Connecticut enjoys a rich legacy of being home to extraordinary creative writers.
It was in Connecticut where Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. It’s said that many of Twain’s happiest years were spent in Hartford, where his elaborate 1874 home now welcomes visitors who are enamored by Twain’s works and this architectural masterpiece. When he first visited Hartford, Twain remarked, “You do not know what beauty is if you have not been here.”
Maurice Sendak, author of the beloved children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, called Ridgefield, Connecticut, his home for the last forty years of his life. This Caldecott award-winning children’s book author and illustrator produced more than 50 books during his lifetime – many of which still grace children’s bookshelves across the world.
And Wally Lamb, a Connecticut native (he was born in Norwich, now lives in Mansfield, and was a UConn alumnus) and author of critically acclaimed novels like She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, has long credited his life in Connecticut as his source of inspiration, saying, “Connecticut is in my blood.”
Connecticut is a powerhouse for creative writing, to be sure. It may be one of the smallest states in America, but it’s chock-full of culture, history, and the kind of natural beauty that inspires artists to create.
You certainly don’t need to be a Twain, Lamb, or other writing legend to take advantage of all that Connecticut has to offer. Here you’ll find outstanding opportunities to become immersed in the state’s community of creative writers. From small creative writing groups where emerging writers come together for support, encouragement, and constructive feedback to open mic nights and other literary events that force you out of your comfort zone and headfirst into new and exciting experiences, Connecticut’s writing community is ripe with opportunities to take your writing to new heights.
Connecticut is also where you can pursue the next step in your writing journey and earn a degree in creative writing that’ll prepare you to make a career – and a name – for yourself.
Harriet Beecher Stowe and A Novel That Inspired a Nation
“There is more done with pens than with swords.”
Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the historic novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852), was a Connecticut native who became a national voice for the anti-slavery movement.
Stowe’s novel originally appeared as a series of stories for The National Era, an abolitionist paper published weekly in Washington D.C. When Stowe’s first installment was published, the paper had a readership of about 15,000. But a year later, after Stowe’s last installment was published, it ballooned to 19,000, with many subscribers waiting anxiously to read Stowe’s weekly story.
During this time, Stowe’s serial story caught the attention of a Boston publisher, who issued the serial publication as a novel entitled Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The novel became an instant bestseller among abolitionists (it sold more than 300,000 copies within the first three months of its release) and intensified the slavery debate. Some have claimed that her work may have even been one of the root causes of the Civil War.
She went on to write other well-known works while in Hartford, including three other anti-slavery works: The Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1853), Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (1856), and The Minister’s Wooing (1859).
Her career spanned more than 50 years and included more than 30 published books, short stories, poems, hymns, and articles. Today, visitors flock to the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, where they can tour her home (it was lovingly renovated in 2017) and the Center’s many historic documents that detail her life and work and the positive social change it inspired.
Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops in Connecticut Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree
You’re off to a great start. You have the passion and the creative skillset that make you the ideal aspiring writer. And while you can frequently be found curled up in your favorite chair, penning your next original work, it may be time to get up off your chair and start sharing your work and learning from others. While your writing efforts have been a solitary affair, learning and growing as a writer often demands connecting with other fellow writers. Lucky you – Connecticut has its share of events, programs, and workshops where writers like you are inspired to elevate their craft.
The Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association (CAPA) is where both published and unpublished writers gather for inspiration and a lively exchange of ideas and information. Members network with each other, learn from expert speakers, and participate in weekly webinars that are focused on a wide range of topics. You may also enjoy opportunities to present your published works at bookselling events and attend CAPA’s Connecticut Book Festival (new in 2022!).
Inspiration found here! The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford offers exciting writing classes and workshops throughout the year that are sure to spark your creativity.
Westport Writers’ Workshop offers more than 100 workshops and seminars in all genres and for all skill levels, so you’re sure to find a class or workshop that meets your specific needs. From weekly workshops to one-time workshops to publishing seminars, Westport Writers’ Workshop offers a supportive learning environment where writers can thrive and grow. All workshops here are led by experienced instructors, and many are offered online.
Independent literary magazines are another great source of inspiration for the creative writer. Read and learn from other writers and then get involved and submit your own original work for a chance for publication. There’s nothing like seeing your byline in print to encourage you to keep pursuing your dreams!
Noctua Review is the annual art and literary magazine of Southern Connecticut State University’s MFA program. They’re always on the lookout for exciting poetry and narratives that fit their magazine’s themes.
Dogwood: A Journal of Poetry and Prose is an annual national literary journal that’s produced by the faculty in the Department of English at Fairfield University. This publication is often produced alongside CausewayLit, the literary journal produced by the low-residency MFA students at Fairfield University. Submit your previously unpublished work (fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction) for a chance to become published and/or to enter their annual contest that awards $1,000 to winners in each category.
Writing Colleges in Connecticut Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), or a similar degree like a BA or MA in English with a concentration in creative writing – if you have a career in creative writing on your mind, there’s a degree for you, whether in Connecticut or beyond.
Creative writing degree programs provide emerging writers like you with the tools and knowledge needed to turn your love of writing into a lifelong, successful career. Many of these programs offer options to study multiple genres, while others offer a more focused course of study on your chosen genre. Best of all, many colleges and universities, recognizing that students often require a more flexible course of study, offer their creative writing degree programs in online or low-residency formats.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Other Bachelor’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Connecticut
Albertus Magnus College
Accreditation: NECHE
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Private School
- English-Creative Writing concentration
Fairfield University
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Accreditation: NECHE
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Private School
- English-Creative Writing concentration
Southern Connecticut State University
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Accreditation: NECHE
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Public School
- English-Creative Writing
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Other Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Connecticut
Albertus Magnus College
Accreditation: NECHE
Degree: Master – MFA
Private School
- Writing
Fairfield University
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Accreditation: NECHE
Degree: Master – MFA
Private School
- Creative Writing (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, screenwriting)
Southern Connecticut State University
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Accreditation: NECHE
Degree: Master – MFA
Public School
- Creative Writing
Western Connecticut State University
MACRICOSTAS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Accreditation: NECHE
Degree: Master – MFA
Public School
- Creative and Professional Writing