Classes at the Attic

APPS DUE: MAY 20 | Atheneum Master Writing Program for 2024-2025 | In-person

An annual certificate program, the Attic Atheneum melds independent study under close faculty supervision, student receptions, public readings, and other special Atheneum events created around good food and great conversation, dialogue, and literary community.

Running for just under a year, the Atheneum is designed to advance your writing and seed literary life in the city. Atheneum Fellows form a unique community of literary artists and citizens.

Learn more and apply

 

APPS DUE: SEP 8: Poets Studio for 2024-2025 | In-person

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Poets Studio is based on the idea that focusing on goals is the key to lasting growth as a poet. Poets Studio is a weekly workshop that will run from Sep 23 - May 19 for 30 weeks. It is designed to give form and focus to your poetry writing. The Poets Studio is open to applications from all poets. Poets join the Poets Studio as members and attend for the entire session. This creates the Poets Studio's special experience: a steady, supportive, and comprehensive study of your poetry among other poets.

Read more about the Poets Studio.

To Apply: Please send ten (10) pages of poems and a 250 words "Statement of Goals" to the Attic Institute.

APPLY NOW

Teacher: 
David Biespiel
Time: 
Mondays, Sep 23, 2024 - May 19, 2025, 5:30-7:30pm, 30 weeks
Location: 
Attic Institute, 1033 SW Yamhill, Suite 405, Portland, OR 97205
Total Fee: 
$2250. Installment plans available upon request.

Novel Structure and Plot Workshop w Jules Ohman | May 19 - June 16

Writers of fiction always wonder: Is this a novel? how should I get it started? What are the structures and building blocks? This generative workshop will help you develop and strengthen the building blocks of your novel, with a focus on structure, plot, and narrative tension. While feedback and group discussion will be built in, we will work on creating the tools you need, availing you to writing time, and building community to help you advance. What is plot? How do you create a "clock" for your novel? How do characters inform your structure? How do you revise...a novel?! Come on up and get your novel going.

Register for this workshop

Teacher: 
Jules Ohman
Time: 
Sundays, 11am - 1pm, May 19 - June 16, 5 weeks
Location: 
Attic Institute, 1033 SW Yamhill Street, Suite 405
Total Fee: 
$275.00

Remake It: Don’t Break It – A Prose Poetry Workshop w Ruben Quesada | June 8 - 29 | Online

Every poet should try the prose poem to explore new imaginative and innovative possibilities. In "Remake It: Don't Break It," we will read a range of prose poetry that models poetic elements. Our practice will focus on language, syntax, and sound; rhythmic or imagistic patterning; repetition; precision; and compression. The intersection of poetry and prose offers a range of possibilities for style and subject. We will write together and discuss poetic elements as we practice writing. No previous writing experience is needed. All are welcome. A great early summer prose poem festival.

Register for this workshop

Teacher: 
Ruben Quesada
Time: 
Saturdays, June 8 - 29, 9am - 11:30am, 10 hours
Location: 
Via Zoom
Total Fee: 
$275.00

June Poetry Sundays Workshop with Matthew Dickman | June 9 - 30 | Online | WAITLIST ONLY

In this four-week workshop we'll be coming together in community to write together and share our creative explorations. Each week will involve a fun poetry exercise, examples from an author's book, writing together and sharing. It's not really summer and it's not really spring but it is a great time to write. Come join us!

Waitlist only

 

 

 

Teacher: 
Matthew Dickman
Time: 
Sundays, June 9 - 30, 10am-12:30pm PST, 4 weeks
Location: 
Zoom
Total Fee: 
$275.00

Intro to Flash Nonfiction Workshop w Brian Benson | July 2 - July 30 | Online

 

Flash nonfiction, simply put, is true-to-life writing defined by extreme compression. It's saying what you've got to say using as few words, and as much beauty, as possible. An endlessly accessible, playful, potent form, flash nonfiction is evermore popular; from Brevity to Barren, The Forge to The Sun, legions of journals are publishing great flash.

This class is open to all writers, whether you're new to flash or finishing your first collection. Over five weeks, students will read stellar flash, begin new pieces, workshop works-in-progress, and move toward submitting work for publication. | Maximum: 16 writers.

