portland women writers

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Workshops

"What do I hope to get out of each workshop? Actually I am beyond hope - I am at a near-certainty that I will get wonder, pleasure, surprise, fun, challenge, companionship and inspiration." - D.L., workshop participant

Website Design – Summer 2007

Portland Women Writers workshops are based on the Amherst Writers and Artists method. In workshops, the leader provides writing prompts to inspire the imagination and encourage experimentation with different styles and genres. However, participants are always free to ignore a prompt and write whatever they choose. After writing for a specified period of time (usually between 5 and 25 minutes), we read out loud (always optional), and give each other feedback.

The group responds to this brand new writing by saying what we like and what we remember. By focusing on what's working in our writing, we build on our strengths and allow what's not working to naturally fall away. All writing in the workshop is assumed to be fictional, to protect the safety of each writer and to keep us focused on the writing.

Current Schedule

Weekly workshops meet for two and a half hours once a week, over a period of five to ten weeks. To foster an intimate group setting, workshops are limited to eight participants. Participants are encouraged to bring in manuscripts of their work for extensive feedback from the group.

One-day workshops give a jumpstart to your creativity and time to focus on generating new writing. If you're new to Portland Women Writers, a one-day workshop is an excellent, low-investment opportunity to explore the process.

Weekend retreats offer the opportunity to sink more deeply into the writing process. The combination of being surrounded by natural beauty, separating from the demands of everyday life, and writing for extended periods can take writers into new and surprising creative territory and provide inspiration for the months ahead.

To receive announcements about upcoming workshops and events, contact events@pdxwomenwriters.com