Writers in the Schools

Writers in the Schools (WITS) is a comprehensive program that cultivates young writers and supports Oregon authors through semester-long writing residencies in the Portland public high schools. WITS employs poets, fiction writers, essayists, graphic novelists and playwrights to engage students in reading and writing across the curriculum.

For more information on WITS, please contact Mary Rechner, Program Director, at 503-227-2583 or by email at Mary@literary-arts.org.

Click here for upcoming readings by students, their teachers and WITS Writers!

WITS program details

Teaching Resources
More about Writers in the Schools
Writers-in-Residence
WITS Anthology
Participating high schools

How schools can apply for the program
How writers can apply for the program

Normally high school classes are about mastering mechanics and this experience assumed that we already knew how to fly, we just didn’t have enough room yet. It gave the room. —Writers in the Schools student