“There are no such things as stupid questions, only pretentious instructors.”
- Michelle’s teaching motto
Demystifying the Editing Process
September 9 - 30 — Wednesdays from 5:00-7:00 p.m (4 sessions)
At Literary Arts, 716 SE Grand Ave, Portland OR
This class is designed to demystify the editing process with applicable tools for editing at each stage of your draft. From fiction to creative nonfiction, this workshop offers in-depth looks at different editorial tools to use to help you refine your story and your language.
In this four-week workshop, we’ll review practical, applicable revision tools for each stage of the revision process. Then, we’ll practice some of those editing tools on your work in class. Homework includes expanded editing exercises, which we’ll discuss the following week.
3 Month Short Memoir Intensive: Writing the Memoirella
Thursdays, 2:00-4:00 p.m. Pacific Time, starting Sept 10
Sept 10 - Dec 2, 2026, (12 meetings, no meeting November 26)
Online via Literary Arts
The memoirella is a great form of literature that fits somewhere between an essay and a memoir. In this class we will read a few novellas to borrow from their medium-length structures, as well as several essays and memoirs. We’ll pick these works apart on a craft level, asking what these works did to make them successful, then apply those tools to your work.
Course Takeaways
● How to start a memoirella with a “hook” and purpose
● What other novellas, essays and memoirs set up for and what those stories deliver
● How to structure your memoirella
● How and when to shrink it down to an essay, or expand it into a full-length memoir
Writing the Novella
November 4 - December 16 (6 sessions; no class Thanksgiving week)
Class will meet weekly via Zoom on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 6:00 PM PT
The novella fits somewhere between a short story and a novel. In this six-week online writing workshop, we'll read several novellas appreciated for their different tones, topics, and genres and pick them apart at the craft level, asking what each story did to make it successful.
You'll get several different types of homework assignments designed to strengthen your draft, including a focused look at opening pages and how writing a back-of-the-book summary can sharpen your plot and "aboutness." Each student is in a different stage of their novella project, so all levels of completion and experience are welcome.
COURSE TAKEAWAYS:
What other novellas set up for and what the story delivers
How to structure a novella
What these novellas do (and don't do) to make them successful stories
How to start, climax, end, and edit a novella
A Note on Workshops: Each writer will have one opportunity to submit their work for written feedback and discussion. Please plan on reading and providing feedback on your peers' work as well, so we can all support each other equally.
This workshop is meant to be fun and motivating!
How to Start a Story
Learn more about the class and watch for a fun surprise…
How to Start a Story: Craft-focused prompts & exercises to help you consciously start interesting stories
This mini course is focused on the most difficult part of writing a story: starting with a focus, and infusing stories with “interesting.”
In How to Start a Story we’ll use three very different types of writing prompts to start a story with potential. Then, we’ll review how these prompts help you to reflect on what your story is “about.”
Includes 3 guided prompts to help you write more interesting stories
Office Hours
As part of my Substack, office hours is a 1-hour live session where writers and other creatives can come together and talk about making art. For example:
How do you structure your day?
How do you reach your artistic goals (or set some?)
What’re you struggling with most in your creative /writing life?
Free for paid Substack subscribers, which is only $5/mo, or $20 a head for drop in folks.
NEXT:
Live session date coming soon. In the meantime: Send me your questions and I’ll answer them in a written post.
Is there a class you’d like to see?
A lot of my classes fill up fairly quick! To be the first to learn about upcoming classes, sign up for my newsletter (just enter your email in the space at the end of this page).
Is there a topic you’d be most interested in? What are your biggest writing struggles? I’d love to hear about it so I can potentially include them in an upcoming class.
EVENTS
Interested in hosting Michelle at your organization, book store, or event? contact Michelle directly.
Upcoming
✜ STAY TUNED…..
Past Events
✜ May 19 - Literary Arts, in conversation with Rex Marshall about his book, All the Work I Never Wanted
✜ April 16 - Powell’s Books, in conversation with Luke Goebel about his book, Kill Dick
✜ April 8 - Literary Arts, in conversation with Robyn Saunders Wilson for the launch of her book, Junkyard Princess
✜ November 8 — Portland Book Festival: Hooked — How to Catch Reader Interest From the Start
✜ November 2 — Powell’s Books, in conversation with Erica Vanstone and Kim Stegeman
✜ May 25 — Raymond Carver’s Birthday: Carver poetry reading @ The Chapel Theater in Milwaukie, OR
✜ May 29 — Up Up Books with Morgan Waites, author of She Was Horrid
✜ April 26 — PORTLAND — Literary Arts —How to Start a Story pop up class as part of National Independent Bookstore Day!
✜ April 26 — PORTLAND — Bold Books with Emme Lund, author The Boy with a Bird in His Chest
✜ April 10 — PORTLAND — Literary Arts — with Portland Radio Project Executive Director and Producer, Veronica Bisesti!
