Featured Writer

Tom Rust

Tom Rust is 54 years old. He was born in Oklahoma City where he attended high school and some college. He has been living in Portland since 2005, and he likes it better than any place he’s ever been. Tom has struggled throughout his life with clinical depression and addiction. He participated in our Downtown workshop for adults living on a low income and/or with a disability.

Tom's poem, which was published in our anthology More Than a Book, and an interview about his experience writing in community follow.

I Want to Forget

by Tom Rust

I want to forget the beastly times

when my deeds made me doubt

my own humanity.

But those memories

are thick and black

and stick to the walls of my mind

like monstrous glue.

It’s difficult

to clean up the mess

that demons leave behind.

© Tom Rust and Write Around Portland

Interview with featured writer Tom Rust

Biography writer and interviewer: Laura Horley, volunteer, pictured above with Tom

How was your overall experience as a participant in the Write Around Portland workshop?

It was rewarding from the get go. The workshop was unlike any group I’d been to before, and gosh I’ve been to a lot of groups. I was really surprised by how effective the short pieces of prompted writing were. They helped me learn that I don’t have to think and ponder and plan in order to make things that are worthwhile. I just have to start writing.

I also found that my writing has a surprising sense of humor. I’d always thought that my writing was pretty dark, so hearing from other people that it could be humorous made me sit up and take a look at my work. Humor is now something I’ve tried to develop and pay more attention to in my writing.

Did Write Around Portland change the way you think about community and your relationships with others?

I’ve been dealing with clinical depression for a long time and that has made me more and more withdrawn. Even though I am passionate about writing, some days were too much and I wasn’t able to show up to every workshop.Being part of something as positive as the workshop made me realize that it’s good to take risks in the right direction. I attended the anthology release party and read my poem. There must have been two or three hundred people there. It felt pretty incredible.

How does your background with depression and addiction influence you as a writer?

I’ve had lots of experiences on the dark side of life. I’d like to make those pay off in a positive way. There’s been a lot of material for writing in my life. Dealing with addiction and mental disease is about coming to grips with those things, and writing is an excellent way to do that.

What did you get out of the workshop?

I learned to take an idea and go with it. It’s like that scene in the movie Finding Forrester when Sean Connery is typing away and Jamal asks him what he’s doing. He says he’s writing, and that Jamal will be too as soon as he starts “punching those keys.” Jamal just sits there, and when Connery asks if there’s a problem he says “no I’m just thinkin.” Connery just laughs and says “that comes later.”

In the workshops, we had writing prompts and a time limit and just had to start writing. Writing came pretty easily after I learned to do that.

Also, Allison, the volunteer workshop facilitator, gave a lot of amazing feedback. Her comments and insights were tuned in to every individual. I was in awe. She was an excellent facilitator.

Had you written much before joining Write Around Portland?

Writing had always been a passion of mine. Before things went down the drain years ago, I took some college English courses. The passion has been dormant for a while now, but I’ve always kept a journal. Write Around really helped me reclaim writing. Hearing that I was a good writer was important. Knowing that I could write made me want to turn my negative experiences into something positive.

What was it like writing in a group in the workshop vs. writing on your own?

I was surprised by the degree to which I was willing to participate in the workshop process. There were some amazing writers in the group.

Would you like to participate in another workshop and would you recommend it for others?

I feel nothing but gratitude towards Write Around Portland. I’d love to participate in another workshop. And yes, I recommend it to people all the time.


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TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writer Tom Rust Tom Rust is 54 years old. He was born in Oklahoma City where he attended high school and some college. He has been living in Portland since 2005, and he likes it better than any place he’s ever been. Tom has struggled throughout his life with clinical depression and addiction. He participated in our Downtown workshop for adults living on a low income and/or with a disability. Tom's poem, which was published in our anthology More Than a Book, and an interview about his experience writing in community follow. I Want to Forget by Tom Rust I want to forget the beastly times when my deeds made me doubt my own humanity. But those memories are thick and black and stick to the walls of my mind like monstrous glue. It’s difficult to clean up the mess that demons leave behind. © Tom Rust and Write Around Portland Interview with featured writer Tom Rust Biography writer and interviewer: Laura Horley, volunteer, pictured above with Tom How was your overall experience as a participant in the Write Around Portland workshop? It was rewarding from the get go. The workshop was unlike any group I’d been to before, and gosh I’ve been to a lot of groups. I was really surprised by how effective the short pieces of prompted writing were. They helped me learn that I don’t have to think and ponder and plan in order to make things that are worthwhile. I just have to start writing. I also found that my writing has a surprising sense of humor. I’d always thought that my writing was pretty dark, so hearing from other people that it could be humorous made me sit up and take a look at my work. Humor is now something I’ve tried to develop and pay more attention to in my writing. Did Write Around Portland change the way you think about community and your relationships with others? I’ve been dealing with clinical depression for a long time and that has made me more and more withdrawn. Even though I am passionate about writing, some days were too much and I wasn’t able to show up to every workshop.Being part of something as positive as the workshop made me realize that it’s good to take risks in the right direction. I attended the anthology release party and read my poem. There must have been two or three hundred people there. It felt pretty incredible. How does your background with depression and addiction influence you as a writer? I’ve had lots of experiences on the dark side of life. I’d like to make those pay off in a positive way. There’s been a lot of material for writing in my life. Dealing with addiction and mental disease is about coming to grips with those things, and writing is an excellent way to do that. What did you get out of the workshop? I learned to take an idea and go with it. It’s like that scene in the movie Finding Forrester when Sean Connery is typing away and Jamal asks him what he’s doing. He says he’s writing, and that Jamal will be too as soon as he starts “punching those keys.” Jamal just sits there, and when Connery asks if there’s a problem he says “no I’m just thinkin.” Connery just laughs and says “that comes later.” In the workshops, we had writing prompts and a time limit and just had to start writing. Writing came pretty easily after I learned to do that. Also, Allison, the volunteer workshop facilitator, gave a lot of amazing feedback. Her comments and insights were tuned in to every individual. I was in awe. She was an excellent facilitator. Had you written much before joining Write Around Portland? Writing had always been a passion of mine. Before things went down the drain years ago, I took some college English courses. The passion has been dormant for a while now, but I’ve always kept a journal. Write Around really helped me reclaim writing. Hearing that I was a good writer was important. Knowing that I could write made me want to turn my negative experiences into something positive. What was it like writing in a group in the workshop vs. writing on your own? I was surprised by the degree to which I was willing to participate in the workshop process. There were some amazing writers in the group. Would you like to participate in another workshop and would you recommend it for others? I feel nothing but gratitude towards Write Around Portland. I’d love to participate in another workshop. And yes, I recommend it to people all the time.	"Knowing that I could write made me want to turn my negative experiences into something positive." --Tom Rust, Workshop Participant Provide a writer with a writing journal, pen, bus tickets, and an anthology. Featured Writer Tom Rust Click here to read about previous featured writers.
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