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 am free! I know I will write a novel as well as I know my name! That knowing is so true, so connected to my being that it sits there, across from me, as a taunting 'frenemy," asking 'what am I about? How do I begin and end? How you accomplish me? You are no writer!" Through this workshop, I realize that I do not need to answer these questions, nor defend myself. Rather, find what interests me and allow that thread to be pulled into being."

Amy Knauer, Creative Renewal Weekend participant

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

Books for Writers by David Biespiel

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

"Does for the creative process what Strunk & White did for our approach to grammar and style. Indispensable." — Marjorie Sandor

"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

APPS DUE DEC 15: Poets Studio | Jan 13 - Jun 29

APPS DUE JAN 5: Creative Nonfiction (CNF) Studio | Jan 16 - Mar 26

FREE: Consult about Your Writing

WINTER: Writer's Tool Kit Workshop w Wayne Gregory | Jan 11-12

WINTER: Poetry as Practice Workshop w Ashley Toliver | Jan 13 - Feb 10

WINTER: Intro to Flash Nonfiction w Brian Benson | Jan 14 - Feb 11

WINTER: Attic Writers' League w Patrick Dundon | Jan 14 - Feb 11

WINTER: Observation and Locating the Telling Detail Workshop w Whitney Otto | Jan 14 - Feb 11

WINTER: The Poetry of Memory w John Morrison | Jan 14 - Feb 11

WINTER: So, You Wanna Be A Writer? Workshop w Wayne Gregory | Jan 15 - Feb 12

WINTER: Lee Montgomery's Personal Essay Workshop | Jan 16 - Feb 20

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

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

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

Faculty

David Biespiel

Merridawn Duckler

John Morrison

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.