✜March 14 —Live interview on the Portland Radio Project, 99.1 fm or streaming at prp.fm
✜ March 4, PORTLAND — Co-launch with Portland author Bristol Vaudrin to celebrate the release of Bristol’s debut book, Afterward at The Old Portland
✜ March 6 — SAN FRANCISCO — Green Apple Books in conversation with writer and translator Achy Obejas
✜ March 8 — OAKLAND — Clio’s — in conversation with musician Madeline Kenney
✜ The Banana Pitch Variety Show, Pitch on the Streets (current, ongoing)
✜ Portland Book Festival - November 2024: Writing Workshop: Weird Asides: Incorporating Funny Tangents into Your Writing
✜ The Tomorrow Theater - September 2024
In Conversation with Brooke Totman about Sexy Life, Hello and conversations with Mattress,
Reptaliens, and Travis Abels
✜ Tin House - Bishop & Wilde Bookstore, July 2024
In conversation with Ananda Lima about her collection Craft: Stories I Wrote for the Devil
✜ The Stacks Bookstore, June 2024
In conversation with Tessa Fontaine about her novel The Red Grove
✜ Portland Art Museum, March 2024
Emcee, Best Music Video Showcase
✜ Tin House - Bishop & Wilde Bookstore, November 2023
In Conversation with Jennifer Fliss about her short story collection, As If She Had a Say
✜ Powell’s Books, September 2023
In Conversation with Nicola Griffith about her novel, Menewood
✜ Willamette Week Best New Bands Showcase, Emcee - June 2022
Want Michelle to teach at your place?
Workshops
Michelle loves leading workshops for large groups or small.
Event Hosting
Michelle loves to emcee, including live interviews, show hosting, co-hosting…
Etc
Send a message about what you’re thinking!
Get Covered
Learn from a music journalist how to get press. We’ll review real (fictionalized) press releases and dissect what makes a good pitch. We’ll also cover all the stuff you should have on your website, social media and electronic press kits (EPK).
Class comes with downloadable templates for all of the above
What students are saying…
I found my voice in Michelle’s class. Finally, I found my voice.
— G.T., Portland Community College student
"Hands down - Best writing class that I’ve taken at LA."
— Literary Arts student
"Michelle Kicherer is a truly gifted teacher of writing! Each student discovered material they had no idea was inside of them. Michelle is disarming, charming, crazy smart and also very funny. Thanks Michelle!"
— Literary Arts student
Michelle's Fiction Technique in Memoir class is thoughtfully, intelligently designed, and gracefully delivered. I have been in grad seminars where I have learned less.
— Tasha S., Writing Workshops student
I got exactly what I needed from Michelle's class! Through the reading and writing prompts discussed with the class, I was able to tackle my own writing project from all kinds of different angles I never would have thought of on my own.
— Emily R., Writing Workshops student
If you're struggling with your memoir, I urge you to take a course with Michelle! Her suggestions about my work are tremendously helpful. Michelle is an insightful, humorous and thoughtful teacher. She's inspired me to write consistently, no easy task. Thank you, Michelle.
— Karen K.
Michelle, thanks again and again. It’s been delightful to work with you and receive such helpful suggestions, skilled editing, and on-going encouragement. You’ve fed my writing in more ways than you could ever know, or imagine.
— Geri O., Litquake student
Michelle, you have no idea what this class means to me. Thank you.
— M.G., Portland Community College student
Michelle, this has been the workshop which transformed my whole understanding of writing. I have so admired your gentle style (combined with your superpower insight and incredible edits!) I am so grateful to have been in this class.”
— Rob B., Writing Workshops student
Other recent classes
Note: I teach regularly at several schools & organizations. To stay in the loop on new classes subscribe to my newsletter (form below)
Fiction Technique in Memoir - Summer ‘24 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Intermediate Creative Writing, Spring ‘24 -SOLD OUT
Portland Community College
Beginning Creative Writing, Spring ‘24
Portland Community College
Beginning Memoir, Spring ‘24 -SOLD OUT
Portland Community College
Unblocking Writer’s Block, Jan ‘24 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Literary Arts
Chapter 1: How to Write Openings, Jan ‘24
Hosted by The Attic Institute
The Writing, Editing, Writing Class, Jan ‘24
Hosted by The Attic Institute
Get Writing - Summer ‘23 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Literary Arts
Prompts & Processes - Summer ‘23 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Fiction Technique in Memoir - Summer ‘23 - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Writing Workshops
The Novel Mapping Class - Spring ‘23
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Prompted: A Get-Writing Class - Spring ‘23 — SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Writing Workshops
The Craft of Fiction (in-person) - SOLD OUT
Hosted by Literary Arts
Fiction Technique in Memoir (In-person) - SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Literary Arts
4-Month Writing Cohort for Memoirists (Online)
Prompted: A Get-Writing Class - Winter ‘23 — SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Fiction Technique in Memoir (Online) - SOLD OUT (thank you!)
Hosted by Writing Workshops
Generative Writing (online)
Hosted by Litquake
