First Draft Writers’ Series
Third Thursday of each month, always FREE

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Ursula LeGuin reading at First Draft.

The First Draft Writers’ Series brings authors and poets of note to the Pendleton stage to share new work. On the third Thursday of each month people who love the written word gather at the PCA’s Pearson Auditorium to hear our featured authors as well as three to five minute open mic readings by local emerging writers.

“Truly, [First Draft] was one of the best adventures of my writing career, right up there with winning the PNBA awards and being interviewed by Studs Turkel.”   – Craig Lesley

Our Open Mic readers add incredible life to First Draft. Whether you’re a professional, emerging literary artist, amateur or just get a burst of inspiration to write one thing, we’d love to have you read your original 3-5 minute piece for the audience. Up to ten people can sign up each month to share their work after the featured author and a quick Q&A. Just send us a note in the Zoom chat that you’d like to read.

NEXT: Join us for a reading with Jessica E. Johnson

Thursday, May 15, 2025
7:00 p.m. ZOOM ONLY

Zoom link Here
(Having trouble with the link? Text or call Roberta at 541-310-7413 and she’ll send it to you directly.)

     

Jessica E. Johnson is the author of the book-length poem Metabolics (Acre Poetry Series), the chapbook In Absolutes We Seek Each Other (New Michigan Press), and the memoir Mettlework (Acre Books).

Jessica is a career community college instructor based in Portland, Oregon. She is interested in inclusive learning environments, knowledge production, radical care, and the relationships between art, friendship, community, and social change.

She is a contributor to Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry, and her poems, essays, and reviews have appeared in The Paris Review, Tin House, The New Republic, Poetry Northwest, 32 Poems, Prairie Schooner, River Teeth, DIAGRAM, Annulet Poetics, Dream Pop, Terrain, The Southeast Review, and Sixth Finch, among others. She co-hosts the Constellation Reading Series.

Her honors include an Oregon Literary Fellowship, many Pushcart nominations, and a Best of the Net nomination. “The Ghost Road” (Southeast Review) was a Best American Essays notable. In Absolutes We Seek Each Other was a DIAGRAM chapbook contest winner and In Absolutes and Metabolics were finalists for the Oregon Book Award in poetry.

Check out the list of esteemed writers who have headlined First Draft since 2013.
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