The Arts

About Us

There are a variety of ways to experience the Creative Writing Program at Salem State outside of classes. Read Red Skies, the student produced e-zine, or Soundings East, the student edited, nationally distributed literary magazine. The Writers' Series invites published authors of short stories, biography, poetry, and memoir and essays to read their work at free readings on campus every month. Each year, the program celebrates its own with an undergraduate reading, a graduate student reading, and a faculty/staff reading of original works.

Celebrating 25 Years

The Writers' Series celebrates 25 years of hosting readings by published poets, essayists and novelists at the start of their careers. Many have become well-known bestsellers, including Mary Karr, author of The Liar's Club and Sue Miller, best known for The Good Mother. Other visiting writers include Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney, and Pulitzer Prize winner Lloyd Schwartz. Our authors have also seen their works turned into well known films: Andre Dubus III, The House of Sand and Fog, as well as Susanna Kaysen's Girl Interrupted. Congratulations on 25 years of great reading and writing!