Let’s embark on an adventure through creativity with Julia Cameron’s transformative book, The Artist’s Way. Every fourth Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m. we’ll gather to share our personal discoveries and challenges as we build a thriving creative practice.

During the first 90 minutes, we’ll engage in discussions about our experiences navigating the book's exercises. In the final half hour, we’ll put our imaginations to the test with a still-life prompt, inviting you to express yourself through poetry, scene writing, sketches, or any medium that speaks to your creative soul (BYO supplies).

A creative harbor for poets to gather, grow, and contribute. Port of Poets is a welcoming Tacoma-based writing group where poets of all backgrounds come together to create, reflect, and build community. We nurture new work, share thoughtful feedback, and deepen our craft through the power of community.

Whether you’re just beginning or have years of experience, this is a space to explore our voice and connect with others. Our first sessions include a short prompt-based free-writing warm-up, a group discussion of the assigned reading (Finger Exercises for Poets by Dorianne Laux), a second writing prompt inspired by the reading, and end with sharing, feedback and revision using Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process. As a group we can direct the flow and form of future sessions that can best meet our interests and goals.

TALISMANIA: a word/play in four acts

One Saturday morning, three hours: Leave your real life at the door. Bring a character you’re working on or pick one from the hat. We’ll meditate, show ‘n tell, dance, have tea, and find a creative performative flow. It’s writing. It’s theater. It’s art that inspires more art.

Tacoma’s annual literary pub crawl brings writers, poets, and performers to local venues within a walkable footprint for an evening of stories, music, and community. Wander from spot to spot, discover new voices, and celebrate the vibrant South Sound literary scene. See full line up HERE.

A creative harbor for poets to gather, grow, and contribute. Port of Poets is a welcoming Tacoma-based writing group where poets of all backgrounds come together to create, reflect, and build community. We nurture new work, share thoughtful feedback, and deepen our craft through the power of community.

Whether you’re just beginning or have years of experience, this is a space to explore our voice and connect with others. Our first sessions include a short prompt-based free-writing warm-up, a group discussion of the assigned reading (Finger Exercises for Poets by Dorianne Laux), a second writing prompt inspired by the reading, and end with sharing, feedback and revision using Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process. As a group we can direct the flow and form of future sessions that can best meet our interests and goals.

Let’s embark on an adventure through creativity with Julia Cameron’s transformative book, The Artist’s Way. Every fourth Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m. we’ll gather to share our personal discoveries and challenges as we build a thriving creative practice.

During the first 90 minutes, we’ll engage in discussions about our experiences navigating the book's exercises. In the final half hour, we’ll put our imaginations to the test with a still-life prompt, inviting you to express yourself through poetry, scene writing, sketches, or any medium that speaks to your creative soul (BYO supplies).

A creative harbor for poets to gather, grow, and contribute. Port of Poets is a welcoming Tacoma-based writing group where poets of all backgrounds come together to create, reflect, and build community. We nurture new work, share thoughtful feedback, and deepen our craft through the power of community.

Whether you’re just beginning or have years of experience, this is a space to explore our voice and connect with others. Our first sessions include a short prompt-based free-writing warm-up, a group discussion of the assigned reading (Finger Exercises for Poets by Dorianne Laux), a second writing prompt inspired by the reading, and end with sharing, feedback and revision using Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process. As a group we can direct the flow and form of future sessions that can best meet our interests and goals.

In this workshop, writers will plan ahead for the days when we know we need to grow new work but our creative soil is bone-dry or chock full of rocks. Bring a handful of favorite poems or the titles & memories of beloved prose pieces to use as fertilizer. We’ll use the materials we always have on hand to consider what a new literary creation needs in order to break open and throw roots. Plan to leave with a small collection of your own prompts to plant during any upcoming winters of the mind.

Creative Colloquy lures readers and writers out of hiding, to connect and conspire.

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every month for literary reading and open mic at The New Frontier Lounge!

Our featured readers include:
Joshua Swainston
Ashley Fent
Cynthia Pratt
Samantha Pardo Irigoyen

Let’s embark on an adventure through creativity with Julia Cameron’s transformative book, The Artist’s Way. Every fourth Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m. we’ll gather to share our personal discoveries and challenges as we build a thriving creative practice.

During the first 90 minutes, we’ll engage in discussions about our experiences navigating the book's exercises. In the final half hour, we’ll put our imaginations to the test with a still-life prompt, inviting you to express yourself through poetry, scene writing, sketches, or any medium that speaks to your creative soul (BYO supplies).

Creative Colloquy lures readers and writers out of hiding, to connect and conspire.

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every month for literary reading and open mic at The New Frontier Lounge!

Our featured readers include:
C. L. Halvorson
&
Brasswax

BONUS! A special guest emcee Cat Melaunie!

"Bridges Book Fair: Building Bridges and Community" -- an inaugural bookfair created by Floating Bridge Press.

Stay tuned for details…

Let’s embark on an adventure through creativity with Julia Cameron’s transformative book, The Artist’s Way. Every fourth Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m. we’ll gather to share our personal discoveries and challenges as we build a thriving creative practice.

During the first 90 minutes, we’ll engage in discussions about our experiences navigating the book's exercises. In the final half hour, we’ll put our imaginations to the test with a still-life prompt, inviting you to express yourself through poetry, scene writing, sketches, or any medium that speaks to your creative soul (BYO supplies).

Creative Colloquy lures readers and writers out of hiding, to connect and conspire.

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every month for literary reading and open mic at The New Frontier Lounge!

