Colorado Writing Groups, Workshops, and Creative Writing Classes
Here you’ll find a collection of resources for writers in Colorado, from conferences to local critique groups, workshops, and creative writing classes. If you’re looking for writing groups near you, a workshop or class, a place to connect with other writers, or somewhere to submit your work, these Colorado writing resources are worth checking out.
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Writing Organizations & Groups
A major literary organization offering year-round author events, community programs, writing resources, and the annual Summer Words Writers Conference, which brings writers together for workshops, craft talks, panels, and publishing discussions. (Aspen)
A Colorado-based membership community for authors, publishers, and other book professionals offering workshops, webinars, author salons, book fairs, publishing resources, and both in-person and online events. (Aurora)
A nonprofit using storytelling and publishing to support literacy and underserved communities. Brink also publishes the triannual literary journal F(r)iction, which emphasizes new and underrepresented voices and draws heavily from open submissions. (Denver)
A writing community offering workshops, critique groups, educational programs, networking, and an annual writers conference with craft and publishing sessions for writers across genres and experience levels. (Castle Rock)
A literary organization serving writers throughout the Arkansas River Valley through quarterly workshops, free writing sessions, youth programs, critique and networking opportunities, and other events in communities including Salida, Buena Vista, and Leadville. (Central Colorado / Arkansas River Valley)
Founded in 1931, the Colorado Authors’ League supports published writers through professional development, networking, promotional opportunities, literary awards, and programs designed to connect Colorado authors with readers and the broader publishing community. (Statewide)
A statewide resource connecting readers, educators, and event organizers with Colorado poets through an extensive directory, regional listings, readings, poetry news, interviews, awards, and The Colorado Poet newsletter. (Statewide)
Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group
A critique group for published and unpublished fiction writers offering regular meetings focused on constructive feedback, craft development, and preparing work for publication. (Colorado Springs)
A long-running writing group meeting every other week for critique, exercises, craft discussion, and occasional guest speakers. Members work in fiction, fantasy, memoir, and other genres, with an emphasis on improving work through regular peer feedback. (Denver)
A nonprofit serving young writers through monthly creative writing workshops, after-school programs, writing clubs, and intensive summer camps designed for children and teens throughout the Denver area. (Denver)
Colorado’s largest nonprofit literary center offers hundreds of in-person and online classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, and other forms, along with youth programs, mentorship, retreats, readings, and longer-term programs for writers working on books. (Denver)
Founded in 2019, Mile High Writers’ Workshop brings published and aspiring writers together for regular in-person critique sessions focused on improving craft, sharing work, and supporting one another through the writing and publishing process. (Denver)
Founded in 1921, the Poetry Society of Colorado supports poets through monthly meetings, workshops, readings, contests, and other programs promoting the study, writing, and performance of poetry. (Statewide)
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
A nonprofit organization supporting fiction writers through education, networking, contests, craft and publishing resources, and the annual Colorado Gold Writers Conference. (Statewide)
The Word | A Storytelling Sanctuary
A literary organization supporting writers from historically marginalized communities through writing and publishing workshops, mentorship, resource guides, community programs, and the annual margins. literary conference. (Denver)
Western Colorado Writers’ Forum
A nonprofit serving writers on the Western Slope through monthly writers’ nights, open mics, workshops, readings, publishing opportunities, podcasts, and other literary events and resources. (Grand Junction / Western Slope)
Writers Studio at Arapahoe Community College
A literary community open to students and the public, offering classes, workshops, contests, author readings, open mics, and an annual spring literary festival for writers of all ages and experience levels. (Littleton)
A primarily virtual professional writing organization based in Northern Colorado, offering classes, critique groups, write-ins, retreats, networking, submission assistance, and other resources for writers and poets at all levels. (Northern Colorado / Online)
Conferences, Retreats & Residencies
An annual one-day conference focused on the craft and business of getting published, with classes on writing, querying, pitching, marketing, and publishing, along with opportunities to meet literary agents and editors. (Denver)
A multi-day conference at Glen Eyrie Castle focused less on publishing strategy than on the creative, spiritual, and personal dimensions of a writer’s life, with talks, workshops, and community for writers working across genres. (Colorado Springs)
An annual eight-day celebration of writing featuring advanced workshops, craft seminars, readings, salons, publishing panels, agent meetings, and other literary events, with both in-person and virtual programming. (Denver)
Mesa Verde Writers Conference & Literary Festival
An annual multi-day gathering combining an intensive writers conference with a public literary festival featuring workshops, visiting writers, author panels and talks, a poetry slam, and other events. (Mancos / Southwest Colorado)
Naropa University Summer Writing Program
Founded by Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg, Naropa’s long-running Summer Writing Program brings writers and artists together for several weeks of workshops, readings, lectures, panels, performances, and other experimental literary programming. (Boulder)
An annual three-day conference focused largely on fiction and genre writing, with workshops and presentations on craft, publishing, marketing, and the business of writing. Pikes Peak Writers also offers educational and community programs throughout the year. (Colorado Springs)
Literary Magazines & Publishers
Founded in 1956 and published by Colorado State University’s Center for Literary Publishing, Colorado Review publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and book reviews by emerging and established writers. The journal maintains regular open submission periods and pays contributors. (Fort Collins)
An online literary journal published by Colorado College’s English Department, Hairstreak Butterfly Review publishes poetry, fiction, nonfiction, hybrid work, and visual and audio literature by writers at all stages of their careers. (Colorado Springs)
An experimental literary magazine publishing short-form and unconventional work while also offering readings, workshops, and its Tiny Residents online residency program for writers. (Denver / Online)
Help us add to this list, Colorado writers! Do you know of writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or a Colorado literary journal or publisher we should be aware of? Let us know here. We periodically review these listings for broken links and outdated information.