5 Best Creative Writing Classes in Portland

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.

Learn and practice techniques for performing your writing. Think of it as a more fun version of a speech class: we’ll look at performance techniques from some incredible storytellers and have the chance to workshop your works-in-progress or completed pieces. While this class focuses on prose writing, poets are welcome!

Do you find yourself explaining too much in your stories or creative nonfiction? Do you feel your writing gets bogged down in announcing, recounting, and summarizing? Work with Attic Institute founder and two-time Oregon Book Award winner David Biespiel to learn three keys to explain less and dramatize more.

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 what it takes to write a scene that keeps readers on the edges of their seats.

Scheduled from February 20 to March 19, this online workshop focuses on overcoming the self-doubt many emerging writers face. It provides a supportive environment to explore writing interests, share work, and receive constructive feedback. The course, led by Wayne Gregory, is designed for up to 15 participants and includes 10 hours of instruction over Zoom. Early registration discounts are available.