Online Class Writing Classes
ON GHOSTS, GHOSTING and HAUNTS
What is a ghost if not spirit energy yearning for form and expression? In our time together, we’ll explore a range of structures capable of hosting ghosts, from epistolary to
45 events found.
Events, Classes, and Seminars
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.
Online Class Writing Classes
Creative Nonfiction Workshop
This six-week class will hold space for creative nonfiction writers to write and discuss short creative nonfiction works (memoir, essay, lyric essay). Writers at every level---from beginner to experienced---are welcome
In-person Writing Classes
A Wrinkle in Time: How to Manage Chronology
One of the central struggles in storytelling is that human beings are, in essence, time travelers. We live in the past of our memories and the future of our hopes.
In-person Writing Classes
How to Write Riveting Scenes
The key to any unforgettable work of prose resides in the quality of its scenes. In this class, we’ll look at some of the best scenes ever written and investigate
Online Class Writing Classes
Places & Spaces: Making settings come to life
How do you describe the Oregon coast, a garden full of dahlias, or the vibe of your favorite coffee shop? How do you write about a crowd of people? A
Online Class Writing Classes
From Idea to Manuscript: Crafting Your Picture Book: Tuesdays
We've added a second section! Have you ever wondered how to turn your brilliant idea into a captivating picture book? In this 8-week course, you’ll learn the art of crafting
Online Class Writing Classes
From Idea to Manuscript: Crafting Your Picture Book
Have you ever wondered how to turn your brilliant idea into a captivating picture book? In this 8-week course, you’ll learn the art of crafting picture books that leave a
Online Class Writing Classes
Write the Self: the study and practice of writing from personal experience
This course is for all levels of writers and readers. We will read and discuss excerpts from contemporary authors who write the self (or write from the basis of personal
In-person Writing Classes
Grief Work: Honoring Sorrow as a Generating Motor
Writers can't decide what to do with grief. It has wrongly been called too sentimental or too cold. Too traumatic or too unoriginal. But regardless of the current writerly opinion
In-person Writing Classes
WEIRDING THE EVERY DAY
Being alive is really a very strange endeavor. Bizarre coincidences, déjà vu, the fallibility of our own memory and perceptions, and inexplicable, seemingly magical occurrences are perhaps all more commonplace
In-person Writing Classes
Autofiction Weekend Intensive
During this weekend autofiction intensive, we will take a deep dive into the unique art of autofiction. Autofiction combines the disciplines of autobiography and fiction. It can be written like
In-person Writing Classes
Get Writing: Unblocking Writer’s Block
Sometimes we become so focused on productivity or “doing it right” that we stifle our creativity. In this class we’ll focus on one of the hardest parts of writing: writing.
Online Class Writing Classes
How To Skin a Fox: Turning True Experiences into Fantastical Stories
Some real-life experiences are too bizarre, too painful, too otherworldly, to write about in a straight forward manner. What happens when you can’t or refuse to work from point A
Online Class Writing Classes
From Idea to Manuscript: Crafting Your Picture Book
Have you ever wondered how to turn your brilliant idea into a captivating picture book? In this 8-week course, you’ll learn the art of crafting picture books that leave a lasting impression. We'll explore the world of children's literature, studying beloved classics and contemporary favorites, to inspire your creativity. Through engaging lessons and hands-on workshops,
Online Class Writing Classes
Build Your Picture Book Portfolio
Ideal for those who have completed "From Idea to Manuscript" or have a foundational understanding of picture book creation. Take your picture book projects to the next level. This class will help you refine, revise, and curate your best work. Through collaborative workshops and structured deadlines, you'll finalize your manuscripts, making them ready for submission
Online Class Writing Classes
Summer Flings in Creative Nonfiction
Summer is the season for sizzling flings with short forms. This generative class will offer prompts linked to weekly themes—road trips, mix tapes, romances, adventures in nature—mashed up with a range of forms, from flash essays, hermit crabs, and acrostics to “found” pieces, such as centos and erasures. Writers will leave with a portfolio of
Free Events Online Writing Classes
The Break with Kaveh Akbar
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, "The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though many of the activities and discussions orbit or are inflected by recovery themes (Akbar has been in active recovery for eight years), participants are not
Free Events Online Writing Classes
The Break with Kaveh Akbar
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, "The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though many of the activities and discussions orbit or are inflected by recovery themes (Akbar has been in active recovery for eight years), participants are not
Online Class Writing Classes
Write the Self: Writing from Personal Experience
This course is for all levels of writers and readers. We will read and discuss excerpts from contemporary authors who write the self (or write from the basis of personal experience) such as Annie Ernaux, Carmen Maria Machado, Kate Briggs, Emmanuel Carrère, Zadie Smith, Rachel Cusk, Hilton Als, Melissa Febos, and others, in addition to
Online Class Writing Classes
3 Month Short Story Intensive
Do you have a short story that is just not feeling right? You’re not sure what it’s missing or how to fix it? Or maybe you’ve got just the start of a story, or a vague idea and want to figure out how to write the rest. In this combination workshop meets craft class, we’ll
Online Class Writing Classes
Unlocking the Creative Process
In this generative and meditative six-week class, participants will examine and strengthen their individual creative process through a combination of generative writing exercises and craft-process readings. We will review the fundamental aspects of the creative process and zoom in on developing a vibrant, thriving, and consistent creative routine. Ideal for writers of all genres, participants
Novel Online Class Writing Classes
Nine-Month Novel Intensive: Wednesdays
This course for dedicated writers is designed to guide you through the writing and/or revising of your novel. It runs from September through May. You’ll read excerpts from published novels by authors including Han Kang, Tommy Orange, Lina Meruane, Mitchell S. Jackson, Deborah Levy, and Susan Steinberg, as well as craft essays by authors including
Novel Online Class Writing Classes
Nine-Month Novel Intensive: Thursday
This course for dedicated writers is designed to guide you through the writing and/or revising of your novel. It runs from September through May. You’ll read excerpts from published novels by authors including Han Kang, Tommy Orange, Lina Meruane, Mitchell S. Jackson, Deborah Levy, and Susan Steinberg, as well as craft essays by authors including
