Workshops and Offerings
Current Workshops
At the Attic Institute of Arts and Letters
Line Work: Poetry Workshop
Poet Denise Levertov once said of the linebreak “It is a tool, not a style.” But what is the power and potential of this uniquely poetic tool? In this workshop we will learn through experimentation about the linebreak’s ability to heighten, connect, or crack open a multiplicity of meanings. Although we will create new work in this course, there will also be an emphasis on making previously written pieces new, redefining editing as a playful part of the creative process.
Time: Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30pm, June 24 - July 29, 6 weeks
Location: Portland, OR
Writing the Natural World: Multi-Genre Workshop
As the weather warms and we find ourselves drawn to the outdoors, this workshop will prompt you to bring your notebook along. In this generative multi-genre course we will consider how writing can make us feel even more connected to the landscapes around us and a part of us—how we too are the natural world. Through discussing works of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction as well as weekly writing prompts we will hone our sensory experience, delve into scope and scale, and experiment with how to craft it on the page. All are welcome in this course and encouraged to attend.
Time: Wednesdays, 10:30am - 12pm, July 29 - Sept 9 (no meeting Sept 2), 6 weeks
Location: Virtual, on Zoom
“Throughout her Movement in Poetry class at The Attic, Lila welcomed the full spectrum of our experiences and gave me the courage to discover my voice. Guided by her compassionate wisdom, I learned to pause, notice the world anew, and savor the subtle beauty in everyday moments. Lila inspires her students to experience poetry as a living expression of grace.”
— Jennifer Lee, Attic participant
Individual Writing Consultations
Every writer is in a unique place, which is why I offer personalized consultations to provide tailored insights. Whether you are preparing a poetry portfolio for an MFA application, polishing work for publications, or honing your voice for a personal project, I am excited to support.
Additional Experience
Education
MFA Creative Writing, Oregon State University, 2024
BA English, Creative Writing Track, University of Iowa, 2015
Towards BA, Literature / Publication Action, Bennington College, 2013
Selected Work Experience
Instructor, School of Writing, Literature and Film, Oregon State University, 2022-Present
Adjunct Fellow, The Attic Institute of Arts and Letters, 2025-Present
Poetry Reader for CALYX Press, 2025-Present; 45th Parallel , 2023 Earthwords, 2013-2015; Plain China 2011-2012
Creative Writing Instructor, Ireland Creative Writing Program and Pre-College Program at Colby College, Putney Student Travel, 2023; 2024
Manager and Coordinator, 826 Valencia, 2017-2022
Professional Development
Community Co-Educator Fellowship, University of San Francisco, 2021
Facilitating Racially Just Spaces Course, University of San Francisco, 2021
Managing to Change the World Course, Management Center, 2019
Train the Trainer Workshop, Nonprofit Learning Lab, 2019