Featured Writers

Wilma Alcock

Writing Workshop Participant at the Park Terrace Apartments, PRCI for adults living on a low income and/or with a disability.

Wilma Alcock is the mother of four children, three sons and a daughter, Darlene Solomon Rogers, an accomplished local writer. Head Deaconess at her church for seven years, Wilma is now semi-retired. She’ll be celebrating her 70th birthday next month. Her daughter describes her as an African griot, a woman storyteller who passes down the stories essential to the life of a culture. Wilma feels that writing is a gift she’s been given.

You can read Wilma's writing, which is featured in our most recent anthology, See the Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir, below. An interview with Wilma about her experience writing in community follows.

The Essence of Jessie

by Wilma Alcock

Of all the people I’ve known I can’t recall anyone transforming like my mother. She could put on an old dress, hang out the brightest, cleanest wash you could ever imagine, sunlight would bounce off the white sheets as they blew in the wind.

She could stand for hours ironing, putting clothes in neat piles without a visible wrinkle in sight. Put on jeans, sweatshirt and a peacoat and stand in sun, wind, rain, cold and fish like a seaman.

Friday evenings she would dress up and look like the very lady she was in her girdled tailored suit, white gloves and pillbox hat as she went to dinner with my father and myself.

Of all the people I have known she could make 80 look like 60 and keep house like a 20-year-old, all while putting up a front of not grieving and laughing with the best of us. And she could transform death to look like sleeping and slip away like a child.

Interview with featured writer Wilma Alcock

Biography Writer and Interviewer: Mary Darcy

Write Around Portland Intern, pictured below with Wilma

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

It was a great experience. I met people of various backgrounds – our group was especially versatile. We hit it off right away, so much so that we wanted to meet together later [after the workshop] just to write. I had always written privately, so this was a new experience. It was exciting and it opened up new areas for me.

What do you value most about the experience?

I think I value the versatility of the women in my group. Ours was an all women’s group. After we were given a prompt, we each got to see a whole picture of the subject. It was like a kaleidoscope of ideas.

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

Privately, I’ve written all my life. Funny things, serious things…My friends have always tried to get me to do something with it, but I was shy. My words were like my children. And I was jealous of them, protective. Then I came to the realization that if I had something to say, it didn’t really belong to me and I had to let it go.

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

I learned that there were all kinds of ways to write, that there isn’t a given right way. We weren’t bound to write a certain way – you could let your creativity just flow. It [writing] threads us together. Because we write and because it’s a common thing, it’s not like we’re strangers. It’s very freeing. It’s very safe.

What was it like reading your work when Write Around Portland was featured on KBOO community radio (90.7 fm)?

I had butterflies. But the gal [the host of the radio show], she made us feel so at home. We were just having a conversation and sharing our writing. We had a great time, the other two workshop participants and I.

Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others?

Oh, of course. I’m Write Around Portland’s best cheerleader. I talk about Write Around Portland to other women who are going through things. Women have a lot to say – and men, too – but I can identify with women.

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

It helped me to know that I could write about many things. It freed me up to be creative. One of the things I liked was that they didn’t worry about spelling or punctuation, all you had to do is write, and that’s so freeing, no English teacher peering over your shoulder.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell your readers about your writing?

As I was walking through my house earlier, it came across my mind that I’m the summation of my past and the expectation of my future. When we realize that about ourselves, we can embrace our lives more fully. I’m really just so excited; it’s like a new beginning. I don’t have to be a mama. I can just be me. And I can find what I really have to give, something inside myself that God puts in each one of us.


