Soapstone performs a key service for the Oregon and Southwest Washington writing community by sending out email announcements of events, readings, workshops, grant opportunities, lectures and other writing-related news to about 1500 people weekly. Writing workshops, salons, bookstore readings, library events, open mikes at neighborhood coffeehouses, and book-release parties are all announced along with notices about job openings, opportunities for freelancers and volunteers, publications seeking work for special issues and new books by writers in the community. It’s not a listserv; we vet the notices we receive and pass along those that fit within our guidelines.

Many longtime list members have said that Soapstone’s email list provides a vital link to other writers and writing resources. Julie Mancini, former director of Literary Arts, Inc., called it “the single best source of information for the literary community,” and “an incredible service.”

To receive the announcements:

Anyone is welcome to join the list (there is no charge) by emailing us at retreats@soapstone.org and giving us your name and zip code.

• When you reply to an email, please reply to the person and email address listed. DO NOT RESPOND TO SOAPSTONE. (If you simply hit "reply" that is what you are doing.) We cannot forward emails that come to us but are meant for someone else.

• We do not necessarily endorse (or know anything about) the announcements we send out. You will need to investigate workshops, classes, etc., if you are interested in them. Similarly, we do not endorse anyone who answers a request for housesitting. The list is open to anyone, and many of the emails are forwarded to others not on the list.

• Please do not contact us requesting that old emails be resent; we do not keep the emails once they have been sent out.

To send an announcement out on Soapstone’s list:

We're not a listserv (where any individual can post to the whole group); we're simply a list. If you want an announcement included, send it to us and we will include it if it fits the criteria. The announcements are usually sent out on Friday. Each announcement is sent out only once, so time it appropriately; please don't send us "reminder" announcements. Send your announcement in the body of an email—we don't send or open attachments. We don't proofread so make sure your announcement is accurate and contains all pertinent information: date, place, time, cost, deadline, email to respond to, etc.

We have about 1200 people on our email list and add names regularly. They are all people who live in Northwest Oregon or Southwest Washington who have asked to be on the list. It is an excellent vehicle for promotion of a workshop or event to writers in these areas.

There is no charge:

• For listing events that are free and open to the public.

• For events for which the cost is $25 or less.

• For offering to give items to literary organizations or writers (computers, desks, anything, really) or to make known a "wish list" of what you need for your organization or writing life.

We charge a nominal fee for:

• Listing workshops for writers ($25 fee except where we have a reciprocal relationship with organizations who send out announcements about Soapstone).

• Networking notices from those who are on the list: roommates wanted, home for a pet needed, housesitter needed, etc. ($15 fee).

• Announcements of new books by Oregon or Southwest Washington authors where there is no reading, just the announcement of the book's release or a book signing. ($25 fee).

Your payment goes to support the work of Soapstone, Inc. which provides writing residencies for women at our cabin in the Coast Range. Make checks out to Soapstone, Inc. and mail to 622 SE 29th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. To use VISA or MasterCharge, call 503 233 3936.

Please note:

• When you send us a message to send out, put your own email in the body of the message if you want replies. We copy your message and send it on exactly as it is.

• Please do not send us political messages no matter how urgent unless they are somehow related to writing or writers. Because this list is a project of Soapstone, Inc., and because Soapstone has 501(c)(3) status from the IRS (allowing donations to be tax-deductible) we are limited to messages that are related to our purpose.

• If you are a literary organization with an email list of your own, we will happily send your announcements out on Soapstone’s list without charge if you send Soapstone’s own announcements to your list (not the full weekly announcements, just the ones pertaining to Soapstone such as deadlines for applications, raffle, open house and Soapstone events).