Pennsylvania Resources for Writers
Here you’ll find a collection of resources for writers in Pennsylvania, from conferences to local critique groups to literary magazines. If you’re looking for writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or simply a place to hang out with writers or submit your work, these are some Pennsylvania writing organizations you might want to check out:
WriteByNight
For more than a decade, WriteByNight has helped writers in Pennsylvania and beyond achieve their literary goals. And we want you to be next! Claim your free consultation to learn about WBN’s customizable one-on-one writers’ services, including:
Book Coaching: If you’re writing a book and want some help along the way.
Manuscript Critique: If you’ve written a book and want a beta read, critique, or writing workshop.
Editing/Proofreading: If you’ve written a book and want someone to polish it for you.
Publication Assistance: If you’ve written a book and want help finding an agent or publisher.
Not ready to chat? That’s cool. Until you are, why not sign up for our weekly message full of education and inspiration for writers and aspiring writers. You’ll also receive a free diagnostic tool, “Common problems and SOLUTIONS for the struggling writer.”
Dedicated to reaching a worldwide audience with a diverse array of the best contemporary poetry and literary prose. Also aims to expand the audience interested in poetry and literature, and to provide authors, especially poets, with a far-reaching forum in which to present their work.
Founded in 2006, this writing group meets regularly for critique, runs an annual short story contest, and publishes a literary magazine and an anthology series.
The only national journal to focus on jazz-related literature.
A writing group that meets twice a month at St. Paul’s Church in Doylestown to critique each other’s fiction, nonfiction, and memoir.
A writing group that meets regularly in Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Harrisburg, and Dillsburg to help polish each other’s work and chat about writing and publication.
Community Education and Training at Delaware County Community College
Continuing education writing classes, with locations all across the state.
The Creative Nonfiction Foundation
Dedicated to promoting the genre of literary nonfiction, this Pittsburgh-based nonprofit organization publishes magazines and books as well as offering readings and other events.
The literary journal of Chatham University’s MFA Programs, published annually in print and monthly online. Welcomes submissions of creative writing that explore the relationship between humans and their environments, both natural and built, urban, rural or wild.
One of the country’s premier journals, this one publishes short stories, poetry and nonfiction, and hosts an annual writers conference.
Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group
A monthly writing group that also holds an annual conference, which brings in over 100 writers from Pennsylvania and beyond.
International Women’s Writing Guild’s Summer Writing Conference
Held in Allentown, this annual (40+ years) week-long conference offers more than two dozen writing workshops in an abundance of genres, as well as critique sessions, readings, a book fair, and more.
Established in Philadelphia in 1973, this is one of the country’s longest running literary magazines. PBQ is a community-based, independent, nonprofit literary magazine published quarterly online and annually in print.
Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association
The largest state outdoor writers’ organization in the country, with well over 400 members. Goals center around craft improvement: becoming better, more knowledgeable, more highly skilled communicators.
Pennsylvania Writers Conference
An annual event at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, the PWC features keynote speakers, discussion panels, writing workshops, readings, writing contests and more.
Pennwriters members meet regularly across the state at professionally run conferences, writing workshops, and critique sessions. Many of the guest speakers at these events are Pennwriters’ own published members who receive additional promotion for their works in exchange for helping aspiring members.
Philadelphia Writers’ Conference
The oldest writing conference with open registration in the country. Three days’ worth of writing workshops, readings, and master classes.
An online journal publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and run by the students of the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Wilkes University.
A professional literary center offering a wide range of programs and residencies for emerging and established poets and writers. It is also the seat of the Bucknell English Department’s creative writing program and the home of West Branch, a well-known journal.
Accepts poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and photography from writers and artists in and around Central Pennsylvania, specifically “Brookville, DuBois, Clarion, Punxsutawney and surrounding areas.” The magazine is published by the Writers’ Block Party, a writing group that meets monthly in that same area.
Help us add to this list, Pennsylvanians! Do you know of writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or a Pennsylvania literary journal we should be aware of? Let us know here