Prompts and Play: Refresh Your Writing Practice [WRITING CLASS]
Saturdays, November 1–December 6, 3:00–5:00 p.m. | Online Via Zoom
Ideal for writers who would like to refresh their writing practice. In this six-week class, we will explore prompt and nurture creative ideas to create a dossier of possibilities for further development. Instructor: Radhika Sharma
Refine Your Nonfiction Book Concept: Finding the Hook [WRITING CLASS]
Sunday, November 2, 10:00–1:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
(One Session) Through guided exercises and discussion, you’ll develop a working book hook, define your audience, and identify the transformation or takeaway your reader will gain. Leave with a clearer direction and renewed motivation to begin (or reimagine) your project. Instructor: Charlotte Chipperfield
Starting the Short Story [WRITING CLASS]
Monday, November 3, 5:00–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
At this three-hour class, we will read the beginnings of short stories, discuss their effectiveness, tone, and structure, and discuss whether they encourage us to keep reading and why. Then, using what we noticed, each participant will generate several story starts of their own. Instructor: Margaret Malone
California Rewritten: John Freeman: in conversation with Deborah Miranda [FREE EVENT]
Monday, November 3, 7:00–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Join us in welcoming John Freeman to discuss his latest book, California Rewrtitten. Freeman will be joined in conversation by Deborah Miranda. This is a Portland Book Festival Cover to Cover event. Check out the full line up here.
Writing Ekphrastic Poetry [WRITING CLASS]
Tuesdays, November 4–November 25, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
In this four-week class, we’ll read and discuss ekphrastic poems by a wide selection of writers, creating our own definition of ekphrasis, pushing the boundaries of what an ekphrastic poem can be. Instructor: Veronica Martin
One Page Wednesday: A Cover to Cover Special Event [FREE EVENT]
Wednesday, November 5, 5:30–9:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom
Join us on November 5th for a very special One Page Wednesday. Before the reading and open mic, we will host an author Q&A and roundtable chat with local fiction author Margaret Malone.
Shay Mirk and Eleri Harris: Making Nonfiction Comics [FREE EVENT]
Thursday, November 6, 6:30–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Join us in celebrating Shay Mirk and Eleri Harris for the debut of their new graphic novel, Making Nonfiction Comics!
Ready, Set, Submit [WRITING CLASS]
Friday, November 7, 5:00–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
(One Session) Getting started submitting your work to literary magazines and journals can be daunting. In this one day class, we’ll work to demystify the submission process. Instructor: Rachel Attias
Readers Night: Celebrating Portland Book Festival [TICKETED EVENT]
Friday, November 7, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Portland Book Festival‘s 11th year kicks off on Friday, November 7, with an evening of special giveaways and exclusive offers at Readers Night. It’s the ideal opportunity for literary lovers—beat the festival crowds, shop the book fair’s 80+ vendors, then return on Saturday ready for book signings with all of your favorite authors!
Portland Book Festival 2025 [TICKETED EVENT]
Saturday, November 8, 9:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. | Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Portland Book Festival, presented by Wells Fargo, returns Saturday, November 8, 2025, to ten stages at six partner venues in downtown Portland’s south Park Blocks. Get your pass now!
Hooked: How to Capture Reader Interest From the Start [PBF POP UP WRITING CLASS]
Saturday, November 8, 10:00–10:45 a.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Join Michelle Kicherer for a fast-paced 45-minute pop-up class focused on capturing the reader’s interest. Michelle will discuss tips for engaging your reader quickly; time will be spent writing to prompts and sharing work. This is a free pop-up offered at the Portland Book Festival. ALL attendees must acquire a wristband before entering the class venue. Instructor: Michelle Kicherer
Speculative Fiction in 75 minutes (Teens) [PBF POP UP WRITING CLASS]
Saturday, November 8, 10:00–11:15 a.m. | Rental Sales Gallery, 1237 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Can you really write a Spec-Fic story in 500 words or less? Yes. Yes, you can. Join me in the adaptable world of Drabble, Micro Fiction, and Vignette. This is a free pop-up offered at the Portland Book Festival. ALL attendees must acquire a wristband before entering the class venue. This is a free pop-up offered at the Portland Book Festival that requires registration. Instructor: Dey Rivers
Remember My Name Poetry Workshop (Teens) [PBF POP UP WRITING CLASS]
Saturday, November 8, 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Rental Sales Gallery, 1237 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
The veil is thinnest; now is the time to envision your legacy, your strengths, and your grave mistakes through the poetic lens of the elegy. Delve into Susan Dickinson’s heart-wrenching poem for Emily, among other elegies and epitaphs of the past, and learn a thing or two about yourself in the end. This is a free pop-up offered at the Portland Book Festival. ALL attendees must acquire a wristband before entering the class venue. This is a free pop-up offered at the Portland Book Festival that requires registration. Instructor: Nicky Nicholson-Klingerman
Visual Poetry and Art [PBF POP UP WRITING CLASS]
Saturday, November 8, 12:00–12:45 p.m. | Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Let’s play at the intersection of language and visual art! In this pop-up class, we’ll capture the image as it appears and disappears through ekphrastic writing and erasure. This is a free pop-up offered at the Portland Book Festival. ALL attendees must acquire a wristband before entering the class venue. Instructor: Paige Thomas
Stacey Abrams, Coded Justice [Ticketed Event]
Saturday, November 8, 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Join us for a very special event with Stacey Abrams, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and political leader, author of the new novel Coded Justice. Abrams will be in conversation with OPB’s Dave Miller. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend.
