl:] Are you going to do one of these ‘Returning Writers’ groups [this fall]? Carl: Yeah, I was looking at the one on character development…to help with this novel I’m trying to write. Jared: Oh. I think I’m going to do the Write On: Returning Writers group…. *Jared, had you written much before you joined a Write Around Portland workshop?* Jared: I’d written letters and things at work, but I hadn’t done much ‘writing-writing’ before participating in one of these workshops. I always sort of knew I could write well, but it gave me confidence to find out I really could write creatively. Three participants from my first Write Around workshop have started a weekly writing group to continue working on memoir. We take fieldtrips sometimes and come up with prompts for each other—prompts that will encourage us to write about our pasts. I wrote for two days on soaps I remembered from childhood. Carl: That kind of writing is not for me. I’m not going to write anything true—I’m not very good at writing about the present. *What about you, Carl? Had you written much before you joined a Write Around Portland workshop?* Carl: Oh yeah. I have a book in mind that will someday get past five pages. I have a big story I want to write; it’s mostly outlines right now. I want to write a really long book or series. It’s hard to sit down and write all the character and setting parts though. That’s why I’m thinking about taking this workshop on character and plot development… Sometimes I get a great idea, but then it’s only five lines long. It’s hard to take that and attach it to an existing story or try tying it together with another idea…it seems to require at least a third original idea…and so on from there. Jared: You know you don’t have to start writing your book at page one. You can just write anything you want, and then go back through and ‘mine’ it, rearranging all these ideas into the form for a book. *What was it like writing and sharing with a group?* Jared: It gives me a real appreciation of people and how different their voices are. For instance, I’m so conventional in my thinking while Carl’s writing is so outside the box. Carl: Yeah, that’s how I describe it too—“outside the box.” Jared: When I hear things like what he’s writing, it encourages me to think outside the box too. Carl: Sometimes I found it hard to pay attention to other people reading while my mind was focused on my own writing… Jared: He gets so into it that he just wants to keep writing. Carl: Yeah, I sort of felt like the workshops rush you through from one idea to another, and sometimes I’m just getting going on an idea when the writing time is up. Jared: But the workshops teach you so many different things that you kind of have to keep things moving. And you can always find another time to keep writing for longer. Carl: That’s true. I’m still working on some pieces that I started in the last workshop. Do you have any advice for someone thinking about joining a Write Around workshop? Jared: Do it. No worries if you’re shy or any other excuse. Anybody can do well. Carl: Even shy people should do it. The [volunteer workshop] facilitators are nice people who don’t force you to read [your writing to the group] if you don’t want to.	"I just believe in myself more." Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a journal, pen, bus tickets, and Anthology. Featured Writers Carl Gerhardt and Jared Llund Click here to read about past featured writers.
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