Teaching
I'm currently looking for the right position teaching creative writing on a regular basis. Feel free to reach out via the contact icon above. This page provides an overview of my teaching work, which includes Portland State University's creative writing course in Vienna and UC Berkeley's Academic Talent Development Program. For more specific information about my background and aims as a teacher (including my CV and student testimonials) please visit my Teaching Profile. -M.A.C.
I will be thinking about [Cunningham's] course for the rest of my writing life. -Portland State University student, 2019 Wonderful instructor. I've loved working with Prof. Cunningham, who is incredibly knowledgeable, warm, supportive, but tough in the right ways - and passionate about reading and writing. -Portland State University student, 2020 |
I don’t think I’ve ever learned so much in a writing class before. I felt pushed in new ways as a writer and never discouraged. -Portland State University student, 2019 |
Author, editor, publisher, and frequent public speaker, M. Allen Cunningham is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Portland State University, where he teaches advanced creative writing workshops and seminars and leads the summer creative writing intensive in Vienna, which he developed. As an English instructor for Clackamas Community College, Cunningham teaches film appreciation courses. He also teaches advanced creative writing for highly motivated young scholars in UC Berkeley's Academic Talent Development Program. In his 16 years of teaching, he has led MFA-level creative writing workshops and seminars in many settings, in addition to lecturing widely at several universities, conferences, and countless public libraries. During a four-year run as a public scholar with the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project, he facilitated intensive public seminars about reading and literature in more than 25 communities. In addition to his work at PSU, CCC, and Berkeley, Cunningham facilitates the Atelier26 Creative Writing Workshops, designs and teaches new courses at Portland's honored nonprofit Literary Arts, and serves in the Pan-European MFA Program as a guest lecturer and thesis advisor.
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Study creative writing with Cunningham
and non-PSU students alike!
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Photo by Diane Prokop
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[Cunningham's] wonderful course made quite an impact on me, maybe more than any other writing course or workshop I’ve been a part of. -Portland State University student, 2019 M. Allen Cunningham clearly empathizes with and respects writers and led each critique session with focus, kindness and a quiet determination to push each of us into a deeper understanding of our strengths and areas for improvement. -Participant, Atelier26 Creative Writing Workshop Time spent with Mark has been golden! |
Mark always gave me a great deal to think about. His prompts, notes, and lectures are balanced and engaging. Thank you! -Workshop Participant, Literary Arts |
Recent Guest Lectures by M. Allen Cunningham:
Catamaran Writing Conference (Pebble Beach CA)
Character, Plot, Time
Portland State University Write to Publish Conference (Portland, OR)
Six Ways to Think About Character
Pan-European MFA Program (webinar)
Writing Beyond Genre
International House (Barcelona, Spain)
Depictions of Time in Literature
Character, Plot, Time
Portland State University Write to Publish Conference (Portland, OR)
Six Ways to Think About Character
Pan-European MFA Program (webinar)
Writing Beyond Genre
International House (Barcelona, Spain)
Depictions of Time in Literature
Sold-out Courses Taught by M. Allen Cunningham
at Literary Arts (Portland, OR) & the Portland Book Festival:
Writing Fiction with Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton"
Broadway smash and cultural sensation, Hamilton: An American Musical is a masterpiece of fictional form. With its ingenious handling of time, characterization, plot, perspective, voice, theme, and all the other essential elements of storytelling, Hamilton offers writers every ingredient for a master class in creating fiction. This 4-week class will explore the inner fictional workings of the sensational genre-bending musical. Through inspiring listening exercises, writing prompts, analysis, discussion, and related readings, participants will use Hamilton to unlock their understanding of how fiction functions and what makes a good story great.
Beginning the Novel
Demystifies the ways one begins writing a book-length work of fiction, with in-class writing exercises, readings, discussion, and helpful techniques to get you started on your way. Among other things, we'll consider character, setting, theme, and tone, and how these will serve you as you generate and pursue your vision for your novel.
Plotting the Novel
Looks at ways of conceiving plot and structure in your novel. Through in-class writing exercises, readings, and discussion, we'll explore traditional and non-traditional plots, and consider how characterizations, the use of time, world context, and more contribute to a plot's design. Participants will come away with a better understanding of the many permutations of plot available to the novelist.
Characters in Novels
Explores compelling character design from the ground up. Through in-class writing exercises, readings, and discussion, we'll study perspective, perception, voice, memory, the question of sympathy, and more as we move toward letting our fictional characters become their authentic selves.
Finding Form: Shaping Your Fiction or Memoir
"The class has been truly stimulating and powerful, and these specifics on shaping and improving my manuscript are EXACTLY what I was seeking." -Finding Form Participant
A compelling narrative involves so much more than a beginning, middle, and end, and the imaginative forms available to writers of fiction or memoir are myriad. In this workshop-based class, we look at a variety of uniquely structured literary works for inspiration and instruction. Through reading, conversation, and writing exercises, we’ll explore the flexibility of voice, linearity, perspective, text shape, and more, as we move together toward finding the right form for our own stories. Participants will share their work-in-progress 1 – 2 times, receive student and instructor feedback, and benefit from group discussion and prompts. All will leave the class equipped with examples from literature and a new appreciation of their own story’s special potential.
Editing for Writers
Learn the fundamentals of good editing as they apply to the writing and revision process, from the level of the line to broader structural concerns. Using numerous examples of early and late writing drafts, participants will gain experience focusing on editorial points both common and more complicated, with an eye toward tightening and sharpening our work before it arrives on an editor’s desk.
