Writing & other events, summer 2026
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE FORGE 10-MONTH WRITiNG WORKSHOP FALL 2026
JULY 12, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
JULY 14, 2026, Central Oregon Writers Guild Monthly Meeting. Presentation: Working with the Madman, Architect, Carpenter, & Judge: Inside you there are four writers, according to writer and educator Betsy Flowers: one creates, one designs, one constructs, and one serves as project inspector—and a great manuscript needs them all, just not at the same time. Writing is re-writing, and also re-visioning and fine tuning. Join Mike and Irene Cooper for tips and talk on how to go from finished rough draft to literary diamond while keeping it fresh and keeping your wits. COWG meeting in person 5:30-7PM at Central Library, 61956 SE Santorini, Bend, and on zoom (link inactive until meeting).
JULY 18, 2026, COWG Workshop at Central Library: "From Diamond in the Rough to Brilliance: Write, Re-Write, Revise, and Edit Your Way to a Polished Draft" with Mike & Irene Cooper. As writers, we wear a lot of hats as we create and build and do the finish work on our stories, essays, and poems. Join Forge Writing Program instructors and writers Mike and Irene Cooper for a three-hour workshop in which we’ll consider how to give each role its due and rotate through the Madman, Architect, Carpenter, and Judge to generate, rewrite, revise, edit, and complete a short piece that gets us closer to our vision of what we want to write.
Members $10 Nonmembers $25. 1-4PM, Central Library (3rd Floor Meeting Room) 61956 SE Santorini, Bend. REGISTER HERE
JULY 23, 2026, DIVE INTO POETRY: Capture summer in a poem! The season is fleeting in Central Oregon—why not hold onto that summer feeling by preserving (jamming?) it in a poem? Join Irene Cooper for a summer poetry workshop in which we'll stargaze and road trip with the likes of Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Ada Limón, play with language, and create new poems to share around the campfire. 6-7:30PM, Central Library, 61956 SE Santorini, Bend. Free, registration required. REGISTER HERE
AUGUST 9, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
Writing & other events, spring 2026
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE FORGE 10-MONTH WRITiNG WORKSHOP FALL 2026
THROUGHOUT APRIL: Central Oregon Community College celebrates National Poetry Month with the theme, From the Gound Up. Check out the calendar HERE.
APRIL 12, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
MAY 10, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
JUNE 6, 2026, Writers of the graduating FORGE WRITING cohort will read from the work they’ve created and developed over the last 10 months. Join us at 3PM-5PM in The Community 2 Room at the (NEW!) Central Library, 61956 SE Santorini Street in East Bend—there will be cake. Or watch and listen from anywhere with this ZOOM link.
Writing & other events, WINTER 2026
(NEW TIME!) JANUARY 11, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
FEBRUARY 08, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
MARCH 08, 2026, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 2pm - 4pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
Writing & other events, FALL 2025
The Forge 10-month Writing Intensive Begins September 27, 2025
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of creative writing, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
OCTOBER 3, 2025, SPOONFULS Poetry Chapbook Reading of octets, with Luke Eldredge, author of EAT, event by SRPR (Spoon River Poetry Review) and Steve Halle, Facebook Event, 2:30pm PST, 4:30pm CDT
OCTOBER 8, 2025, MILWAUKIE POETRY SERIES, Ledding Library, Milwaukie, OR, 6pm - 7:30pm, YouTube Channel
OCTOBER 12, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
OCTOBER 15, 2025, WINDFALL Poetry Reading with Daneen Bergland at Eugene Public Library, 6pm
NOVEMBER 9, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
DECEMBER 21, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
Writing & other events, SUMMER 2025
RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK continues without interruption on the 2nd Sunday of each month, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Writing & other events, Spring 2025
APPLY NOW FOR THE FORGE 10-MONTH WRITING INTENSIVE: CLASSES START FALL 2025
APRIL 4, 2025, THE CONTINUOUS PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE OF AIRLIE PRESS, a reading with Daneen Bergland, Irene Cooper, Connie Soper, Christopher Rose, Valerie Witte, Nicole Zdeb, BOLD Coffee and Books, 1755 SW Jefferson St. Portland, OR 97210, 7pm.
