A Haven for Writers

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

~ Willamette Week

Upcoming Fall Workshops

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.

Join David for three special fall readings.

Powell’s City of Books / Book Launch

Wed Oct 14 7pm | Powell’s | 1005 W Burnside

David Biespiel launches his fourteenth book with a reading and conversation.

Sundays on the Avenue

Sun Oct 18 4pm | Loyola Jesuit Center | 3220 SE 43rd Avenue

A reading and conversation.

Unbound Authors Reading

Thur Nov 12 5pm | Online

Everett College

Tue Nov 17 5pm | 2000 Tower Street, Everett, WA

A reading and conversation.

Milwaukie Poetry Series

20th Season

Wed Nov 18 6pm | Ledding Library | 10660 SE 21st Avenue, Milwaukie

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. 

Attic Studios

Create. Revise. Publish.

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.

Poetry Lab

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.

Community + Belonging

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

Why We Do What We Do

Attic faculty gather at Momo's.

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

You’re not just buying merch when you shop our store, you’re investing in opportunities for other writers.

Writers Helping Writers

When you shop at our small merch store, proceeds directly support financial aid and mentorship opportunities for local writers at The Attic.

Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999) Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999) Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999) Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999) Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999) Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999) Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999) Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999)
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Attic Institute Hoodie (Since 1999)
$48.99

This fleece hoodie is made for slow mornings of writing and reading. 

Proceeds from our merchandise support workshop scholarships for writers in financial need.

Product features

- Soft 3-end fleece with a luxurious hand-feel

- Kangaroo pouch pocket to warm hands and hold small items

- Adjustable hood with self-colored drawstrings and metal grommets

- Durable construction: double-needle topstitch, neck twill tape, and tear-away label

- Eco-conscious fabric blend with recycled polyester and low shrinkage (under 5%)

Care instructions

- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F)

- Do not bleach

- Tumble dry: low heat

- Iron, steam or dry: low heat

- Do not dryclean

"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 and author of Portrait of My Mother, Who Posed Nude During Wartime

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

~James Marcus, former editor of Harper’s Magazine and author of Glad to the Brink of Fear

Let’s Write Together

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