Our events, classes, and seminars bring the community together to hear, learn, and discuss the most compelling issues and ideas of our day. We hope you will join us in our community space and bookstore at 716 SE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR, online, and at partnering venues across Portland and Oregon.
This will be a generative writing lab where we will read poems together and then write poems together. Be prepared to write and have fun and experiment in new ways.We will go from one set of poems and writing exercises to the next with some time at the end to share what we’ve written. Come to this workshop with a big imagination, an open mind, a laptop and/or a notebook.
Explore the necessary elements of writing a nonfiction book proposal from outline to “comp titles”, how to use them effectively, and where you can let your personal style shine through. In nonfiction, most books are sold “on proposal” which means writers connect with an agent and publisher for a book deal before writing the entire
Learn new techniques for maintaining inspiration, overcoming self-doubt, and establishing sustainable writing habits, and stay focused and motivated on your writing goals.Explore the tools and mindset needed to persevere through challenges.
Celebrate 10 years of Literary Arts hosting  Portland Book Festival  by joining us on the evening of Friday, November 1, for an exclusive preview of the exhibitor fair. Enjoy complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres and treat your shelf to early access to the many book sellers and vendors! Readers Night is an opportunity to show your
Six Oregon Book Award authors inspire new jazz compositions in Playing With Words. Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble (PJCE) and Literary Arts will present six commissioned works of music inspired by six 2024 Oregon Book Award finalists’ works at Portland State University’s Lincoln Recital Hall. PJCE’s 12-member ensemble jazz performance draws literature by Oregonians spanning from
In this workshop, we will explore an expansive approach to the multi-voice novel. Taking inspiration from recently published works, we will consider how to decide which of your novel’s characters get to tell a story, and the manner in which they do so, and forms of narration that utilize the supernatural.
Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco discusses her picture book, Show Up and Vote, with OPB journalist Prakruti Bhatt. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. Click here for ticketing information. Options include $5 reserved ticket (no book), $20 reserved ticket (book included), or $30 family ticket (1
Instructor: Amy Minato Grades 9-12 In this workshop, we’ll discover parallels between visual and written art drawing inspiration from pieces in the museum collection. We’ll practice imagery, form, metaphor, and perspective to engage in conversation with actual paintings in a supportive writing community. No previous writing experience necessary! Just bring your imagination and good vibes.
Instructor: Damien Miles-Paulson (Grades 9-12) Write about your life … as a zombie! In this workshop, you’ll take a normal day and turn it into an imaginative story where you face the challenges of being undead. We’ll explore how twisting real-life moments with wild, fictional elements helps you see them in a totally new way.
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.
Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Powers discusses his new novel, Playground, with Andrew Proctor, executive director of Literary Arts. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. Click here for ticketing information. About Playground: Longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize A magisterial new novel from the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York
The goal with stories, usually, is to keep us immersed in the plot line. So how do we make funny little tangents smoothly, without distracting the reader? This session will look at some examples of great transitions and practice making great little tangents of your own.
Instructor: Nicky Nicholson-Klingerman Grades 9–12 This workshop will explore the healing and performative aspects of spoken word poetry. Students will engage with spoken word poets from Gwendolyn Brooks to Brandon Leake, with time to write and perform their own spoken word poetry and share space and community with other young poets.
In this three hour interactive workshop, you’ll refine your nonfiction book concept and clarify what your book is really about, who it’s for, and how it stands out. Whether you’re writing a memoir, self-help, personal growth, or thought leadership book, this session will help you focus your purpose and shape your message.
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.
In this one day class, we'll work to demystify the submission process. We’ll discuss how to find publications you’re excited to send your work to, set up personalized submission goals and to-do lists, and organize our own systems for keeping track of our submissions.
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! Readers Night
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. General Admission Festival passes are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. All General Admission passes include admission to the Portland Art Museum; full-priced passes include a $5 voucher
Join Michelle Kicherer afor a fast-paced 45 minute pop-up class focused on capturing the reader's interest.
Literary Arts is thrilled to present Rebecca Yarros at the 2025 Portland Book Festival. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. SPECIAL EVENT TICKETS REQUIRED Join us for a very special event with Rebecca Yarros, the #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling
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. Use artwork to prompt exploration into Spec-Fic lines of thinking: “What if…”, “If only…”, and “If this goes on…” It’s challenging but glorious here! 
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.
In this pop-up class, we’ll capture the image as it appears and disappears through ekphrastic writing and erasure.
Literary Arts is thrilled to present Stacey Abrams at the 2025 Portland Book Festival. Note: This event requires an add-on ticket in addition to the General Admission Festival Pass (wristband) to attend. SPECIAL EVENT TICKETS REQUIRED Join us for a very special event with Stacey Abrams, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur and political leader, author
Creating suspense means posing questions. In this 45-minute workshop, we will focus on leading with suspense to evoke curiosity and engagement.
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