APRIL 13, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
APRIL 24, 2025, POETRY & MYSTERY: A NOVEL IDEA, Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji takes its title from a poem by Emily Dickinson, who wrote, “The Whole of it came not at once / ‘Twas Murder by degrees”—and threads poetry throughout the novel to both heighten the intrigue and offer clues that help solve the case. Indulge in an hour of the mysteries and epiphanies of poetry as we steep in a selection of Victorian and contemporary verse, and enjoy the pleasures and puzzles of poetry. Redmond Library, 4:30-5:30pm.
APRIL 26, 2025, CELEBRATE POETRY MONTH & EARTH DAY by writing and revising your own environmental poems. Join Irene Cooper for a workshop in which you'll "grow" new poems and learn techniques for how to shape and revise them. Read examples and practice some of the many ways you can capture the dynamics and issues of our world in a well-crafted poem. 10:00am-12:00pm | Bend, COCC Continuing Education.
APRIL 27, 2025, POETRY & MYSTERY: A NOVEL IDEA, Murder by Degrees by Ritu Mukerji takes its title from a poem by Emily Dickinson, who wrote, “The Whole of it came not at once / ‘Twas Murder by degrees”—and threads poetry throughout the novel to both heighten the intrigue and offer clues that help solve the case. Indulge in an hour of the mysteries and epiphanies of poetry as we steep in a selection of Victorian and contemporary verse, and enjoy the pleasures and puzzles of poetry. Downtown Bend Library, 1:00-2:00pm.
MAY 11, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
Writing & other events, Winter 2025
FEBRUARY 9, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
MARCH 9, 2025, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
WRITING & OTHER EVENTS, FALL 2024
OCTOBER 8, 2024, POETRY READING, Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232, Celebrating the publication of new Airlie Press releases, even my dreams are over the constant state of anxiety by Irene Cooper & The Goodbye Kit by Daneen Bergland; time TBA
OCTOBER 13, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
OCTOBER 24, 2024, POETRY READING, Paulina Springs Books, 252 W Hood Ave, Sisters, OR 97759, Celebrating the publication of new Airlie Press releases, even my dreams are over the constant state of anxiety by Irene Cooper & The Goodbye Kit by Daneen Bergland, with featured Airlie poets Joy Manesiotis & Valerie Witte, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
OCTOBER 25, 2024, POETRY EVENT, Cafe Des Chutes, 50 SE Scott St, Bend, OR 97702. Extravaganza to celebrate the publication of new Airlie Press releases, even my dreams are over the constant state of anxiety by Irene Cooper & The Goodbye Kit by Daneen Bergland, with guest artists, music, and more fun, 5:30pm - 7pm
NOVEMBER 10, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
DECEMBER 8, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
WRITING & OTHER EVENTS, SUMMER 2024
APPLY NOW FOR THE FORGE 10-MONTH WRITING INTENSIVE: CLASSES START FALL 2024
JUNE 29, 2024, PORTLAND INDIE BOOK & ART FAIR at Honey Latte Cafe, 1033 SE Main Street, INDIE PUBLISHERS | LOCAL ARTISTS | DIVINERS | COFFEE | ICE CREAM!!
JULY 14, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
AUGUST 11, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2024, THE FORGE 10-month Online Creative Writing Intensive Begins
SEPTEMBER 8, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2024, PUB DAY: even my dreams are over the constant state of anxiety, Airlie Press, festivities TBA
WRITING & OTHER EVENTS, Spring 2024
APPLY NOW FOR THE FORGE 10-MONTH WRITING INTENSIVE: CLASSES START FALL 2024
APRIL 4, 2024, CONVERSATION with Charlie J. Stephens, author of A Wounded Deer Leaps Highest, Cafe Des Chutes, Bend, OR, 5-6:30pm
APRIL 11, 2024, READING, Ekphraestival: tangible cadence: artists transcribing poetry, in collaboration with Ebony Frison, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, 7-9pm
APRIL 14, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
MAY 12, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
JUNE 9, 2024, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available, but lots of juice.
