Mountain Writers Series began as a literary arts program in 1973 at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon. Over the years, the popular campus readings evolved as central to a network of literary arts sponsors in the Northwest. MWS, now an independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is a comprehensive organization that serves as the hub of literary partnerships for a network of over 90 sponsors.

MWS features authors of regional, national, and international reputation in a variety of events including readings, lectures, workshops, and master classes presented in diverse venues and formats throughout the region. Known for the quality and diversity of writers it features, MWS has included Nobel Laureates, MacArthur Fellows, US Poet Laureates, Pulitzer Prize recipients, and many other award winning authors. MWS also introduces writers with emerging reputations and promotes cultural diversity by hosting writers whose work reflects ethnic minority voices and special interests.

In addition to bringing writers from outside the Northwest, MWS promotes and supports writers who reside in the region by scheduling them for events or by actively promoting them and their work in other parts of the country.

MWS Programs are:

• MWS Midday Readings: daytime readings usually held on community college campuses, with free or low ticket prices ($2-3), which are popular among students and seniors.
• MWS Youth Program: half-day or day-long visits to targeted high schools featuring writers in various activities and to various audiences (small class to schoolwide assemblies).
• MWS Northwest Regional Residencies: involve cooperative scheduling with sponsors in Oregon, Washington, and beyond to send writers to rural communities, guaranteeing artists interaction with audiences not usually accessible during the usual book tours and fostering literary community beyond major Northwest cities.
• MWS Special Events: designed to honor notable figures, scheduled in collaboration with other organizations in Portland.
• MWS Workshops: MWS's newest program, which evolved from collaboration with Oregon Writers Workshop and the growing popluarity of our Master Workshops. These 8-week or short intensive workshops, offered quarterly for a variety of genres and levels, cultivate on-going literary community at the Mountain Writers Series by combining local writers with emerging writers and all members of the community interested in writing.