Featured Readers:
Michael Keen
Ed Komenda
Dario Cvencek

The micro essay packs a punch in under 1,000 words, and we'll learn how in this generative class. We'll go over contemporary micros, discuss the form, and generate seeds of future essays through prompts and exercises.

Presented by Job Carr Museum, author Mary Boone will share her new picture book Pedal Pusher at Tacoma’s Old Town Park.
Bring your child’s bike, trike, or scooter for a mini parade around the park and snag your newest read with our mobile little free library!

Let’s embark on an adventure through creativity with Julia Cameron’s transformative book, The Artist’s Way. Every fourth Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m. we’ll gather to share our personal discoveries and challenges as we build a thriving creative practice.

During the first 90 minutes, we’ll engage in discussions about our experiences navigating the book's exercises. In the final half hour, we’ll put our imaginations to the test with a still-life prompt, inviting you to express yourself through poetry, scene writing, sketches, or any medium that speaks to your creative soul (BYO supplies).

Creative Colloquy lures readers and writers out of hiding, to connect and conspire.

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every month for literary reading and open mic at The New Frontier Lounge!

This month’s featured readers include Mary Bradford, Helen Rowe and Michael Haeflinger.

Writing Dangerously

"Loving yourself enough to become beautiful, to tell the truth," is the advice offered by poet Lena Khalaf Tuffaha in her acceptance speech for the National Book Award in poetry earlier this year. This workshop will explore the intersection between radical self-love and truth telling, using it as motivation to reinvent our ideas of "beautiful writing." A writing that is truthful, untethered, raw, sometimes uncomfortable and undeniably beautiful. 

Let’s embark on an adventure through creativity with Julia Cameron’s transformative book, The Artist’s Way. Every fourth Saturday from 1 - 3 p.m. we’ll gather to share our personal discoveries and challenges as we build a thriving creative practice.

During the first 90 minutes, we’ll engage in discussions about our experiences navigating the book's exercises. In the final half hour, we’ll put our imaginations to the test with a still-life prompt, inviting you to express yourself through poetry, scene writing, sketches, or any medium that speaks to your creative soul (BYO supplies).

Creative Colloquy lures readers and writers out of hiding, to connect and conspire.

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every month for literary reading and open mic at The New Frontier Lounge!

Our featured readers include Rita Andrea, Emily Powell, Jake Lane and Julie Baldock.

Join us for a day of dialogue, crafts, arts, storytelling and hands on activities centered around Tacoma and climate change.

Tacoma Climate Stories: Join the City of Tacoma Office of Environmental Policy & Sustainability and the Tacoma Public Library in sharing your experiences with climate change impacts through visual, artistic, or spoken-word mediums! Lend your voice to a new 'Climate Stories Community Archive' project. Help inform future Tacoma climate communications efforts and get inspired for your next read!

Featured storytellers include:
Cat Melaunie,
Sandy King,
Jessica Trujillo,
Courtney Bird,
JP Kemmick
&
Jennifer Preston

For more information, visit www.engagepiercecounty.com

Creative Colloquy lures readers and writers out of hiding, to connect and conspire.

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every month for literary reading and open mic at The New Frontier Lounge!

Featured Readers Include:
Stephani Hemness
Courtney Davis
Rhea Melina

Join us on March 14th, 2025 for the second Ground to Sound Film and Art Festival at the Foss Waterway Seaport for an unforgettable night celebrating film, music, poetry, and art—all inspired by the Puget Sound!

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Documentary film screening featuring this year’s selected works

• Live performances & open mics

• Interactive art installations

• Literary readings

• Music & freestyle cyphers

EVENT DETAILS:

• Doors open at 6pm

• Program starts at 6:30pm

• Art & community connections until 9:30pm

Creative Colloquy lures readers and writers out of hiding, to connect and conspire.

This month we’re celebrating a momentous milestone — 11 years of CC!

Join us for a celebratory evening with readings, drinks, cake, music and a raffle for rad swag and prizes at The New Frontier Lounge!

Join us every third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. for our regular literary reading and open mic gathering.

Featured Readers this month submitted works inspired by our Lunar New Year: Year of the Wood Snake call for submissions.

Featured Readers:

Ronen Perry
Christina Slack
Sasha Victor
Julie Baldock

Poetry, Essays, Short Stories- all are welcome!

Join us every third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. for our regular literary reading and open mic gathering.

Featuring:
Mercury Sunderland
&
R. G. Mint

Poetry, Essays, Short Stories- all are welcome!

Join us every third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. for our regular literary reading and open mic gathering.

Featured Readers Include:
Shaun A. McMichael
&
Karen Miller

Poetry, Essays, Short Stories- all are welcome!

Color Stories: A Generative Poetry Workshop

Join former Tacoma Poet Laureate Kellie Richardson for an interactive workshop exploring the role and use of color in poetry, music, and prose. Color has long been used as a symbol to communicate meaning, deepen creative expression, and even call humans forth toward justice. In this workshop, we will read works of poetry, song, and prose to look at the many ways artists utilize color to explore memory, honor humanity, and practice magic. Participants should be prepared to discuss the readings and engage with prompts to generate or build on their own memories and experiences with color. This workshop is open to all levels of writers and creatives. You will be offered an opportunity to share the work you create (though not required), as well as offer generative feedback to your peers.

Join us every third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. for our regular literary reading and open mic gathering.

Featured Readers:
Steve Tarry,
Kris Hall,
Jamie Fiano

Poetry, Essays, Short Stories- all are welcome!