Writing & Other events, Winter 2024
APPLY NOW FOR THE FORGE 10-MONTH WRITING INTENSIVE: CLASSES START FALL 2024
JANUARY 14, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
FEBRUARY 11, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
POETRY WORKSHOP: FIND THE HEART, Saturday, February 24, 11am - 12:30pm, COCC, ZOOM, REGISTER HERE
POETRY WORKSHOP: SPRING INTO FORM, Saturday, March 9, 11am - 12:30, COCC, ZOOM, REGISTER HERE
MARCH 10, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
WRITING & OTHER EVENTS, Summer/Fall 2023
JUNE 29, CHAMBER MUSIC NORTHWEST, 2023 SUMMER FESTIVAL, POETRY IN MUSIC, Patricia Reser Auditorium, Beaverton, 7pm
JULY 8, PORTLAND INDIE BOOK + ART FAIR, with Airlie Press, 2023, Honey Latte Cafe, Noon - 5pm
AUGUST 13, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @ SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
SEPTEMBER 10, RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN WORDS @ SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30pm - 5:30pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
SEPTEMBER 17, POETRY WORKSHOP: FALL INTO FORM, 2pm -3:30pm Deschutes Library, Becky Johnson Community Center, Redmond, FREE [REGISTER}
SEPTEMBER 25, BUILD-A-POEM, 6pm - 8pm, Cafe des Chutes, The Old Ironworks, 5 SE Scott St, Bend, OR. Join Irene & V. Mello, Ama Garza, & Yoko Minoura for spoken word fun.
SEPTEMBER 28, POETRY WORKSHOP: POETRY WORKS FOR EVERY WRITER, 6:30pm - 8pm, East Bend Public Library, FREE [REGISTER]
NOVEMBER 11 - 18, POETRY WORKSHOP, LET’S WRITE!, 10-11:30am, two Saturdays, with a one-on-one revision consulation midweek, COCC, ZOOM, REGISTER HERE
Writing & OTHER Events, Winter/SPring 2023
JANUARY 28, 29TH ANNUAL WOODLAND PATTERN POETRY MARATHON
FEBRUARY 12: RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN POETS @ SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
MARCH 11 & 18: POETRY WORKSHOP: LET’S WRITE!, COCC Continuing Education, Online via ZOOM, 1:30 - 3 pm
MARCH 12: RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN POETS @ SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
APRIL 9: RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN POETS @ SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
APRIL 12, SAVING GRACE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH @COCC, 4-6 pm, Wille Hall, COCC, Poetry inspiration and writing prompts in support of survivors. Free event.
APRIL 23 & 30: POETRY WORKSHOP: INSPIRATION TO COMPLETION, COCC Continuing Education, Online via ZOOM, 10:30 am - 12 pm
April 29: I AM A MOON BERRY: Words Performance with Moon Bukas, Irene Cooper, Ama Garza, & Laura Winberry
MAY 14: RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN POETS @ SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
Writing & OTHER Events, FALL 2022
SEPTEMBER 11, 2022: RAGING WRITERS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2022: CELEBRATE WELCOMING WEEK & THE ARTS @THE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER, 16 NW Kansas Ave, Bend, OR. Event Details Here!
OCTOBER 2 & 9, 2022: FALL POETRY WORKSHOP, 10:30 am - NOON, via ZOOM, Plus a one-on-one revision consultation midweek with Irene. $75. Register Here
OCTOBER 9, 2022: RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN POETS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
OCTOBER 20, 2022: Irene’s new novel, FOUND, available wherever books are sold!
OCTOBER 18, 2022: READING WITH IRENE COOPER, JENNIFER REIMER, & BRITTNEY CORRIGAN @ROUNDABOUT BOOKS, 6pm. Register Here
OCTOBER 22, 2022: READINGS BY THE FIRST GRADUATING COHORT OF THE FORGE WRITING PROGRAM, 3-5 pm, Deschutes Public Library, Downtown (+ CAKE!)
NOVEMBER 3, 2022: FOUND BOOK LAUNCH PARTY @THE COMMONS! 4-6 pm! Live music! Nibbles! Signed books! (Partial proceeds to go to SAVING GRACE)
NOVEMBER 5 & 12, 2022: POETRY WORKSHOP: LET’S WRITE, 10:00 am - 11:30, via ZOOM, through Central Oregon Community College Continuing Education. Register Here
NOVEMBER 5 & 12, 2022: BLANK PAGES WORKSHOPS: SCENE & SEQUEL: 5 - 7 pm, via ZOOM, Register Here
NOVEMBER 13, 2022: RAGING WRITERS/SPOKEN POETS @SPORK, 937 NW Newport Ave, Ste. 130, Bend, OR, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, One hour of inspiration and creative writing workshop, one hour of Open Mic. Free. All welcome. No food or beverages available.
NOVEMBER 15, 2022: Roundabout Books, Conversation with Irene Cooper & Kaui Hemmings, moderated by Jennifer Reimer, 6 pm
