The Attic's 25th Anniversary in 2024

In 2024, the Attic Institute of Arts and Letters celebrates our 25th year as a welcoming, vibrant writing studio where people from across Portland and from around the globe come to get inspired, find literary community, and grow as writers.

Our mission at the Attic is to help people turn that glimmer of an image or overheard bit of conversation in a coffee shop or the difficult (or joyous) memory into new writing.

Since 1999, thousands of poets, nonfiction writers, and fiction writers have walked through the Attic's doors (real and virtual) to be empowered to write and to connect their stories to others.

Day in and day out, each of the Attic's celebrated faculty creates workshops to help writers pursue new ideas and skills.

Together, by taking a workshop, joining a Studio, participating in the Atheneum Master Writing Program, or working one-on-one finishing a manuscript, Attic writers achieve their ambitions and inspire others.

With this special 25th anniversary, we hope you'll join us.

The Attic Experience

"What a great class the Essentials class on revision was! Previous classes gave me the tools for revising my writing. But there was never a satisfactory explanation as to when to use the different tools. David Biespiel's explanation about the different bridges we cross when reviewing our writing makes sense. Understanding that will help me in the future. Tonight was, as C. S. Lewis once wrote, like expecting one joy and receiving another. Thank you."

~ Roger Scarborough, writer and poet

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

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.