Register for this workshop

Teacher: 
Brian Benson
Workshop Day: 
Tuesday
Time: 
Intro to Flash Nonfiction: Tuesdays, July 2 - July 30, 6 - 8pm Pacific, 5 weeks
Location: 
Zoom | Online Workshop
Total Fee: 
$275.

Beginning Your Poetry Practice w Craig Brandis | July 9 - Aug 6 | Online

“Just think about something and follow it down to where it gets true”—Anne Carson

Have you recently begun to write poetry or now wish to? Learning to write poetry begins with looking at the world with a sense of wonder and curiosity. It begins with special affection for words and a desire to be in the company of other poets who feel the same. Maybe you just need a push — a practice? Each session in this workshop will begin with poetry games and in-class writing. Craft discussions, based on what we write and share, will help us follow the trail down to where things get true. Poems from Elizabeth Bishop, Kay Ryan and others help light our way. Share your work in an environment of acceptance and discovery.  Come join us!

Register for this workshop

Teacher: 
Craig Brandis
Time: 
Tuesdays, July 9 - Aug 6, 7 - 9pm Pacific Time, 5 weeks
Location: 
Via Zoom
Total Fee: 
$275.

July Poetry Sundays Workshop with Matthew Dickman | July 14 - Aug 4 | Online

In this four-week workshop we'll be coming together in community to write together and share our creative explorations. Each week will involve a fun poetry exercise, examples from an author's book, writing together and sharing. Summer is a great time to write and experiment. Come join us!

Register for this workshop

 

 

 

Teacher: 
Matthew Dickman
Time: 
Sundays, July 14 - Aug 4, 10am-12:30pm PST, 4 weeks
Location: 
Zoom
Total Fee: 
$275.00

Poets Studio: Summer Session w David Biespiel | Aug 12 - 13

Poets Studio is based on the idea that focusing on goals is the key to lasting growth as a poet. It is designed to give form and focus to your poetry writing.

Summer Session is open to all writers. No applications required.

The weekend edition of Poet Studio this summer is a great tune up for past and future studio participants, an opportunity for newcomers to check out the Poets Studio experience prior to applying by Sep 8, and also simply a great weekend poetry workshop late in the summer. | In-person workshop.

Register for this workshop

 

Teacher: 
David Biespiel
Time: 
Weekend, Sat - Sun Aug 10 - 11, 10am - 3pm, 10 hours
Location: 
Attic Institute, 1033 SW Yamhill, Suite 405, Portland, OR 97205
Total Fee: 
$275.00

FREE: Consult about Your Writing

Call us. Let us help you with your writing.

You're invited to schedule a free 15-minute conference call consult to describe your writing situation and focus. During the call, we listen to your writing situation and help you out -- sometimes writers will register for an upcoming workshop. Other times, after a consult, writers will initiate a formal Introductory Consult through our Individual Consult Group to find a writing coach selected specifically for your project.

To initiate a Free Consult, e-mail us -- and when you do, please let us know specifically what you're working on and want to discuss. Then we'll get back in touch and begin to talk together about your writing.

Register for a free consult

 

Teacher: 
Carol Hendrickson
Time: 
By appointment only.
Location: 
Telephone Conference Call
Total Fee: 
Free.

Highgate: The One-on-One Workshop

Each year, Attic Institute founder David Biespiel accepts 2-4 writers into Highgate, a private, one-on-one workshop for writers interested close, in-depth feedback.

Highgate consists of guidance, instruction, and mentoring based on the idea that accountability, ambition, and tailored goals lead to acheivement, growth and joy as a writer.

Learn more

Teacher: 
David Biespiel
Time: 
Scheduled each month.
Location: 
In-person or Zoom

A Statement of Our Values

The Attic Institute of Arts and Letters opposes the legitimation of bigotry, hate, and misinformation. As a studio for writers, we do not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. We embrace and celebrate our shared pursuit of literature and languages as essential to crossing the boundaries of difference. To that end, we seek to maintain a creative environment in which every employee, faculty member, and student feels safe, respected, and comfortable — even while acknowledging that poems, stories, and essays delve into uncomfortable subjects. We accept the workshop as a place to question ourselves and to empathize with complex identities. We understand that to know the world is to write the world. Therefore, we reaffirm our commitment to literary pursuits and shared understanding by affirming diversity and open inquiry.