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The Attic Experience

"The Attic's poetry workshop puts people at ease, and that's the most important thing a poetry workshop can offer. From there, poems flow, comments are readily exchanged and ears are open to constructive criticism (which the instructor, in the workshop I took, gave with sensitivity and affection). The workshop was able to get at the place where a writer was, and not without challenging the person to stretch, to move forward--and to venture into sometimes uncomfortable territory, the place where some of the best poems are born."

Claire Sykes

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Based on methods developed exclusively at the Attic by founder and director David Biespiel, Every Writer Has a Thousand Faces cracks open the creative process and challenges traditional assumptions about writing that can stifle creativity. Both beginning and experienced writers—as well as artists, musicians, dancers, and anyone else on a creative path—will benefit from this elegant, surprising, and fresh perspective. An essential book for any writer's library.

Learn more / Read an excerpt / Order a signed copy

Attic Retainer for 6-Months or 1-Year

Jump into your manuscript project with accountability and gusto.

This level provides you with ongoing editing & critique for a full year. Details & strategies to be worked out between editor & writer. The most complete arrangement we offer to fully develop your mansucript. We use a retainer system to initiate & maintain this service, plus editing fee to be determined depending on blocks of time for copy-editing, thematic critique, & private consultations.

For Fiction Writers

For Poets

For Writers in Narrative Prose: Memoir, Autobiography, Creative Non-Fiction, Essay, Travel Writing, Etc.

For Children's Book Writers

And: For anyone else who wants to work one-on-one for 6-months or a year on any literary project

6-month retainer fee: $295, plus hourly rate for editor.
Annual retainer fee: $495, plus hourly rate for editor.

Current Classes


FALL: Children's Book Writing Workshop: Write that Picturebook! (Wednesdays)
FALL: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop A: Writing the Classical Essay (Tuesdays)
FALL: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop B: Writing the Classical Essay (Mondays)
FALL: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop C: The Art of Telling Stories That Happen To Be True (Wednesdays)
FALL: Creative Non-Fiction Workshop D: The Art of Telling Stories That Happen To Be True (Wednesdays)
FALL: Erotica Workshop: Erotic, Realistic, or Sizzling (Mondays)
FALL: Fiction Workshop: Novel-in-Progress (Tuesdays)
FALL: Fiction Workshop: Short Stories (Tuesdays)
FALL: Fiction Workshop: The Long Story (Thursdays)
FALL: Life Sketches Workshop A: Write. Share. Preserve. For individuals 55-over only (Wednesdays)
FALL: Life Sketches: Snapshots / Sunday
FALL: Life Sketches: Snapshots / Wednesday
FALL: Magazine Writing Workshop: Write Those Queries! (Wednesdays)
FALL: Memoir Master Class Weekend with Ariel Gore (Fri-Sun)
FALL: Memoir Workshop: The Language of Your Life A.M. (Thursdays)
FALL: Memoir Workshop: These Are the Good Old Days (Mondays)
FALL: Narrative Workshop: Writing the Lives of Girls and Women (Thursdays)
FALL: Online Workshop: Story Structure / 10-Week Class with Marc Acito
FALL: Poetry Workshop: Power & Play of Discovery (Thursdays)
FALL: Screenwriting Workshop: Writing for the Screen (Tuesdays)
FALL: Time to Write: Direction, Time & Inspiration (Saturdays)
FALL: Write Now! Creative Writing Renewal for Teachers (Thursdays)

"Life Sketches" Workshops

For individuals 55-over who want to write the essential stories of your life. Experience the pleasure of writing your personal stories, sharing them with peers, and preserving them in print. It's a life-changing experience brought to the page. Life Sketches is the story of your life -- one book at a time.

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The Attic Atheneum

A groundbreaking alternative to the traditional and low-residency MFA, the Attic Atheneum is an 11-month certificate program that melds independent study under close faculty supervision, student receptions, genre meetings, public readings, and other special events created around good food and dynamic conversation, dialogue, and literary community. Applications accepted between March 1 - April 30.

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