The Creative Nonfiction (CNF) Studio is based on the idea that inspiration, accountability, and community are essential to every writer’s growth. The CNF Studio meets weekly for multi-month sessions, and its curriculum is designed to help you deepen your writing through a keener understanding of both literary craft and your own voice. The CNF Studio is open to applications from all writers, and members often return for multiple sessions. This creates the Studio’s special experience: a consistent, deep, and supportive study of your writing in the company of other writers. The CNF Studio includes close-readings and discussions of stellar creative nonfiction, roundtable readings of take-home prompts, and peer critique of writers’ works-in-progress. During the Studio, writers can expect to read widely and gain deep insight into their own writing, all the while exploring questions of structure, form, narration, truth, memory, influence, and voice.  | Maximum 9 students  

Learn more about the CNF Studio

Location: The CNF Studio will be held offsite, in the Gotham Building in North Portland.

To Apply: To apply to join the next Creative Nonfiction Studio, please send a writing sample of up to 3,500 words and a 250-word statement of purpose.

Send your application to: cnfstudio@atticinstitute.com

The short story is one of the oldest, most flexible and interesting forms of storytelling. From flash fiction to experimental to more traditional the short story gives writers a wide latitude to explore the many possibilities of narrative. This class will combine seminar and workshop. Ideally students should be prepared to workshop their work at least once. Students will be required to read assigned stories outside of class and be prepared to lead discussions about issues surrounding techniques such as form, voice, point of view, plot and character. By reading the work of a variety of accomplished short story writers, my hope is you will explore both traditional and nontraditional narrative structures to help find an effective frame work the feelings that serve as the original impetus for your creativity. This workshop is open to anyone but is ideally suited for students with a few stories under their belt. | No class Nov 29 for Thanksgiving

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Using prompts, short readings, and discussion, this generative nonfiction workshop will focus on mining our personal histories and crafting them into the form they deserve. We’ll also explore the ways we sometimes get in the way of our own stories — and how to use that to break through and write around the blocks. CNF, personal essays, journaling...all are welcome. Open to all writers.

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Writing has the power to transport us through time. With a few words, we can return to childhood, suspend a moment, see into the future or perhaps write a better one. In this generative workshop, we will practice movements through time based on readings and creative prompts like writing off personal photographs and noticing patterns of change. This workshop encourages writers from all genres and all skill levels. Open to all writers in all genres. A generative morning workshop.

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