New Jersey Writing Groups, Workshops, and Creative Writing Classes
Here you’ll find a collection of resources for writers in New Jersey, 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 New Jersey writing resources are worth checking out.
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Writing Organizations & Groups
A community writing organization offering dozens of monthly events, including critique workshops, writing prompts, poetry groups, manuscript discussions, readings, and special programs for writers across genres. (Jersey City)
Liberty States Fiction Writers
A multi-genre fiction writers organization offering monthly workshops, critique and brainstorming opportunities, networking, promotional resources, and an annual writing conference with craft sessions and agent and editor pitches. (Edison)
A community writing organization offering free workshops, weekly support meetings, critique groups, writing sessions, readings, open mics, and other programs for writers across genres and experience levels. (Montclair)
Nick Virgilio Haiku Association and Writers House
A Camden-based poetry organization offering workshops, readings, writing sessions, open mics, youth programs, contests, and online literary programming while preserving the legacy of haiku poet Nick Virgilio. (Camden / Online)
A literary center offering poetry and memoir workshops, free readings, contests and awards, publications, and other programs for poets and writers, with both in-person and virtual opportunities. (Paterson / Online)
A regional writing group offering monthly meetings, presentations, critique groups, write-ins, and other opportunities for writers to develop their craft and connect with fellow writers. (South Jersey)
A creative writing organization offering workshops, writers circles, and special events for adults, teens, and children in genres including memoir, poetry, fiction, and more, with classes in multiple New Jersey locations and online. (North Jersey / Online)
An author group within the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County, a long-running speculative-fiction community offering critique groups, writing discussions, author-craft programs, member readings, and meetings with science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers. (Bergen County)
Conferences, Retreats & Residencies
Althea Ward Clark W’21 Reading Series
An annual Princeton University reading series bringing major contemporary writers to the region for free public readings and conversations. (Princeton)
A residential summer creative writing program for ages 8–16 offering intensive instruction in fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, journalism, and other forms as part of Appel Farm’s overnight arts camp. (Elmer)
An annual literary festival featuring nationally recognized authors, booksellers, poetry readings, workshops, exhibitors, youth programming, and opportunities for writers to connect with readers and the wider literary community. (Collingswood)
A small writing retreat in Cape May offering selected poets and prose writers dedicated time and lodging to work independently on ongoing projects. (Cape May)
An annual multi-day writing conference presented by Murphy Writing of Stockton University, offering supportive workshops, feedback, and community for writers in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, songwriting, and other genres. (South Jersey)
Literary Magazines & Publishers
A New Jersey–based nonprofit literary press publishing poetry collections and supporting poets through open submission periods, community programs, and a series devoted to New Jersey authors. (Fort Lee)
An independent New Jersey publisher producing a monthly online magazine of short fiction along with occasional novels and story collections, with an emphasis on unusual and offbeat work. (Central New Jersey)
An annual literary journal published by Mercer County Community College, featuring poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art by writers and artists with ties to New Jersey. (West Windsor)
A long-running poetry journal publishing work by established and emerging poets, with annual submission periods and readings featuring contributors and members of the New Jersey poetry community. (Clifton)
A literary publication from Arts By The People publishing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, with particular encouragement for submissions from New Jersey writers. (Morristown / Online)
The literary magazine of Rutgers–Camden, publishing literary fiction and creative nonfiction by emerging and established writers and sponsoring an annual fiction contest. (Camden)
An independent poetry press publishing full-length collections by emerging and established poets, with periodic open submission periods for manuscripts. (West Caldwell)
Help us add to this list, New Jersey writers! Do you know of writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or a New Jersey literary journal or publisher we should be aware of? Let us know here. We periodically review these listings for broken links and outdated information.