Michael Dickman

Visiting Fellow at the Attic Institute of Arts and Letters

Michael Dickman’s most recent book of poems is Pacific Power & Light (Knopf, 2024). His other books include Days & Days (Knopf, 2019); Green Migraine (Copper Canyon, 2016); 50 American Plays (Copper Canyon, 2012), co-authored with his twin brother, the poet Matthew Dickman; Flies (Copper Canyon, 2011), winner of the James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets; and The End of the West (Copper Canyon, 2009) His many grants, fellowships, and residencies include honors from organizations such as the Michener Center for Writers, the Vermont Studio Center, the Fine Arts Work Center, and the Lannan Foundation. He was awarded the Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University for 2009-2010.

Upcoming Classes

Sorry, nothing scheduled at this time.

The Attic Experience

"I took the flash-fiction class -- the first I'd ever taken -- and had a lot of fun. With shorter pieces you can take more risks without feeling you've wasted anything if a piece didn't work or you don't think it is worth revising. I met some other writers during this class who I continue to write with, and I'm still writing short pieces long after the class is over -- the sign of a really good class."

Lynn Bey

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.