LitPDX seeks to amplify marginalized voices, and welcomes all, their ideas, their events, and their words.

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Mastering the Short Story

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

In this intensive workshop, students will write and revise their short stories focusing on craft elements such as characters, voice, subtext, and story structure. At the end of the six weeks, students will have created a dossier of up to 20 pages of new work and received detailed feedback from the instructor. Access Program We want our classes 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 class registrations 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 available. Please apply here for access rate tuition. Contact Susan Moore at susan@literary-arts.org if…

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$285

One Day Poetry Workshop: The Deep Music of Prosody w John Morrison | Jan 14 | In-Person FULL — WAITLIST 0NLY

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

“To talk about formal verse is meaningless – poetry is form.” ~ Robert Pinsky Poets know that prosody is akin to prayer and how words gain and deliver their energy. But, for so many of us born into the free verse tradition, the study of prosody can sound like the poetic equivalent of “eat your peas.” Well, you can really like peas, fresh peas, anyway, and they are great for your skin. Prosody is the study and practice of the deep music in poetry (think meter, rhyme, cadence) and is key to all our strict forms like sonnet, villanelle, and sestina. In our Saturday session, along with drafting a few forms, we’ll explore how to “crack open” our own reluctant poems, discover our own rhythmic…

Continue readingOne Day Poetry Workshop: The Deep Music of Prosody w John Morrison | Jan 14 | In-Person FULL — WAITLIST 0NLY
$88 – $107

Winter Writing: A Poetry Prompt Workshop w Matthew Dickman | Jan 15 – Mar 5 | Online FULL — WAITLIST ONLY

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Winter is a time for going indoors, breaking out the extra blankets, and hibernating. But it can also be a time of thoughtfulness, of preparing one for the renewal of Spring to come. In this spirit Winter Writing will be a generative poetry class. A class of first drafts. Over eight weeks we will write poems from a diverse list of prompts, suggestions, and examples from poets such as Morgan Parker, Dorianne Laux, Major Jackson, Sharon Olds, Richie Hoffman and others. Each week we will bring in our first draft to share, discuss, and celebrate. Come write with us! Zoom link provided prior to start of workshop. Teacher: Matthew DickmanTime: Sundays, Jan 15 - Mar 5, 1-3pm Pacific TimeTotal Fee: Discounted Early Registration is due seven (7) days…

Continue readingWinter Writing: A Poetry Prompt Workshop w Matthew Dickman | Jan 15 – Mar 5 | Online FULL — WAITLIST ONLY
$350 – $379

So, You Wanna Be A Writer w Wayne Gregory | Jan 17 – Feb 14 | Online

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

“Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” ~ E. L. Doctorow You have a thousand stories inside your head. You dabble on the page but rarely if ever finish anything, much less share with others. “Is my work good enough?” you wonder.  “Do I have something original and interesting to say? What makes me think I can be a writer?”  The biggest obstacle for emerging writers is not lack of time nor lack of skill nor lack of things to write about. It’s a lack of self-confidence. This workshop is designed for those who want to be writers but are not sure they can be. …

Continue readingSo, You Wanna Be A Writer w Wayne Gregory | Jan 17 – Feb 14 | Online
$219 – $248

Poetry Workshop: A Tour of Potent Forms w John Morrison | Jan 18 – Feb 15 | Online

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

“A poet’s resources and inspirations remain constant, but our curiosity about form and technique renews the art for us.” ~ Paul Violi In this session we’ll open up and explore several potent forms that power great poetry, like the aubade, pantoum, litany, and palindrome. And maybe more importantly, these forms will provide a roadmap and a toolkit for future radical and satisfying revision of your draft poems. We’ll consider the music and strategy of model poems, and then through writing experiments and play, we’ll draft our versions. You will leave each evening with an appreciation and a draft of the evening’s form, and that form that will stay with you to invigorate your writing practice. Zoom link provided prior to start of workshop. Teacher: John MorrisonTime: Wednesdays,…

Continue readingPoetry Workshop: A Tour of Potent Forms w John Morrison | Jan 18 – Feb 15 | Online
$219 – $248

