Florida Writing Groups, Workshops, and Creative Writing Classes
Here you’ll find a collection of resources for writers in Florida, 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 Florida writing resources are worth checking out.
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Writing Organizations & Groups
Florida Atlantic University Community Creative Writing Workshops
Eight-week noncredit creative writing classes open to the community and taught through Florida Atlantic University’s MFA program. Workshops are offered in genres such as fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. (Boca Raton)
Florida Authors and Publishers Association
A statewide organization providing authors, publishers, and publishing professionals with education, networking, professional development, industry resources, an annual conference, and book awards. (Statewide)
A statewide nonprofit supporting writers through local writing groups, educational programs, publications, networking opportunities, and the annual Florida WritersCon. (Statewide)
Gulf Coast Writers Association
A Southwest Florida writing community offering monthly meetings, speakers, networking, educational programs, writing contests, and other resources for writers at all stages of their careers. (Fort Myers / Southwest Florida)
Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation
A literary nonprofit offering adult and youth writing groups, creative writing workshops, literary events, and other programs while preserving the home and legacy of poet Laura (Riding) Jackson. (Vero Beach)
Miami Book Fair Creative Writing Workshops
Year-round noncredit creative writing workshops giving aspiring and experienced writers opportunities to study craft and receive feedback from published authors. Classes cover a range of genres and are offered both in person and virtually. (Miami / Online)
An open writing group meeting twice monthly to discuss the craft of writing and give members opportunities to read and share works in progress. (Nokomis / Sarasota Area)
South Florida Writers Association
A nonprofit writing organization offering free monthly meetings, educational presentations, critique groups, literary events, networking opportunities, and other resources for writers in South Florida. (South Florida)
A Tampa Bay–based literary arts organization hosting writing workshops, open mics, author readings, storytelling events, and other programs connecting writers and readers throughout West and Central Florida. (Tampa Bay / Central Florida)
Conferences, Retreats & Residencies
An interdisciplinary artist residency program pairing emerging and mid-career artists with established mentors for three-week residencies devoted to creative work and collaboration. Writers regularly participate alongside artists working in other disciplines. (New Smyrna Beach)
Eckerd College Writers’ Conference: Writers in Paradise
An annual weeklong writers’ conference at Eckerd College featuring small, intensive workshops in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and other genres, along with readings and opportunities to learn from established writers. (St. Petersburg)
Longleaf Writers Conference & Retreat
An annual weeklong conference and retreat offering intensive workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and screenwriting, along with seminars, readings, agent consultations, and other programs for writers at all levels. (Grayton Beach)
Sanibel Island Writers Conference
An annual Florida Gulf Coast University writers’ conference featuring workshops, readings, panels, and other programming in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, journalism, songwriting, and additional genres. (Fort Myers)
Literary Magazines & Publishers
An independent literary press affiliated with Stetson University’s MFA of the Americas program, publishing award-winning poetry and prose with an emphasis on collaboration, translation, and innovative literary work. (Central Florida)
An independent publisher specializing in crime, mystery, thriller, and noir fiction, including novels, story collections, and anthologies by emerging and established writers. (Tampa)
The University of Central Florida’s national literary magazine, publishing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, graphic narrative, and other literary work by emerging and established writers. (Orlando)
A Miami-based literary magazine publishing fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, hybrid work, translations, book reviews, and visual art, with an emphasis on innovative and boundary-pushing work. (Miami)
A student-run literary journal at Florida Gulf Coast University publishing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, drama, and visual art, with submissions welcomed from writers and artists beyond the university community. (Fort Myers)
A literary journal produced by University of South Florida MFA students and devoted to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, and other work exploring Florida lives, landscapes, and culture. (Tampa)
A national literary magazine housed at Florida State University publishing fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, book reviews, interviews, and art in print and online. (Tallahassee)
Florida’s oldest continuously published literary journal, publishing contemporary poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art through the University of Tampa Press. (Tampa)
Help us add to this list, Floridians! Do you know of writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or a Florida literary journal or publisher we should be aware of? Let us know here. We periodically review these listings for broken links and outdated information.