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RASP: Redmond Association of Spokenword

Celebrating literary arts and poetry in Redmond since 1997

RASP was founded in 1997 to promote literary arts and activities in Redmond, Washington, and the surrounding area. We meet on the last Friday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (Pacific time) for a featured presentation and an open-mic reading at Centro Cultural Mexicano. RASP also holds a monthly writing critique group via Zoom on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 PM to 8:45 PM (Pacific time). All events are open to the public and usually free. Please join us!

While literature is one of our best avenues for dealing with difficult subjects, remember that our meetings are open to a diverse audience, including young people. We ask that your reading does not attempt to normalize discrimination or mistreatment of others.

Click to join* our mailing list and receive announcements about the Reading Series, Poetry & Prose Circle, and other RASP events.


Coming This Month
RASP's regular monthly events are free and do not require registration.

Friday, October 25, 2024—Julene Tripp Weaver (poet) Julene Tripp Weaver (poet)
Reading/open mic starts at 6:30 pm (gathering begins at 6:15)

Julene Tripp Weaver, a psychotherapist and writer in Seattle, has four poetry collections: Slow Now with Clear Skies (MoonPath Press, 2024); Truth Be Bold: Serenading Life & Death in the Age of AIDS (Finishing Line Press, 2017), which won the Bisexual Book Award, four Human Relations Indie Book Awards, and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards; No Father Can Save Her (Plain View Press, 2011); and a chapbook, Case Walking: An AIDS Case Manager Wails Her Blues (Finishing Line Press, 2007). Her poems have appeared in many journals and anthologies, including I Sing the Salmon Home. Visit https://julenetrippweaver.com/.

MC—Michael Heavener



Upcoming Readings and Events


Friday, November 22, 2024—Jack Straw Writers, featuring Gabriel Moseley, Mary Pan, and McKenna Princing (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and fiction)
Moved ahead one week to avoid Thanksgiving holiday weekend

Gabriel Moseley

Gabriel Moseley's short story, "A Man Stands Tall," was awarded The Masters Review Anthology Prize in 2017, selected by Roxane Gay. Other honors and residencies include the General Motors' Future Fiction Scholarship, the Vermont Studio Center, the Centrum Artist Residency, and the Seattle Public Library's Writers' Room Residency.


Mary Pan Mary Pan is a writer and physician with a background in global health and narrative medicine. Her work has appeared in Fourth Genre, Creative Nonfiction, McSweeney's, Intima, and elsewhere. She has been selected for workshops, retreats, and residencies with Tin House, Hedgebrook, Kenyon Review, and Centrum, and is a Harvard Media & Medicine alum.


XXXXX McKenna Princing writes speculative fiction set in and inspired by the Pacific Northwest and Cascadia bioregion. She also loves retellings and reimaginings of classic works that highlight the ways society has (and hasn't) changed. She is pursuing her MFA in fiction at Pacific University and is working on a novel.

MC—TBD


Friday, December 13, 2024—Holiday Party
Starts at 5:30 pm (Pacific Time)

Planning is in progress. We could have a special kind of open mic, certainly a potluck, possibly something improv, or even a salon-style with poems, songs, stories, dances, memories. And as always, wear something festive and start the holidays on a fun note with RASP.

Friday, December 27, 2024—No reading scheduled

Friday, January 27, 2025—TBD

Friday, February 28, 2025—Peggy Sturdivant (nonfiction and poetry)

Peggy Sturdivant

Peggy Sturdivant is founder of Ballard Writers, facilitates (since 2012) the It's About Time Writers' Series and has offered "Writing for the Moment" through Cancer Lifeline for 16 years. For ten years she wrote a weekly column, "At Large in Ballard," coauthored the nonfiction book Out of Nowhere, and coedited So, Dear Writer. In summers she offers Moving Words Writing Clinics to middle and high school students, and works with all ages throughout the year. Her takedown of The Goldfinch on Goodreads is, alas, her best-known work to date. She keeps meaning to update her eponymous website peggysturdivant.com.

MC—Michael Dylan Welch


Friday, March 28, 2025—TBD

Friday, April 25, 2025—Ching-In Chen (Redmond poet laureate)

Friday, May 30, 2025—Jana Harris (poet)

Friday, June 27, 2025—Peter Ludwin (poet)

Friday, July 25, 2025—TBD


We meet at Centro Cultural Mexicano

RASP's featured reading and open mic are held in the main office and meeting space of Centro Cultural Mexicano. The address is 16300 Redmond Way, Suite 100 on the corner of Redmond Way and Leary Way.

For more information about upcoming exhibits and Centro Cultural Mexicano, visit the gallery's website.

Note: Currently Centro keeps their doors locked at all times during our reading and open mic. We will station someone to open the door when you arrive but we ask that you please be patient.


Poetry and Prose Circle

Read your poetry or prose and then we'll discuss your work and offer ideas for improvement. Take away a new perspective on your creative work.

Day: Second Tuesday of each month
Time: 6:30 to approximately 9:00 PM (Pacific Time).
FREE: RASP's Poetry and Prose Circles are free and do not require registration.
Location: Zoom (see below).
Bring: Something written that you're willing to share and get feedback on. You will be able to share your screen so others can read your written words.

Join the monthly RASP Poetry and Prose Circle Zoom meeting beginning at 6:30 PM (Pacific Time)

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
This will be a virtual gathering using ZOOM (see link and details above).

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Tuesday, December 10, 2024


Look for us on social media

Look for our frequent messages and writing prompts on Facebook. Follow us, share us, enjoy us. Tweet about us, too, and retweet our tweets.


Our Monthly Open Mic

RASP's Open Mic gives you the opportunity to share your work with a receptive audience.

Each month, we open up the microphone to everyone to share their poetry and prose with a receptive audience. You can also participate by relaxing and listening to the words of others.

If you have written something you would like to read, show up early and sign up for a time slot. Time slots are scheduled before and after the featured reader. Details and guidelines are at our Open Mic page.


Other places for poetry and art

VALA (Venue for Artists in the Local Area) https://www.valaeastside.org/

SoulFood Poetry Night https://sites.google.com/site/soulfoodpoetrynight

APex - Artists Personal exchange https://www.facebook.com/groups/357724264707997/

Duvall Poetry https://duvallpoetry.weebly.com/

Everett Poetry Nite https://duanekirbyjensen.wixsite.com/everett-poetry-night

Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/local-author-open-mic

WUUC Poetry Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/wuucpoetry

The Poetry Department (blog) https://thepoetrydepartment.wordpress.com/nw-lit-events/

Redmond Poet Laureate https://www.redmond.gov/185/Arts-Culture

Redmond Arts & Culture Commission https://www.redmond.gov/489/Redmond-Arts-Culture-Commission-RACC

RASP promotes written and spoken arts in Redmond and East King County through inclusive performance events and educational programming.
Click to join* our mailing list and receive announcements about the Reading Series
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