A Writer’s Toolkit: Plot and Structure w Wayne Gregory | Jan 19 – Feb 16 | Online

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

It has to come to life! Bit by bit, putting it together Piece by piece, only way to make a work of art --- Stephen Sondheim This class is about helping the emerging writer take her pile of random chapters, character sketches, fragments, scenes, ramblings, and moments of literary brilliance, into something of a coherent and emotionally resonant story. During this class we will explore how a writer can look within their narrative to identify the key scenes, to understand the most critical trajectory for the character(s) from beginning to end, and to build the necessary narrative to connect those key scenes and move the journey of the characters forward. Finally, each student will develop their own revision practice and understand better what their story…

Continue readingA Writer’s Toolkit: Plot and Structure w Wayne Gregory | Jan 19 – Feb 16 | Online
$219 – $248

Pushpins & Portals: Experimenting with Short Forms

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Pushpins & Portals: Experimenting with Short Forms This workshop is virtual, PST Register here Pushpins & Portals: Experimenting with Short Forms In this 6-week class, we will experiment with short form creative writing. Our focus—whether it’s flash fiction, lyric essay, prose poetry, or hybrid—will be on the art of compression. Each week, participants will be given a writing exercise, a short reading, and two workshop submissions from their peers. Class time will include workshop as well as discussion of readings and craft. Our workshop will be guided by observations, questions, and possibilities. We will be thinking less about how to “fix” a piece of writing and more about what we see, our curiosities, and how to recognize hidden opportunities. Each participant will receive feedback from…

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$80 – $200

Pushpins & Portals: Experimenting with Short Forms

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Pushpins & Portals: Experimenting with Short Forms This workshop is virtual, PST Register here Pushpins & Portals: Experimenting with Short Forms In this 6-week class, we will experiment with short form creative writing. Our focus—whether it’s flash fiction, lyric essay, prose poetry, or hybrid—will be on the art of compression. Each week, participants will be given a writing exercise, a short reading, and two workshop submissions from their peers. Class time will include workshop as well as discussion of readings and craft. Our workshop will be guided by observations, questions, and possibilities. We will be thinking less about how to “fix” a piece of writing and more about what we see, our curiosities, and how to recognize hidden opportunities. Each participant will receive feedback from…

Continue readingPushpins & Portals: Experimenting with Short Forms
$80 – $200

Weekly Fiction Critique Group w Joanna Rose | Jan 28 – Apr 1| Online

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

Learn to critique your own work and the work of others in non-judgmental, informative terms. Each week participants will share and discuss their stories, novels, or scenes. Together we’ll look at the many ways story happens on the page. We’ll identify how the various tools of showing and telling are being used, and to what effect. And we’ll learn to be there for each other. Maximum: 10 writers Register for this workshop Zoom link provided prior to start of workshop. Teacher: Joanna RoseTime: Saturdays, Jan 28 - Apr 1, 9:30am - 12:30pm Pacific Time, 10 weeksLocation: Online via ZoomTotal Fee: Discounted Early Registration is due seven (7) days prior to the start of the workshop. | Discounted Early Registration: $657 (cash/check); $680 (Paypal). | Tuition Registration: $672 (cash/check); 695…

Continue readingWeekly Fiction Critique Group w Joanna Rose | Jan 28 – Apr 1| Online
$657 – $672

Writing the Weird and Wonderful

Online N/A, Portland, OR, United States

The world is a weird place, and we’re just here to document it. This course is for the scribes, the armchair historians, the miners of weird information — all of you aspiring nonfiction writers who aren’t sure what to do with your ideas, or budding freelance journalists looking to turn your ideas into sellable stories. In this workshop, students will take their bits of brilliance and turn them into finely-honed pieces of nonfiction. We’ll take an idea from start to finish: generating story ideas, discussing options for research, conducting interviews, gaining trust with subjects, writing effective pitches, outlining and playing with structure and the editing process. Discussions and lectures will focus on the building blocks of great nonfiction stories, including visceral scenes, effective interviews, interesting…

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$395
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