Maine Writing Groups, Workshops, and Creative Writing Classes
Here you’ll find a collection of resources for writers in Maine, 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 Maine writing resources are worth checking out.
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Writing Organizations & Groups
A statewide organization supporting poets through meetings, workshops, contests, readings, publications, and other opportunities to develop craft and connect with fellow writers. (Statewide / Online)
Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance
A statewide literary organization offering workshops, conferences, awards, publishing resources, professional development, and community for writers, editors, publishers, and other literary professionals. (Statewide / Online)
A nonprofit writing center offering workshops, publishing opportunities, and other creative writing programs for young people ages 6 to 18. (Portland)
Conferences, Retreats & Residencies
A four-day retreat offering small-group workshops, faculty readings, manuscript review, and dedicated writing time at the Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park. (Winter Harbor)
An annual multi-genre conference focused on short-form writing, with generative workshops, feedback on pre-submitted work, readings, conversations, and an optional add-on writing retreat. (Trescott / Downeast)
A statewide literary festival featuring readings, conversations, performances, and other events with writers from Maine and beyond at venues across the state. (Statewide)
Stonecoast Writers’ Conference
A six-day conference offering intensive workshops, seminars, readings, visiting writers, and other literary programming alongside the Stonecoast MFA summer residency. (Portland)
Writers’ Conference at Ocean Park
A long-running annual conference offering workshops, readings, contests, and instruction for writers working in poetry, fiction, essays, and other forms. (Ocean Park)
Literary Magazines & Publishers
A nationally recognized independent press publishing contemporary poetry by emerging and established writers, with manuscripts selected through the annual Alice James Award and other editorial channels. (New Gloucester)
A quarterly literary journal publishing contemporary poetry, visual art, interviews, and reviews, with a longstanding connection to Portland’s literary community. (Portland)
An independent traditional publisher of fiction, memoir, essays, poetry, children’s books, and regional nonfiction, with a particular interest in New England writers and stories. (Camden)
An independent literary press publishing fiction, poetry, essays, memoir, and anthologies, with a focus on writers and artists from Maine and New England. (Portland)
A nonprofit literary journal publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and experimental work by emerging and established writers. (Online)
An independent literary review publishing fiction and poetry by emerging and established writers, with contests, an online author feature, and connections to The Writer’s Hotel conference. (Brunswick)
Help us add to this list, Maine writers! Do you know of writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or a Maine literary journal or publisher we should be aware of? Let us know here. We periodically review these listings for broken links and outdated information.