Creating Suspense [PBF POP UP WRITING CLASS]
Saturday, November 8, 2:00–2:45 p.m. | Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Creating suspense means posing questions. In this 45-minute workshop, we will focus on leading with suspense to evoke curiosity and engagement. This is a free pop-up offered at the Portland Book Festival. ALL attendees must acquire a wristband before entering the class venue. Instructor: Daniel Nieh
Fall Hand-Sewing Social with SCRAP PDX [TICKETED EVENT]
Sunday, November 9, 5:30–7:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Hand-sew decorative fall plushies and felt garlands. Grab a beverage, browse the bookstore, and gather round to sew some leaves, mushrooms, acorns, and more in this seasonal celebration!
Cekpa by Leah Altman: Ooligan Press Launch Party [FREE EVENT]
Tuesday, November 11, 6:30–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Join Ooligan Press to celebrate the launch of their latest title, Cepka by Leah Altman.
Incite: Queer Writers Read – November [FREE EVENT]
Wednesday, November 12, 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
The featured readers for November are Stephanie Adams-Santos, Courtney Gould, and Anthony Hudson. The theme is “Secrets.”
Portland Arts & Lectures: Percival Everett [SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED]
Wednesday, November 12, 7:30–9:00 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland
We are thrilled to present the second lecture in our 2025–26 series with National Book Award winner and bestselling author of James, Percival Everett.
Ritual Dyes Crafting Circle [FREE EVENT]
Thursday, November 13, 4:00–7:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Literary Arts is excited to welcome Ritual Dyes into the space for their weekly crafting circle, hosted by Chin Matthews (Instagram: @chin2tog). This event is BYOC (Bring Your Own Craft).
Stephen Crane: Three Novellas [READERS SEMINAR]
Mondays, November 17–December 8, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Crane is known for his surprising prose, which both perfects the late nineteenth century’s obsession with the real and anticipates the experimentation of genre and style that would characterize the early twentieth century. To read Crane is also to confront, often uncomfortably, the ethical problems of complicity, hypocrisy, and self-delusion. It will be a wild ride.
Chris Kraus in conversation with Lydia Kiesling [FREE EVENT]
Monday, November 17, 6:30–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
The Literary Arts Bookstore is pleased to welcome Chris Kraus to celebrate the release of her latest book, The Four Spent the Day Together! Kraus will be joined in conversation by Lydia Kiesling.
Sarah Weinman in conversation with Sarah Marshall [FREE EVENT]
Tuesday, November 18, 6:30–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Sarah Weinman, author of The Real Lolita, returns to Literary Arts with her latest release, Without Consent, a deep dive into the historic case that defined marital rape and consent in America. This event will be in conversation with Sarah Marshall.
November Write-In [FREE EVENT]
Wednesday, November 19, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
Join us for a special harvest write-in at the Literary Arts Bookstore and Cafe! This month, we’re celebrating the Three Sisters, as always, with a curated playlist and drink special for our writers.
Poetry of Observation: Starting and Keeping a Commonplace Book [WRITING CLASS]
Mondays, November 24–December 15, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
This four-week poetry class will focus on the practice of keeping a commonplace book and how that practice can lead to a more generative poetic life. Instructor: Kate Garcia
Slamlandia[FREE EVENT]
Thursday, October 16, 7:00–9:30 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
We encourage poets new and old to come share their work. We strive towards a safe space for poets to read their own poetry, witness others, and participate in community.
BIPOC Reading Series [FREE EVENT]
Wednesday, October 29, 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland
This monthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. This event is open to everyone, but only people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color will be invited to read.
Events subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, check out our full events calendar.
