Atheneum Class of 2014

September 2013 - June 2014

Fiction: Brad Kerstetter | Tiffany Stubbert | Catherine Craglow | Zaha Hassan

Nonfiction: Kelly Wallace | Janine Roben | Catherine Kernodle | Leah Hanes

Poetry: Jennifer Dorner | Theresa MacDonald | Greg Berman | Elizabeth Lampman

Faculty: David Biespiel, Wendy Willis, Merridawn Duckler, G. Xavier Robillard, Karen Karbo, and Lee Montgomery.

Come On Up!

The Attic Experience

I just finished up Zahir’s Personal Essay class and he was, by far, one of the best teachers I’ve had in my lifetime. In five short weeks, he taught me more about writing than I have ever learned; and I was an English lit major, I went to law school and have been in practice as a lawyer for more than 14 years. I mean no exaggeration here. Yes, of course, it was the subject matter and the lovely group that attended and their beautiful and vulnerable contributions as well, but his style, communication, confidence in me, time spent, recommendations, sense of humor, humanity, integrity and downright cool was unmatched. I couldn’t be more excited about my time there and look forward to more classes.

Rollie Wolfe, Workshop Participant

The Classic Book for Writers, Updated and Revised

EVERY WRITER HAS A THOUSAND FACES

"This book has been in print forever because what it offers works for people." — Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club

"Finally, an anti-bullsht book on creativity!"* — James Marcus, former editor of Harper's

"Does for the creative process what Strunk and White did for our approach to grammar and style. Indispensible." — Marjorie Sandor, National Jewish Book Award winner

"Buoyant...unorthodox...A provocative and anti-intuitive manual for making fresh art." — Kirkus Review

"Biespiel offers a number of best practices—not just for writing...but for living a creative life." — The Rumpus

The Attic Institute of Arts and Letters Named One of 13 Amazing Writing Centers in the United States

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Take a Workshop

APPS DUE: SEP 12: Creative Nonfiction (CNF) Studio | Sep 22 - Dec 15,

APPS DUE: SEP 18: Poets Studio 2022-2023 | Oct 3 - May 29

FREE: Consult about Your Writing

SUMMER: Write from Life w David Biespiel | July 16 + 17

SUMMER: Write from Life w David Biespiel | Aug 20-21

Fall | Introduction to Flash Nonfiction w Brian Benson | Sep 21 - Oct 19

Faculty

David Biespiel

Merridawn Duckler

Karen Karbo

Matthew Dickman

Carol Hendrickson

Wendy Willis

Whitney Otto

Wayne Gregory

Brian Benson

Paige Thomas

Ashley Toliver

Lee Montgomery

Joanna Rose

Philip Kenney

Zahir Janmohamed

Ruben Quesada

Philip Kenney

Michael Dickman

A Statement of Our Values

The Attic Institute of Arts and Letters opposes the legitimation of bigotry, hate, and misinformation in today's cultural and political environment. As a studio for writers, we do not tolerate harassment or discrimination of any kind. We condemn all acts of racism, sexism, ableism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and Islamophobia. We embrace and celebrate our shared pursuit of literature and language 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. We accept the workshop as a place to question ourselves and to empathize with diverse identities. We understand that to know the world is to write a better world. Therefore, we reaffirm our commitment to literary pursuits and shared understanding by affirming social justice, diversity, and open inquiry.