Bent classes are designed for writers, beginning to advanced. The low-impact, supportive environment encourages participants to take the risks necessary for their writing to grow.

Classes are offered in poetry, fiction, memoir, performance, and more.

The Bent Arts and Education Director, 2002-2003 Seattle Poet Populist Tara Hardy, leads the design of Bent's curriculum and the training, supervision and support of Bent's skilled volunteer teachers.

    Duration: Month-long cycles of two-hour classes.
    When: Ongoing; Email the Volunteer Registrar for information.
    Cost: Begins at $60/month, need-based scholarships available.
    Please contact Bent for more information at infoATbentwriting.com

General Writing classes:

Our General Writing classes are intentionally planned to be extremely supportive and low-impact. Designed to assist writers working on removing obstacles to finding their unique voices, Bent classes are open to all levels of writers from beginner through advanced. In class we read published work and talk about what does and does not succeed about it. Students are encouraged to explore multiple styles (Anything goes! Poetry, personal essay, story, fiction, non-fiction, song lyrics, raps….). There is in-class writing as well as reading and writing homework assignments. There is also ample opportunity to read your work aloud, but only if you feel comfortable—you’re never forced. These classes are specifically designed to be supportive, educational, and fun!

Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 PM

Thursdays 7-9 PM with one class per month from 6-8 PM

Saturdays 12-2 PM

Performance Poetry classes:

Our Performance Poetry class is a more advanced class and therefore a little more intense. There is always a focus on what is working in a person's writing, but this class includes more specific criticism. People enter them after being in the general classes for a while, or because they’ve had some previous experience with writing and/or a writing workshop format. Performance Poetry includes in-class writing and reading and writing homework assignments. Reading your work aloud is strongly encouraged and students will have the opportunity to workshop their performance pieces. In this class you will learn performance, stage, and microphone techniques.

Mondays 7-9 PM

Fiction and Memoir classes:

In addition to the classes above, we also offer a class taught in a Fiction/Memoir format. While a bit more advanced, it is open to all levels of experience. In this class you’ll study longer works of writing, including memoirs, novels, and short-story collections, so it will generally involve more homework, with reading assignments running up to 50 pages long.

Wednesdays 6 -8 PM

What people are saying about Bent:

"After all the traveling I have done, I can say there is no other community of writers like Bent in the entire country." -- Sini Anderson, co-founder of Sister Spit

"Visiting Bent gave me enough inspiration to write all year." -- Ivan Coyote, author of One Man's Trash and Close to Spiderman

"The education I have received in the past three years at Bent is just as valuable, if not more so, than my entire Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing at the University of Washington." -- Zaedryn Meade, Bent student

"Bent offers a unique environment for writers and poets to create, share and learn without fear, rejection, or unhealthy competition." -- Gail B., Bent student