MFA for Poets & Writers

Among the oldest and most respected MFA programs in the country, the MFA for Poets and Writers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a three-year program dedicated to writing workshops and the completion of a book-length manuscript in prose or poetry. The MFA for Poets and Writers champions the creation of new and important writing, and for over fifty years has been a place for writers to concentrate on their work and to write their books.

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Collage of various covers of books authored by graduates of the MFA Program: Archeophonics, by Peter Gizzi; You Good Thing, by Dara Wier; Where Bears Roam the Streets, by Jeff Parker; Bird, by Noy Holland; Valiant Gentleman, by Sabina Murray; Kingdom of the Young, by Edie Meidav; Night Sky With Exit Wounds, by Ocean Vuong; Sun Bear, by Matthew Zapruder; You Are Not Dead, by Wendy Xu; Dome of the Hidden Pavilion, by James Tate; The Memory Palace, by Mira Bartók; Black Pearl, by Arisa White; etc.

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In the news

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Peter Gizzi Wins TS Eliot Poetry Prize
Peter Gizzi was recently awarded the TS Eliot prize for poetry for Fierce Elegy.
January 14, 2025
Sixty Years of Great Reads from the MFA for Poets and Writers

One of the oldest and most highly regarded creative writing graduate programs in the country, the UMass Amherst MFA for Poets and Writers celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The program has launched the careers of a wide variety of literary luminaries doing innovative work across genres and styles.

October 22, 2024
October 2024: Recent MFA Alumni Publications
The UMass MFA for Poets and Writers is delighted to announce new books by alumni.
October 2, 2024

Events

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05
Dec 2024
Past Event
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm ET
Beyond Borders: Writers & Translators Present: Yuri Herrera & Lisa Dillman
clockwise from top left: Amherst Books; Emily Dickinson house; James Tate festival; the Bookmill

Our Community

In the UMass Amherst MFA for Poets & Writers, you'll be part of a vibrant local writing community. That includes internships, publications, reading series, festivals, and so much more.

Learn more about the local writing community. Learn more about the local writing community.
On the left, the cover of Dorothea Lasky's book, The Shining. On the right, a photo of Lasky posing.

Recent Alumni Publications

Our program has a long history of graduates publishing amazing creative work. Recent history is no exception to that.

Explore the recent work of some of our alumni. Explore the recent work of some of our alumni.