Broadway smash and cultural sensation, Hamilton: An American Musical is a masterpiece of fictional form. With its ingenious handling of time, characterization, plot, perspective, voice, theme, and all the other essential elements of storytelling, Hamilton offers writers every ingredient for a master class in creating fiction. This 4-week class will explore the inner fictional workings of the sensational genre-bending musical. Through inspiring listening exercises, writing prompts, analysis, discussion, and related readings, participants will use Hamilton to unlock their understanding of how fiction functions and what makes a good story great.
Beginning the Novel
Demystifies the ways one begins writing a book-length work of fiction, with in-class writing exercises, readings, discussion, and helpful techniques to get you started on your way. Among other things, we'll consider character, setting, theme, and tone, and how these will serve you as you generate and pursue your vision for your novel.
Plotting the Novel
Looks at ways of conceiving plot and structure in your novel. Through in-class writing exercises, readings, and discussion, we'll explore traditional and non-traditional plots, and consider how characterizations, the use of time, world context, and more contribute to a plot's design. Participants will come away with a better understanding of the many permutations of plot available to the novelist.
Characters in Novels
Explores compelling character design from the ground up. Through in-class writing exercises, readings, and discussion, we'll study perspective, perception, voice, memory, the question of sympathy, and more as we move toward letting our fictional characters become their authentic selves.
Finding Form: Shaping Your Fiction or Memoir
"The class has been truly stimulating and powerful, and these specifics on shaping and improving my manuscript are EXACTLY what I was seeking." -Finding Form Participant
A compelling narrative involves so much more than a beginning, middle, and end, and the imaginative forms available to writers of fiction or memoir are myriad. In this workshop-based class, we look at a variety of uniquely structured literary works for inspiration and instruction. Through reading, conversation, and writing exercises, we’ll explore the flexibility of voice, linearity, perspective, text shape, and more, as we move together toward finding the right form for our own stories. Participants will share their work-in-progress 1 – 2 times, receive student and instructor feedback, and benefit from group discussion and prompts. All will leave the class equipped with examples from literature and a new appreciation of their own story’s special potential.
Editing for Writers
Learn the fundamentals of good editing as they apply to the writing and revision process, from the level of the line to broader structural concerns. Using numerous examples of early and late writing drafts, participants will gain experience focusing on editorial points both common and more complicated, with an eye toward tightening and sharpening our work before it arrives on an editor’s desk.
Ongoing:
Low-cost, in-person, community-oriented.
These rigorous multi-week workshops follow an MFA framework and provide participants the opportunity to explore and refine their writing in the context of a small and committed group of writers, each selected through an application process. Workshops center around intensive critique of participant work and inspiring discussion of assigned texts. Learn more about eligibility, deadlines, etc. at Atelier26Books.com.
What Atelier26 Workshop Participants Are Saying:
"I walk away from each session feeling inspired. Our classes are one of the best parts of my week."
-Alisha, Workshop Participant
"The Atelier26 workshop was every bit as rewarding and instructive as I knew it would be. The feedback and support was incredibly positive and productive. A wonderfully substantive learning process." -Theresa, Workshop Participant
"The Atelier26 workshop is excellent! The craft readings were inspiring and thought-provoking, and I came away from each session with my love of writing re-ignited. Highly recommended for serious writers in Portland." -Workshop Participant
"The workshop left me challenged and inspired. I gained meaningful connections, received constructive feedback, and learned new concepts that have pushed my skill and motivation forward. Thanks Atelier26!" -Workshop Participant
"The hour-long discussion of my submission, the extensive annotations, and additional reading material provided by the instructor proved to be invaluable and enjoyable. The workshop format was well-balanced, enlivening, and informative. The instructor is highly intelligent and he creates an atmosphere of generous discussion and literary exploration." -Erin, Workshop Participant
"Look no further: Atelier26's writing workshop will fire your mind and move your pen across paper!" -Workshop Participant
These rigorous multi-week workshops follow an MFA framework and provide participants the opportunity to explore and refine their writing in the context of a small and committed group of writers, each selected through an application process. Workshops center around intensive critique of participant work and inspiring discussion of assigned texts. Learn more about eligibility, deadlines, etc. at Atelier26Books.com.
What Atelier26 Workshop Participants Are Saying:
"I walk away from each session feeling inspired. Our classes are one of the best parts of my week."
-Alisha, Workshop Participant
"The Atelier26 workshop was every bit as rewarding and instructive as I knew it would be. The feedback and support was incredibly positive and productive. A wonderfully substantive learning process." -Theresa, Workshop Participant
"The Atelier26 workshop is excellent! The craft readings were inspiring and thought-provoking, and I came away from each session with my love of writing re-ignited. Highly recommended for serious writers in Portland." -Workshop Participant
"The workshop left me challenged and inspired. I gained meaningful connections, received constructive feedback, and learned new concepts that have pushed my skill and motivation forward. Thanks Atelier26!" -Workshop Participant
"The hour-long discussion of my submission, the extensive annotations, and additional reading material provided by the instructor proved to be invaluable and enjoyable. The workshop format was well-balanced, enlivening, and informative. The instructor is highly intelligent and he creates an atmosphere of generous discussion and literary exploration." -Erin, Workshop Participant
"Look no further: Atelier26's writing workshop will fire your mind and move your pen across paper!" -Workshop Participant