The Palo Verde Pages features local poets and writers in their quarterly publication, but the group is hardly limited to the zine they produce. The PV Pages works hand-in-hand with a number of writer’s workshops hosted around the Valley.
Initially, the group began as the Central Phoenix Writing Workshop. It has been expanded to include East Valley workshops as well. Founded through meetup.com (where new members can go to get info on the meeting times and locations), the Palo Verde Pages utilizes the creations of these workshops for the material they publish.
Members vary greatly in not just writing style and genre but also in age and background. From teenagers to retirees, the workshops provide an inviting atmosphere for discussion and exchange. Whether you prefer prose or poetry, non-fiction narratives or sci-fi… the Palo Verde Pages is welcoming of your work.
I had arranged to meet with Jacob Shaver, editor-in-chief of Palo Verde Pages, but received word a colleague was interested and would be joining us. When I arrived for the meeting, I found not only Jacob but three companions and more on their way. I was beginning to see just how communal this project is. We are firm adherents of a more-the-merrier policy here at YabYum, so we all sat down to talk shop.
Geoff Cross ran the writing group when Jacob first hit the Arizona writing scene about three years ago. Now he is focusing on the publishing aspects of the press as a senior editor. Together with fellow editor Isabel Worden-Klym, Cross created the Palo Verde Pages.
Each piece that gets published in the Palo Verde Pages is workshopped through the writing group. A Rubric system creates a path to publication for eager writers.
Prior to moving to Arizona, Jacob Shaver had experienced rejection from a writing group and had his first taste of the rampant pretension that often accompanies the arts. Given to elitism, writing groups frequently shun new writers looking to develop their craft. Shaver sought to help establish a new type of workshop setting that is both “open and affirming,” accepting of new and developing artists.
The result is a very tight social network of aspiring and accomplished writers. Refusing to stop with a publication and a series of weekly writing workshops, the group has also started offering outside gatherings on topics of interest for writers like their recent Archetypes forum.
Welcoming of new members, all present confirmed the love to hear someone ask “Is this where the writing group meets?” Folks are welcome to come listen to the workshops to get a feel for the process without being forced into sharing their own work.
As more members file into the Urban Bean for the Thursday night workshop, our interview (which quickly became an open forum for discussion) continued to expand. We move from the concision of the Haiku’s structure to the moon. Like a conversation between old friends, members of the writers’ workshop move easily between topics, taking turns sharing and listening. Obviously, the workshop setting has conditioned them as conversationalists.
After reading the results in the Palo Verde Pages, I can’t wait to return and witness the workshops in action.
Get your own copy of the Palo Verde Pages’ most recent edition at Changing Hands Bookstore (Tempe) or Dog-Eared Pages (Phoenix). You can also seek out a copy for your Kindle at Amazon.com.
