Featured Writer

Sabrina Tse

Writing Workshop Participant at YWCA Clark County for women in the organization's domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness programs.

Sabrina enjoys reading and writing, especially poetry and non-fiction. She also likes journaling. It intrigues her to hear how people have grown from their experiences and that inspires her to write. Sabrina is in recovery and has been clean and sober for 17 years.

She is pictured, right, reading at our summer anthology release party and community reading. Her poem and interview follow:

Loneliness Earns Its Keep

by Sabrina Tse

This poem is inspired by and dedicated to the survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and all who have felt the sting of loneliness.

Sitting up in my bed alone I can sense your presence

You take hold of my heart and I find your grip familiar

We have been here before, I know the feeling well

Standing alone at the edge as mother said her goodbye

Being left in a trance while she was getting high

Watching her play with friends when my eyes wouldn’t dry

Coming home to see her only to wish that I could die

Waving hello to father and seeing him walk right by

Remembering his visits and learning his misguided ways

Counting the beatings, wishing it would stop for good

Taking notice of a battered self, I numbered all those days

Now, numb and alone, I can still feel the sting of your touch

You have been with me to depths far and deep

Yes, loneliness earns its keep

Interview with featured writer Sabrina Tse

Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland Workshop.

It was a wonderful experience. I met a lot of talented and gifted writers. The beauty was that we could relate to each other’s writing. An added bonus was that it was a safe environment, and we could just be ourselves. I learned about different writing styles and that really helped me because I want to learn to write better.

What did you get out of the workshop?

It was very encouraging, and I really felt a sense of comfort and belonging among other writers who were in recovery. I didn’t think I was a good writer before the workshop, but I learned different ways to write, like how to move beyond writers’ block. It opened my eyes to see new ways to move beyond those blocks.

Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop?

I’ve dabbled in it but never really dove in to it before this. I had mostly just written in my own journal.

How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories?

At the beginning, sharing was difficult for me because I tend to have a shield around me. I don’t want to share too much about myself with other people. I was just used to journaling on my own. It took a while [for me to share my writing] but the women in the group were so open and honest, and I was able to relate to them. It helped me open up. At the end of the workshop, I really saw some growth in myself, learned to trust again, especially with others who know about the same experiences I’ve had.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

Yes, I definitely would. It was so healing and encouraging, and it really helped build my self-esteem. I could at least try to be a “real” writer. Before the workshop, I thought that would never happen.

What was it like to read your poem at the Write Around Portland reading?

I was very nervous to read my piece at the anthology release party. I had my mentor there with me, and she helped keep me calm and let me know I’m among a group of people who could relate and who have heard writing like mine.

Once I got up there [to the podium], after hearing people in my group read and people in other workshops read, it just gave me so much encouragement to share my piece. I sense that there will be people who can relate to that sense of loneliness in my poem [above] and that sense of struggle to find who we are inside. I heard that from the other writers who are in this program.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writer Sabrina Tse Writing Workshop Participant at YWCA Clark County for women in the organization's domestic violence, sexual assault and homelessness programs. Sabrina enjoys reading and writing, especially poetry and non-fiction. She also likes journaling. It intrigues her to hear how people have grown from their experiences and that inspires her to write. Sabrina is in recovery and has been clean and sober for 17 years. She is pictured, right, reading at our summer anthology release party and community reading. Her poem and interview follow: Loneliness Earns Its Keep by Sabrina Tse This poem is inspired by and dedicated to the survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and all who have felt the sting of loneliness. Sitting up in my bed alone I can sense your presence You take hold of my heart and I find your grip familiar We have been here before, I know the feeling well Standing alone at the edge as mother said her goodbye Being left in a trance while she was getting high Watching her play with friends when my eyes wouldn’t dry Coming home to see her only to wish that I could die Waving hello to father and seeing him walk right by Remembering his visits and learning his misguided ways Counting the beatings, wishing it would stop for good Taking notice of a battered self, I numbered all those days Now, numb and alone, I can still feel the sting of your touch You have been with me to depths far and deep Yes, loneliness earns its keep Interview with featured writer Sabrina Tse *Tell us about your experience in a Write Around* *Portland* *Workshop.* It was a wonderful experience. I met a lot of talented and gifted writers. The beauty was that we could relate to each other’s writing. An added bonus was that it was a safe environment, and we could just be ourselves. I learned about different writing styles and that really helped me because I want to learn to write better. *What did you get out of the workshop?* It was very encouraging, and I really felt a sense of comfort and belonging among other writers who were in recovery. I didn’t think I was a good writer before the workshop, but I learned different ways to write, like how to move beyond writers’ block. It opened my eyes to see new ways to move beyond those blocks. *Had you written much before you joined the Write Around* *Portland* *workshop?* I’ve dabbled in it but never really dove in to it before this. I had mostly just written in my own journal. *How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories?* At the beginning, sharing was difficult for me because I tend to have a shield around me. I don’t want to share too much about myself with other people. I was just used to journaling on my own. It took a while [for me to share my writing] but the women in the group were so open and honest, and I was able to relate to them. It helped me open up. At the end of the workshop, I really saw some growth in myself, learned to trust again, especially with others who know about the same experiences I’ve had. *Would you recommend Write Around* *Portland* *workshops to others?* Yes, I definitely would. It was so healing and encouraging, and it really helped build my self-esteem. I could at least try to be a “real” writer. Before the workshop, I thought that would never happen. What was it like to read your poem at the Write Around Portland reading? I was very nervous to read my piece at the anthology release party. I had my mentor there with me, and she helped keep me calm and let me know I’m among a group of people who could relate and who have heard writing like mine. Once I got up there [to the podium], after hearing people in my group read and people in other workshops read, it just gave me so much encouragement to share my piece. I sense that there will be people who can relate to that sense of loneliness in my poem [above] and that sense of struggle to find who we are inside. I heard that from the other writers who are in this program.	"I just believe in myself more." Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a journal, pen, bus tickets, and Anthology. Featured Writer Sabrina Tse Click here to read about past featured writers.
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