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.
On Monday, October 7, Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble will host a preview event of Playing With Words featuring a discussion between writers Stephanie Adams-Santos, Josephine Woolington, and Waka T. Brown and composers Gordon Lee, Hans Barklis, and Tim Willcox. The preview event takes place at Backyard Social, and more information can be found here. Authors
Amy Tan joins Literary Arts' 40th anniversary season of Portland Arts & Lectures on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
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)
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.
Literary Arts is honored to present #1 New York Times bestselling author, Pushkin Industries co-founder, and Revisionist History podcast host, Malcolm Gladwell, in conversation about his new book, Revenge of the Tipping Point.
THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT Please be aware that third-party sellers often re-sell tickets to our events. Unless you purchased your tickets directly through Literary Arts or Portland'5, we cannot guarantee these tickets will work for entry. Literary Arts is honored to present #1 New York Times bestselling author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, in conversation
It’s Literary Arts’ 40th anniversary—and we want to celebrate this transformational moment with you! Mark your calendars and join us as we turn the page and begin the next chapter at Literary Arts’ annual fundraising gala, Bookmark, on Thursday, October 24. Mingle with old friends, book lovers, literary creatives, and community changemakers as we celebrate
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.
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
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.
Abraham Verghese joins Literary Arts' 40th anniversary season of Portland Arts & Lectures on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
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