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.
“The simplest answer is that a writer who gardens is sooner or later going to write a book about the subject–I take that as inevitable,” writes Eleanor Perenyi in her forward to Green Thoughts, her collection of essays on gardening. In this course, we’ll explore literature of the garden, using Olivia Laing’s book The Garden
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,
Gabriel García Márquez began his writing career as a journalist & once referred to the profession as "the best in the world." While the international literary community celebrated him as one of the greatest-ever fiction authors, he never ceased writing journalism. The Scandal of the Century was first published in English in 2019, & this
Incite: Queer Writers Read is a curated, bimonthly reading series for Queer writers. Incite’s hope is to create conversation, connection, and greater understanding both within the Queer community and with other communities. Hosted by Vinnie Kinsella and Jennifer Perrine. The featured readers for July are David Ciminello, Shelley Gaske, and Charlie J. Stephens. The theme
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
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
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
Questions about applying to this year's Oregon Literary Fellowships? Join us at this information session! The deadline to apply for a 2025 Oregon Literary Fellowship is Friday, August 2, 2024. Register in advance Please contact Alexa Winik (alexa@literary-arts.org) if you have any questions.
This monthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Come listen to our featured readers, or sign up to share your work in our open mic. Readings will be followed by a short community discussion. Hosted by Kyle Yoshioka and Jessica Meza-Torres. The featured reader
César Aira is one of the most prolific authors of our time, having published over 100 books since 1975, his bizarre & starkly idiosyncratic work pushes through genres that sometimes collapse mid-text only to be rebuilt around another plot to end his powerful little books. Winner of numerous literary awards & finalist for the 2015
Here is an opportunity to share or listen to one page of work in progress from talented writers from everywhere. Come with a single page of work and sign up to read – or come to listen and prepare to be inspired. Our host is the one and only, Emme Lund. The featured reader for August
Join Oregon Literary Publishing Fellowship recipient First Matter Press on August 10th as they launch their 2024 titles, greenhouse and Suspended In My Insecticide Jar. The evening's festivities will include featured readings from Sophie Hall and Clara McAuley, original art for purchase from 2024 cover artist Alexandra Strenfel, and readings from our 2024 Ekphrastic Poem Contest selections.
Slamlandia is a poetry open mic and slam that meets every month, on the third Thursday. This mic provides a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all literary communities in 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,
Join us for the third installment of the Graft Union Reading Series—a monthly event for sharing creative writing, food, drink, and community, featuring student writers from PDX academic institutions and beyond! The Graft Union Reading Series is a community-driven collective for students and emergent writers in Portland with an emphasis on celebrating new voices. We
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
This monthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Come listen to our featured readers, or sign up to share your work in our open mic. Readings will be followed by a short community discussion. Hosted by Kyle Yoshioka and Jessica Meza-Torres. The featured reader
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
Friday, September 6, is the deadline for submission to the 2025 Oregon Book Awards and Special Awards. Books published between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024 are eligible. Complete Oregon Book Awards guidelines are here, and guidelines for the Special Awards are here.
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
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
Slamlandia is a poetry open mic and slam that meets every month, on the third Thursday. This mic provides a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all literary communities in 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,
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
Literary Arts is proud to present pioneer news anchor and reporter Connie Chung in conversation about her forthcoming memoir CONNIE (interviewer TBA). Tickets at select levels include a copy of the book.
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
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,
Springfield Public Library hosts the Oregon Book Awards author tour. The day starts with two free workshops and ends with a reading and discussion. All events are free and open
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
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
Rescheduled from September 25. This monthly reading series is intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Come listen to our
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
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
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
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
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
Portland Book Festival, presented by Wells Fargo, returns Saturday, November 2 to ten stages at six partner venues in downtown Portland’s south Park Blocks. General Admission Festival passes* are $18
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
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