The Shortcut - Events in Oregon

Find your feedback people–and the perspectives your pages need at this 6-session critique circle

Writing poems is vulnerable work. Revising them without knowledgeable readers? Even more so.

Maybe you’ve shared drafts with kind humans who say things like, “I love it!” (Sweet, but… not exactly actionable.) Or maybe you’ve asked ChatGPT what it “thinks.” (Respectfully: robots are not your workshop.)

If you don’t currently have a poetry community that can offer constructive feedback—or if you’re not sure how to give feedback that’s clear, compassionate, and useful—this circle is for you.

Bring Your Poems is a supportive space where poets receive thoughtful critique and learn how to give it. You’ll practice reading poems with craft in mind, naming what’s working, and offering feedback that helps a poet revise with clarity—without flattening their voice.

Kelly Eastlund leads this group uses a compassionate, writer-centered approach rooted in Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process (the same overall critique philosophy used in Bring Your Pages).

Each session includes:
-A short craft mini-lesson (so we’re building shared language and tools)
-Guided critique practice (so feedback doesn’t turn into vibes-only improv)
-Round-table workshopping, one poet at a time, with the facilitator keeping things supportive and on-track

Bring Your Poems isn’t just a solution to your writing struggles. It’s a way to form new connections and friendships with other writers. The enemy of creativity is often isolation, which can make you spiral into yourself and cloud your vision for your writing. By committing to six bi-weekly (every other week) sessions, you’ll find fellow writers who understand this craft to talk with and become inspired by!

Dates: Six sessions, every other Tuesday | Spring cohort: March 3 to May 12, 2026 – led by Kelly Eastlund

Time: 3-5 pm

Price: $199
Pricing info: Our classes and events are priced at their actual cost to run.

If paying the full price would keep you from joining us, use the code ACCESS at checkout to reduce your registration amount by 20%—no questions asked. If you’re a Wordcrafters member, use code MEMBERACCESS.

If the full price is within your means, please leave the ACCESS code for those who truly need it.

If you’re able, you can add a donation during registration to support our scholarship fund.

Scholarship info: We want everyone to have access to our writing programs. If you need additional support, please complete our scholarship request form: https://wordcrafters.org/scholarships/

Your Instructor
Kelly Eastlund (she/her) Kelly Eastlund has been happily hooked on poetry since the age of 13. She earned her B.A. in English from the University of Colorado and after moving to Oregon in 2002, has continued to study and hone her craft independently via books, workshops, and critique groups. Her poems have been published in Rust + Moth, Shot Glass Journal, Verseweavers, and other journals.

He earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost-with-the-most is coming to Eugene.

It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, BEETLEJUICE is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

“A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND THE SOUL!” – Entertainment Weekly

“A JOYFUL, EBULLIENT ANTIDOTE TO REALITY!” – Rolling Stone

Content Advisory: Contains strong language, mature references, and a lot of the crazy, inappropriate stuff you would expect from a deranged demon.

Preschool Storytime at the Newport Public Library, 35 NW Nye St., on Wednesdays all school year long!

Enjoy engaging stories followed by a fun, themed craft designed for little hands and big imaginations.

This program is perfect for preschoolers and their caregivers, offering a weekly opportunity to explore creativity, practice early literacy skills, and enjoy quality time together.

All supplies are provided—just bring your curiosity and excitement. We can’t wait to see you at the library!

A 4-week in-person writing accountability and co-working group to help you make progress on your writing.

You want to write. You mean to write. But somehow, another week slips by …

The project is still sitting there. The blinking cursor. The half-revised draft. The query letter you promised yourself you’d send.

You’re not alone. Writing is hard, even when it’s something you love. Life gets busy. Motivation wobbles. The couch wins.

Write Your Way Forward is here to change that. It’s not a “class” in the usual sense. It’s a cozy, committed group of fellow writers coming together to get things done—with support, encouragement, and accountability.

Write Your Way Forward will help you make steady progress on whatever writing project is calling your name–from writing a first draft to querying agents, from revising and researching to marketing yourself as a writer.

Whether you’re drafting, revising, querying, blogging, or just trying to show up for your writing practice more consistently, this group is your soft place to land and your firm-but-loving nudge forward.

This group is for you if you
-Are working on a writing project of some kind (any genre)
-Keep getting sidetracked or stalled
-Need a gentle container to help you make progress
-Crave community but still want quiet writing time
-Want support from a pro when you get stuck

What you’ll get from Write Your Way Forward
-A clearer, steadier writing rhythm
-Real progress on your project
-Connection with fellow writers who get it
-Insight and encouragement from a professional writer
-That magical feeling of showing up for your creativity
-Confidence–from giving time to your writing life, community–from fellow writers, and chocolate–because we’re Wordcrafters!

Your Guide

Jeaux Bartlett (they/them) is a genre-bending writer, teacher, and intuitive who’s been guiding folks through the wilds of creative expression for more than two decades. They write cross-genre work exploring nature, healing, and the body, and believe in the power of story to transform and connect.

Dates: Wednesdays | March cohort: March 4, 11, 18, 25, 2026

Times: 3-4:30 pm

Price: $89/month | Returning participants get $10 off registration (ask us for the coupon code).

Our classes and events are priced at their actual cost.

If paying the full price would keep you from joining us, use the code ACCESS at checkout to reduce your registration amount by 20%—no questions asked.

If the full price is within your means, please leave the ACCESS code for those who truly need it.

If you’re able, you can add a donation during registration to support our scholarship fund.

Learn more about our pricing: https://wordcrafters.org/pfyh/

The University of Oregon’s Department of Cinema Studies presents Filmlandia, a screening series celebrating Oregon’s film heritage. The series continues with a free public screening of PROPERTY (1978), Penny Allen’s groundbreaking Portland-made independent film that captured the city’s countercultural energy and helped define a new era of regional filmmaking. Join us on Tuesday, March 4 at 6:00 pm in Villard Hall 205 to revisit this landmark of Oregon cinema on the big screen. All are welcome. For complete series details, go to https://blogs.uoregon.edu/cinemaresources/2025/11/13/filmlandia/

Trivia night at The Garden on Friendly hosted by quality trivia, every Wednesday starting at 6:00PM. Free to play, great prizes, bring a team or play solo!

He earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost-with-the-most is coming to Eugene.

It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, BEETLEJUICE is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

“A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND THE SOUL!” – Entertainment Weekly

“A JOYFUL, EBULLIENT ANTIDOTE TO REALITY!” – Rolling Stone

Content Advisory: Contains strong language, mature references, and a lot of the crazy, inappropriate stuff you would expect from a deranged demon.

Bilingual Storytime returns to the Newport Public Library, 35 NW Nye St., on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 5:30 PM, and will continue all school year long! Families can enjoy stories told in both English and Spanish, followed by a fun, hands-on craft.
This program celebrates language, culture, and community, creating a welcoming space for children and families of all backgrounds.
All supplies are provided—just bring your curiosity. We can’t wait to see you at the library!

The Yachats Big Band will be hosting its First Thursday dance February 3 at the Yachats Commons beginning at 7 PM. Besides tunes from the Big Band era and seasonal favorities, there will be coffee and light refreshments available. Admission is $10 for singles and $15 for couples. We hope to see you there.

The Yachats Big Band will host its monthly First Thursday dance April 3, at the Yachats Commons, beginning at 7:00 PM.
The event is open to the public and features live music from the 20's to the present.
Doors will open at 6:30 PM; admission is $5/person, payable at the door. Coffee and light refreshments will be available.

We hope to see you there!