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Fall | Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Attention to Detail or “Of Thumbs” w Paige Thomas | Oct 11 – Nov 1 | In-Person

Attic Institute 4232 SE Hawthorne, Portland, OR, United States

Before being dubbed the inventor of the essay form, Michel de Montaigne was a grief-stricken man who locked himself away in a tower on his family’s manor on the French countryside where, for years, he labored over what would become his famous essays. In his solitude, he wrote a series of meditations titled “Of _____” — “Of Smells," “Of the Custom of Wearing Clothes,” “Of Posting,” (letters, that is), “Of Sleep,” and "Of Thumbs" — that attempted the impossible task of defining and then exhausting his interest in individual objects or desires. Modern life does not mirror Montaigne’s privilege of time, space, and quietude, but part of his beloved legacy still rings true: the necessity of attention to detail—to singularity—and how dedication to understanding the specific can crack open…

Continue readingFall | Creative Nonfiction Workshop: Attention to Detail or “Of Thumbs” w Paige Thomas | Oct 11 – Nov 1 | In-Person
$175 – $197

October Poetry Practice Space

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Join us monthly on zoom, on the third Thursday of the month for prompts and sharing. Register here, and we’ll send the zoom link on the day of the event. Poetry Practice Space is a monthly gathering for poets and writers. Writing materials, readings and prompts for generative writing will be provided. Come share a space to talk about your writing practice, and current writing projects, bemoan rejections, celebrate acceptances, share writing resources— and write together! Consider Poetry Practice Space the calisthenics for your poetics. Suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds Free for members

Free

Fall | Prose Poetry II w Ruben Quesada | Oct 23 – Nov 20 | Online

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Break It and Remake It This new course focuses on workshopping prose poetry and building on ideas from Prose Poetry I. We'll explore forms of prose poetry. Generative writing assignments will focus on storytelling, sound, and structure. Writing exercises will require more time beyond our time together. Students are expected to bring thoughtfully composed prose poems to every class for the workshop. Feedback is expected during the workshop and in writing. Zoom link provided prior to start of workshop. Teacher: Ruben QuesadaTime: Sundays, Oct 23 - Nov 20, 8 - 10am Pacific TimeLocation: Online via ZoomTotal Fee: Discounted Early Registration is due seven (7) days prior to the start of the workshop. | Discounted Early Registration: $219 (cash/check); $233 (Paypal). | Tuition Registration: $234 (cash/check); $248 (PayPal).

$219 – $248

Writing About Parenthood

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

In this generative workshop, led by an editor at Literary Mama, we’ll mine our parenting experience for writing inspiration, while celebrating and honoring the integral role we play in the lives of others. This workshop is perfect for all levels and will include imaginative prompts, short readings, activities that will serve as catalysts for creativity, and optional opportunities to freshly-written work and receive encouraging feedback. Participants will learn fresh perspectives and new angles and approaches for developing material on this rich topic. The workshop will include a taste of SoulCollage®, an expressive arts method, through which we’ll create our own collaged cards surrounding the theme of parenting, then use them as writing prompts. (No artistic ability required.) Participants will have the opportunity to share their…

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$75

Creating Vibrant and Complex Characters

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

This generative workshop will focus on the skills involved in creating and sustaining vibrant and complex characters. Through a series of in-workshop prompts and exercises participants will create and bring to life vivid characters. We will focus on physical description, internal life, setting, scene, action, and dialogue to round out and bring our creations to life. Close attention will be paid to literary and poetic devices. Supportive in-workshop sharing and feedback will be part of the process. Access Program We want our writing classes and Delves to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class and Delve tuitions at a reduced rate. The access program for…

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$80

Haunted: Writing into Death & The Dead with Sonya Lea — begins November 8th

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Haunted: Writing into Death & The Dead Begins November 8th, 2022 Four weekly 2-hour sessions over Zoom on Tuesdays from 5-7PM PST (11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 11/29) “Many people live and die without ever confronting themselves in the darkness. Pray that one day, you will spin around at the water’s edge, lean over, and be able to count yourself among the lucky.” ― Carmen Maria Machado, Her Body and Other Parties “What would you read to someone who was dying? Annie Dillard had asked our class. She wanted this to be the standard for our work. There, at the memorial service for my friend, I thought of another: Dying, what stories would you tell?” ― Alexander Chee, How to Write An Autobiographical Novel: Essays “My grief…

Continue readingHaunted: Writing into Death & The Dead with Sonya Lea — begins November 8th
$200 – $400

November Poetry Practice Space

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Join us monthly on zoom, on the third Thursday of the month for prompts and sharing. Register here, and we’ll send the zoom link on the day of the event. Poetry Practice Space is a monthly gathering for poets and writers. Writing materials, readings and prompts for generative writing will be provided. Come share a space to talk about your writing practice, and current writing projects, bemoan rejections, celebrate acceptances, share writing resources— and write together! Consider Poetry Practice Space the calisthenics for your poetics. Suggested donation, no one turned away for lack of funds Free for members

Free

POSTPONED! Ekphrastic Practice Space

IPRC (Independent Publishing Resource Center) 318 SE Main Street #175, Portland, OR, United States

*This event is in-person. Masks and proof of vaccination is required Free & by donation Register in advance here Join the IPRC for an evening of generative writing in response to visual art at Carnation Contemporary & Well Well Projects. What is Ekphrastic writing? Ekphrasis refers to written work that responds to visual art— literally “description” in Greek, it is characterized by description of art, but more broadly can refer to any piece of writing that engages with art on the level of narrative, reflection, image, or associative logic. Writing materials, clipboards, and prompts for generative writing will be provided, beginners welcome. Capacity: 15

Free

Writing With Constraints

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Dr. Seuss wrote Green Eggs and Ham on a bet—that he couldn’t write an entire book using only 50 words. Here’s another dare: Write about a trek through the desert without using the words “sand,” “cactus,” “water,” “sun,” and “heat.” In this generative workshop, we’ll look at examples by writers, then engage with inventive writing exercises, freeing our own imaginations. Access Program We want our writing classes and Delves to be accessible to everyone, regardless of income and background. We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class and Delve tuition at a reduced rate. The access program for writing classes covers 60% of the class tuition. Most writing classes have at least one access spot…

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$75

Writing the Autofiction Novella: twelve week intensive

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Autofiction is a unique genre (or non-genre) that combines the autobiographical with the fictional. In this course, we will take a close look at the craft of autofiction. We will read novel excerpts, short stories and novellas. We will also look at craft essays on the form. The goal over the twelve weeks is to work on a draft of a novella (if not a full draft, then you will get a solid head start), which can be anywhere from 20K-40K words. This course will be generative. You will be expected to write and submit a substantial amount of prose per week (1500-2500 words). We will read about 25 pages of excerpts and craft essays each week and discuss them as a group. And there…

Continue readingWriting the Autofiction Novella: twelve week intensive
$595
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