Home \| Events \| What We Do \| Donate Now \| Get Involved \| About Us
TAKE A Writing Workshop SIGN UP for Write Around Portland News WRITING RESOURCES	Publications & Writers Featured Writers Wilma Alcock Writing Workshop Participant at the Park Terrace Apartments, PRCI for adults living on a low income and/or with a disability. Wilma Alcock is the mother of four children, three sons and a daughter, Darlene Solomon Rogers, an accomplished local writer. Head Deaconess at her church for seven years, Wilma is now semi-retired. She’ll be celebrating her 70th birthday next month. Her daughter describes her as an African griot, a woman storyteller who passes down the stories essential to the life of a culture. Wilma feels that writing is a gift she’s been given. You can read Wilma's writing, which is featured in our most recent anthology, See the Water Rise/Ver Las Aguas Subir, below. An interview with Wilma about her experience writing in community follows. The Essence of Jessie by Wilma Alcock Of all the people I’ve known I can’t recall anyone transforming like my mother. She could put on an old dress, hang out the brightest, cleanest wash you could ever imagine, sunlight would bounce off the white sheets as they blew in the wind. She could stand for hours ironing, putting clothes in neat piles without a visible wrinkle in sight. Put on jeans, sweatshirt and a peacoat and stand in sun, wind, rain, cold and fish like a seaman. Friday evenings she would dress up and look like the very lady she was in her girdled tailored suit, white gloves and pillbox hat as she went to dinner with my father and myself. Of all the people I have known she could make 80 look like 60 and keep house like a 20-year-old, all while putting up a front of not grieving and laughing with the best of us. And she could transform death to look like sleeping and slip away like a child. © Wilma Alcock and Write Around Portland Interview with featured writer Wilma Alcock Biography Writer and Interviewer: Mary Darcy Write Around Portland Intern, pictured below with Wilma Tell us about your experience in a Write Around Portland workshop. It was a great experience. I met people of various backgrounds – our group was especially versatile. We hit it off right away, so much so that we wanted to meet together later [after the workshop] just to write. I had always written privately, so this was a new experience. It was exciting and it opened up new areas for me. What do you value most about the experience? I think I value the versatility of the women in my group. Ours was an all women’s group. After we were given a prompt, we each got to see a whole picture of the subject. It was like a kaleidoscope of ideas. Had you written much before you joined the Write Around Portland workshop? Privately, I’ve written all my life. Funny things, serious things…My friends have always tried to get me to do something with it, but I was shy. My words were like my children. And I was jealous of them, protective. Then I came to the realization that if I had something to say, it didn’t really belong to me and I had to let it go. How was your experience writing in a group? Sharing with others? Hearing other people’s stories? I learned that there were all kinds of ways to write, that there isn’t a given right way. We weren’t bound to write a certain way – you could let your creativity just flow. It [writing] threads us together. Because we write and because it’s a common thing, it’s not like we’re strangers. It’s very freeing. It’s very safe. What was it like reading your work when Write Around Portland was featured on KBOO community radio (90.7 fm)? I had butterflies. But the gal [the host of the radio show], she made us feel so at home. We were just having a conversation and sharing our writing. We had a great time, the other two workshop participants and I. Would you recommend Write Around Portland workshops to others? Oh, of course. I’m Write Around Portland’s best cheerleader. I talk about Write Around Portland to other women who are going through things. Women have a lot to say – and men, too – but I can identify with women. What did the workshop help you learn about yourself as a writer? It helped me to know that I could write about many things. It freed me up to be creative. One of the things I liked was that they didn’t worry about spelling or punctuation, all you had to do is write, and that’s so freeing, no English teacher peering over your shoulder. Is there anything else you’d like to tell your readers about your writing? As I was walking through my house earlier, it came across my mind that I’m the summation of my past and the expectation of my future. When we realize that about ourselves, we can embrace our lives more fully. I’m really just so excited; it’s like a new beginning. I don’t have to be a mama. I can just be me. And I can find what I really have to give, something inside myself that God puts in each one of us.	"I just believe in myself more." Write Around Portland Participant Provide a writer with a journal, pen, bus tickets, and Anthology. Featured Writer Wilma Alcock Click here to read about past featured writers.
Home \| Events \| What We Do \| Donate Now \| Get Involved \| About Us