Welcome

Welcome to the Committee on Creative Writing at the University of Chicago. Students at Chicago pursue creative writing within the larger context of academic study. While the purpose of the program is, above all, to give students a rigorous background in the fundamentals of creative work by providing them with the opportunity to study with established poets and prose writers, it differs from the professional, free-standing creative writing programs at other universities in seeing itself as an integral part of the university’s intellectual life, and most particularly in providing opportunities for interdisciplinary work. Learn more.

Upcoming Events
  • In spring, we'll have visits by Eliot Weinberger and Stuart Dybek. See our EVENTS page for our spring schedule.
  • Visit poetics.uchicago.edu for information about poetry and poetics events (readings, lectures, conferences) on campus.
News and Info
  • Deadline for College Honors Awards is Monday, April 13. Visit our News page for more information.
  • Watch the video of Mickle Maher's January performance as our Sergel Writer-in-Residence.
  • You can watch the videos from Carl Phillips's reading and lecture as part of his residency as Sherry poet in February. More info on the Sherry webpage.
  • MAPH alumna Thea Brown (05) has been admitted to the University of Iowa Writers Workshop. She will be attending in the fall with a Truman Capote Fellowship.
  • Journalism lecturer Jeff McMahon (AM 02) has a commentary about heroes of Latin American socialism in the Autumn 2008 issue of PEN International magazine.
  • Fort Red Border, a debut collection of poetry by Kiki Petrosino (AM 04) is due out in August 2009 from Sarabande Books.
  • Barn Burned, Then by Michelle Taransky (BA 04) was selected by Marjorie Welish for the 2008 Omnidawn Poetry Prize. It will be published in Fall 2009 by Omidawn.
  • Send us your news. We'd love to announce the accomplishments of writers at U of C.