Can Portland become a city of literary culture?

Listen to this City Club of Portland Panel Discussion on Portland's literary culture

Attic director David Biespiel joins writers Matthew Stadler, Sallie Tisdale, & David Oates to address the City Club's Friday Forum on the state of Portland's literary past & potential. Listen to the December 15, 2006 podcast. Plus: Read David Santen, Jr.'s review of the event in The Oregonian.

The Attic Experience

"I haven't been in a workshop setting for over 10 years so I had a bit of pre-game anxiety. Vanessa's workshop, in particular, was comfortable due to her great respect for so many genres of life. Our group over the week end was very diverse. It ranged from people who were poets, screenwriters, published novelitsts, and even a grant writer. It was refreshing to have so many great backgrounds and viewpoints present! Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. I'm slowly, but surely, growing as a writer and I want to give due credit to the Attic Institute for fostering such a dynamic crossroads."

Star Marabella, writer

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

Books for Writers by David Biespiel

EVERY WRITER HAS A THOUSAND FACES

"This book has been in print forever because what it offers works for people." — Chuck Palahniuk

THE EDUCATION OF A YOUNG POET

Named a "Best Books for Writers" by Poets & Writers

A LONG HIGH WHISTLE

"One of the best books about reading poetry you will ever find." — Library Journal (starred review)

Oregon Institute of Creative Research: E4

Ethics, Æsthetics, Ecology, Education

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Clinton Street Theater

The most literary theater in Portland

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The Drawing Studio

Demystifying drawing since 1990

A Haven for Writers
Since 1999

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Take a Workshop

FREE: Consult about Your Writing

ONE DAY WORKSHOP: Coming Through the Crucible Workshop w Philip Kenney | Jan 18

WINTER: Fiction Workshop w Joanna Rose | Jan 25 - Feb 22

WINTER: New Decade, New Poems, New You Poetry Workshop w Matthew Dickman | Jan 25 - Mar 14

WINTER: The Writer’s Crucible Workshop w Philip Kenney | Jan 25 - Feb 22

NEW: Writing in New Poetic Forms Workshop w Ashley Toliver | Feb 17 - Mar 16

NEW: Brian Benson's Craft of Creative Nonfiction Workshop | Feb 18 - Mar 17

NEW: Life Sketches Workshop w Wayne Gregory | Feb 19 - Mar 18

NEW: The Voice of Stories Fiction Workshop w Joanna Rose | Feb 29 - Mar 28

Faculty

David Biespiel

Merridawn Duckler

John Morrison

Matthew Dickman

Carol Hendrickson

Wendy Willis

Whitney Otto

Wayne Gregory

Emily Whitman

Brian Benson

Betsy Porter

Ed Skoog

Edward Derby

David Ciminello

Patrick Dundon

Ashley Toliver

Lee Montgomery

Emily Chenoweth

Joanna Rose

Philip Kenney

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.