Featured Writers

Samantha (Sam) Robinson

Writing workshop participant at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility for women serving time at the state prison in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Sam has been living in Oregon since she was five years old. In her late twenties, she lost her husband, her grandmother, and her best friend within three months of each other, which led to a downward spiral into substance abuse, crime, and homelessness.

After being arrested, she decided to get clean but could not secure a bed in a rehabilitation program. She felt that prison was her best chance. Sam asked the judge for the maximum sentence so that she could use the time to get her life back on track.

Six months into her 17-month incarceration, she began writing poems for her fellow inmates to send home to their families. In the process, she discovered a love for writing and an ability to heal herself by writing about her own experiences. She attended Write Around Portland’s writing workshop during the last 12 weeks of her incarceration in the fall of 2008.

Sam lives in Lebanon, Oregon, has two children, and is currently a student. She continues to write three to four times a week and has over 300 poems to her credit.

Sam is pictured, right, reading her poem The Life from Write Around Portland’s latest anthology Now/Past/Future. Sam and her family drove two hours from Lebanon, Oregon to attend the reading. Her poem and an interview about her experience in the workshop follow.

The Life

By Samantha Robinson

A junkie in the night runnin’ with nowhere to go

Jumpin’ from house to house slingin’ any kind of hope

Sometimes I’m stuck in darkness it’s all that I see

I can’t get past the addictions and thoughts of criminality.

With a bag in my hand an a needle in my vein

I feel the poison take over until eventually I’m insane

I’ve done things I’m not proud of things I want to forget

That’s why I gave up “the life” without any regrets

I’ve dreamed an illusion that comes from deep inside

It’s someone reaching in the dark and plucking me from this life

It’s a double edge sword that life I chose to live

To find my way out you have no idea what I’d give...

...READ THE FULL POEM

Interview with featured writer Samantha Robinson

Biography writer and interviewer: J.B. Rabin, Write Around Portland volunteer

What were the workshops like for you and for your fellow participants?

There were people who came into that group who were just learning how to write, and who were on their way to becoming really good writers. Some went from having absolutely no self-confidence to “Wow, I want to share that.”

[In prison], you’re stuck somewhere you don’t really want to be and [the workshop] gave us a place to take something so intense and so challenging and make it better. It did wonders for me. It was the best time for me, those 10 weeks. I didn’t even feel like I was in prison.

What did you learn about yourself as a writer from the Write Around Portland workshop?

I learned that I had the courage to put out there the things that I am ashamed of because I am not that person anymore. It taught me that not everyone will look at who I used to be. Some will look at who I am today. There was no judgment. You can be whoever you are [in the workshop], and it’s okay.

I also learned that the more I write, the better it gets. I learned that I have something to say and that maybe some other people want to hear it.

Do you think writing can be healing for everyone?

Anybody can write if they have the heart for it. It’s either going to make a person look at themselves closely enough to make them realize they’re not ready to look at themselves yet, or it will open a floodgate and help that person realize who they are at that moment in time.

What was it like to read your poem at the Write Around Portland Anthology Release Party and Community Reading?

I was so nervous. I’d never read aloud [at a reading] before. My mom, my aunt and my nephew were there. My family was so proud of me, the fact that I had the courage to do that. I got comfort in knowing that even if I screwed up, they were going to love it anyway.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

Hands down, no question about it. I’m a completely different person because of it. I tell everyone about it. It made me glad I went to prison.

Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?

People who have been in my position who have led a life of crime, who have been addicted to anything—it is a struggle like no other, it really is.

If you find the courage within yourself to try something new, it can take you somewhere. It will show you that when you get out of that life, you don’t have to go back. There’s hope if you look deep inside yourself.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writers Samantha (Sam) Robinson Writing workshop participant at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility for women serving time at the state prison in Wilsonville, Oregon. Sam has been living in Oregon since she was five years old. In her late twenties, she lost her husband, her grandmother, and her best friend within three months of each other, which led to a downward spiral into substance abuse, crime, and homelessness. After being arrested, she decided to get clean but could not secure a bed in a rehabilitation program. She felt that prison was her best chance. Sam asked the judge for the maximum sentence so that she could use the time to get her life back on track. Six months into her 17-month incarceration, she began writing poems for her fellow inmates to send home to their families. In the process, she discovered a love for writing and an ability to heal herself by writing about her own experiences. She attended Write Around Portland’s writing workshop during the last 12 weeks of her incarceration in the fall of 2008. Sam lives in Lebanon, Oregon, has two children, and is currently a student. She continues to write three to four times a week and has over 300 poems to her credit. Sam is pictured, right, reading her poem The Life from Write Around Portland’s latest anthology Now/Past/Future. Sam and her family drove two hours from Lebanon, Oregon to attend the reading. Her poem and an interview about her experience in the workshop follow. The Life By Samantha Robinson A junkie in the night runnin’ with nowhere to go Jumpin’ from house to house slingin’ any kind of hope Sometimes I’m stuck in darkness it’s all that I see I can’t get past the addictions and thoughts of criminality. With a bag in my hand an a needle in my vein I feel the poison take over until eventually I’m insane I’ve done things I’m not proud of things I want to forget That’s why I gave up “the life” without any regrets I’ve dreamed an illusion that comes from deep inside It’s someone reaching in the dark and plucking me from this life It’s a double edge sword that life I chose to live To find my way out you have no idea what I’d give... ...READ THE FULL POEM © Samantha Robinson and Write Around Portland Interview with featured writer Samantha Robinson Biography writer and interviewer: J.B. Rabin, Write Around Portland volunteer What were the workshops like for you and for your fellow participants? There were people who came into that group who were just learning how to write, and who were on their way to becoming really good writers. Some went from having absolutely no self-confidence to “Wow, I want to share that.” [In prison], you’re stuck somewhere you don’t really want to be and [the workshop] gave us a place to take something so intense and so challenging and make it better. It did wonders for me. It was the best time for me, those 10 weeks. I didn’t even feel like I was in prison. What did you learn about yourself as a writer from the Write Around Portland workshop? I learned that I had the courage to put out there the things that I am ashamed of because I am not that person anymore. It taught me that not everyone will look at who I used to be. Some will look at who I am today. There was no judgment. You can be whoever you are [in the workshop], and it’s okay. I also learned that the more I write, the better it gets. I learned that I have something to say and that maybe some other people want to hear it. Do you think writing can be healing for everyone? Anybody can write if they have the heart for it. It’s either going to make a person look at themselves closely enough to make them realize they’re not ready to look at themselves yet, or it will open a floodgate and help that person realize who they are at that moment in time. What was it like to read your poem at the Write Around Portland Anthology Release Party and Community Reading? I was so nervous. I’d never read aloud [at a reading] before. My mom, my aunt and my nephew were there. My family was so proud of me, the fact that I had the courage to do that. I got comfort in knowing that even if I screwed up, they were going to love it anyway. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? Hands down, no question about it. I’m a completely different person because of it. I tell everyone about it. It made me glad I went to prison. Is there anything you would like to tell your readers? People who have been in my position who have led a life of crime, who have been addicted to anything—it is a struggle like no other, it really is. If you find the courage within yourself to try something new, it can take you somewhere. It will show you that when you get out of that life, you don’t have to go back. There’s hope if you look deep inside yourself. .	"I'm a completely different person because of Write Around Portland. " Sam Robinson, Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a writing journal, pen, bus tickets, and an anthology. Featured Writer Samantha Robinson Click here to read about past featured writers.
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