Creative Writing

There are a variety of ways to experience the creative writing program at Salem State outside of the classroom. The Writers Series invites noted authors of short stories, biography, poetry, poetry, memoir and essays to share their work at free readings throughout the academic year. Enjoy Red Skies, the student-produced e-zine, or Soundings East, the student-edited, nationally distributed literary magazine. Each year, the creative writing program celebrates its own with an undergraduate reading, a graduate student reading, and a faculty/staff reading of original works.

Interested in studying Creative Writing? Learn more about the English department and the creative writing concentration.

Sounding East Release Party 2025

Join us September 9 at 7 pm for the release of Soundings East, volume 47, spring 2025. Stephanie Saywell, recipient of the Claire Keyes poetry award for 2025, will be among those reading at this event.   
 

Stephanie Saywell (she/her) is a NYC-based poet, performer, and choreographer. She holds a BA in Written Arts and a BA in Dance from Bard College, plus a Certificate of Completion from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre’s Professional Training Program. Saywell has studied poetry under the tutelage of Buddy Wakefield, Megan Falley, Ann Lauterbach, and Michael Ives, and short fiction under Paul LaFarge. Her writing has been published by Muzzle Magazine, The Missouri Review, Palette Poetry, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, Anti-Heroin Chic, and Ink & Letters

Free copies of the current issue will be available as well as celebratory cake! 

Learn more.