Michelle Kicherer

Teaching Fellow at the Attic Institute of Arts and Letters

Michelle Kicherer covers books and music for the San Francisco Chronicle and teaches writing classes in fiction and memoir. She is a former ghostwriter of memoir and nonfiction books and a current writing coach. Her fiction has appeared in The Masters Review, The Sierra Nevada Review, The Berkeley Fiction Review and others. Her debut novella Sexy Life, Hello came out in September 2024. Willamette Week called it “one of the most compelling short reads of the year.” Michelle aims to have one weird new experience everyday.

Upcoming Classes

Sorry, nothing scheduled at this time.

The Attic Experience

I can't say enough about Merridawn Duckler's fiction class. Her depth of writing knowledge, her classroom control, her inspiring manner all contributed to a most enjoyable and productive autumn for me. One question she asked seems to have begun a permanent haunt of my inner narrator: "Whose story is it?" I'll be taking her class again, that's for sure.

John Kuharik

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.