Students at the Attic Institute doing a generative write.

Ready to Explore Your Writing?

At the Attic, students gather to dream, discover, and share new writing. We are dedicated to engaging lively conversation about the creative process, reflecting on ideas and the imagination, as well as on artistic, cultural, and social experience. 

Upcoming Workshops

Painting by David Biespiel.

A Haven for Writers

“The best place to study creative writing in Portland.”

~ Willamette Week

Attic Studios

Focus on learning the foundations of craft, generate new work, and practice revision, and prepare to publish.

Fiction Studio

Led by Karen Karbo

With half the year to focus on your novel, each weekly session of Fiction Studio includes close-reading, discussion, and critique to create, revise, and prepare to publish your work-in-progress.

CNF Studio

Led by Brian Benson

The supportive, focused atmosphere of CNF Studio encourages you to hone your skills and embrace your voice to write what you know you want to know and bring it to the page.

Poets Studio

Led by David Biespiel

A highly focused and supportive atmosphere, Poets Studio spurs you to develop your poetic art, method, and practice— culminating in the creation, revision, and publication of new poetry.

Writing Lab

Led by David Biespiel

A highly focused and supportive atmosphere, Writing Lab spurs you to develop your craft, method, passion, and practice— culminating in the creation, revision, and publication of new writing. All genres welcome.

Celebrate the publication of founder David Biespiel’s sweeping retrospective

“David Biespiel is a major American poet. He’s rare among poets of his generation for his public reach and resonance.” ~ Peter Campion

In Beautiful Is the World, David Biespiel spans three decades of lyric intensity, tracing the intimate cartography of memory, place, and inheritance.

Next Event

Unbound Edition Press Authors Reading

Online | Thur Nov 12 5pm (Pacific)

Fri Feb 5 | Oregon State University

Reading and Q/A

6:30 pm | Corvallis

Tue Nov 17 | Everett Community College

David Biespiel and Rae Armantrout

5pm | ECC | 2000 Tower Street, Everett, WA

Wed Nov 18 | Milwaukie Poetry Series

6pm | Ledding Library | 10660 SE 21st Ave, Milwaukie

Wed Jan 13 | Literary Arts

Reading and conversation with Susan Moore

6:30pm | Literary Arts | 716 SE Grand

Community + Belonging

The Attic is a “thriving and important part of Portland’s literary landscape” ~ Literary Hub

Two Attic Institute students, sitting in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

Why We Do What We Do

Attic faculty gather at Momo's.
Workshopping non-fiction at the Attic Institute in Portland, Oregon
An art gallery with people seated and listening to a woman reading her work at a microphone.

Established in 1999 by David Biespiel, the Attic Institute of Arts and Letters is many things to many people. It’s a literary studio, an atelier, a gathering place, community, and sojourn — and the birthplace of Portland’s literary renaissance.

The “Writing Meditation” mailed to your inbox

“Each month, I send you a brief letter to offer, I hope, motivation and inspiration for the writing ahead — to be courageous with your imaginative life.” ~ David Biespiel

Read the archive

Stay in the loop — connect with writers and workshops.

Be the first to get important updates, announcements, deadlines, and sneak peeks.

Catch up with past updates

“This book has been in print forever because what it offers works for people.”

~ Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club

“Does for the creative process what Strunk and White did for our approach to grammar and style. Indispensable!

~Marjorie Sandor, former president of AWP

“Finally, an anti-bullshit book on creativity!”

~ James Marcus, former editor of Harper’s magazine

Let’s Write Together

Have a question, suggestion, or just want to say hi? Send us a note—we’re here to help.