Online Class Writing Classes
Grief and The Lyric Essay
How do we process, reflect, embody grief in our writing? We will consider how lyric, narrative, discursive writing, research, fragmentation and silence play different roles in lyric essays, memoir, and poetry, demonstrating a relationship between content and form. Writing prompts will allow students to access language and memory in multiple ways. In a short period,
Free Events Online Writing Classes
The Break with Kaveh Akbar
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, "The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though many of the activities and discussions orbit or are inflected by recovery themes (Akbar has been in active recovery for eight years), participants are not
Online Class Writing Classes
Naming (Writing) Race In Story
This writing class will briefly examine how race and racism has been used to oppress the lives of Black, Indigenous and other racialized peoples. Participants will also explore how the lack of authentic representations in stories impacts the reader - specifically the young reader - regardless of their own race. This class asks participants to
Online Class Writing Classes
Push, Pull, Speak, Sing: Experimental Writing
In this experimental writing class, we will wrench as many possibilities as possible out of one piece of writing, seeing what our various changes – subtle, extreme, and chance-based – can reveal about that piece’s potential. Each participant will bring one selection of writing (a poem or a very short piece of fiction or essay)
Writing Classes
Picture Book Writing Lab: Creative Prompts and Workshop
Ready to dive deeper into your picture book writing journey? In this course, designed for continuing students who have taken “Crafting Your Picture Book,” we’ll spark your creativity with unique prompts each week, along with template suggestions to help structure your stories. As we progress, you’ll have the chance to workshop what you’ve been writing, receiving feedback to refine and polish your work. This course is perfect for those looking to push their storytelling further and bring their picture book ideas closer to completion.
Online Class Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
POETRY LAB: COME PLAY
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.
Free Events Online Writing Classes
The Break with Kaveh Akbar
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, "The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though many of the activities and discussions orbit or are inflected by recovery themes (Akbar has been in active recovery for eight years), participants are not
Online Class Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
Writing the Non-Fiction Book Proposal
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
Online Class Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
How to Stay Motivated as a Writer
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.
Pop Up Events Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
Mother of Mysteries: Writing the Multi-voice Novel
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.
Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
Writing from Art (Poetry): Youth PBF Workshop
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
Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
I’m Literally Dead Right Now (Fiction): Youth PBF Workshop
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
Pop Up Events Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
Visual Poetry and Art
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.
Pop Up Events Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
Weird Asides: Incorporating Funny Tangents into Your Writing
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.
Portland Book Festival Writing Classes
Speak Your Peace (Spoken Word Poetry): Youth PBF Workshop
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
Free Events Online Writing Classes
The Break with Kaveh Akbar
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, "The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though
Free Events Online Writing Classes
The Break with Kaveh Akbar
In partnership with Alano Club of Portland, "The Break is a monthly virtual gathering of writers and artists lead by Kaveh Akbar, celebrating amongness, collaboration, and interdisciplinary creative experimentation. Though
In-person WINTER 2025 Writing Classes
Get Writing: Unblocking Writer’s Block
Sometimes we become so focused on productivity or “doing it right” that we stifle our creativity. In this class we’ll focus on one of the hardest parts of writing: writing.
Each week we’ll use new prompts and guided activities to inspire new creation. We’ll look at the work of writers we admire and ask: how’d they do that? As they say, writing is a muscle, and no matter what your experience level, you have to continually exercise that muscle and practice new tools to keep your writing nimble and moving.
Through a variety of prompts, we’ll create new work every week and practice tools for expanding existing projects and unblocking writer’s block.
Online Class WINTER 2025 Writing Classes
Calling Back the Light: the Playful Essay
In this six-week class, we will enter the zone of play with our writing as we work on personal essays. We will explore different forms and structures that can give our writing lift, and also play with constraints that can lead to new discoveries.
Online Class WINTER 2025 Writing Classes
Discovering and Embracing Your Literary Voice
Sometimes our literary voice can be hazy even after we have refined and shaped the plot and narrative arc. In this fast paced six-week class, participants will generate a 2–6-page fictional narrative and develop it through two drafts with a keen eye on voice and tone. Simultaneously, we will work on character development and pacing and observe how they can support literary voice. Ideal for writers both in the process of a draft or just starting a new project.
In-person Writing Classes
SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT: VISUAL POETRY
Over the course of this six-week workshop, writers can expect to generate four new poetry experiments, one complete visual poetry project, and leave the workshop with a working knowledge of this exciting genre.
Online Class WINTER 2025 Writing Classes
Recharge Your Writing Life
Equal parts strategic reflection, community building, generative writing, and experimental writing, this class will help writers deepen self-knowledge and spark curiosity and while crafting artistic habits that nourish. A good fit for writers who want to reimagine their creative life. We’ll discuss methods for working through blocks and rejection, simple rituals that refill the well, and ways to make time for creativity in a busy world. Each session will offer prompts for reflection, literary tinctures, and creative practices that unite body, heart, and intellect.
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Literary Arts716 SE Grand Ave
Portland, Oregon 97214
- 503.227.2583
- 503.241.4256 fax
- la@literary-arts.org
Literary Arts, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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