creative writing degrees southern california

Best Creative Writing colleges in California 2024

Best creative writing colleges in california for 2024.

University of Southern California offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 37 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 37 Bachelor's degrees.

University of California-Davis offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 12 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 12 Master's degrees.

University of California-Riverside offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 94 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 49 Bachelor's degrees, and 45 Master's degrees.

University of California-Irvine offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 16 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 16 Master's degrees.

California State University-Long Beach offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

Saint Mary's College of California offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 23 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 23 Master's degrees.

San Diego State University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 17 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 17 Master's degrees.

University of San Francisco offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 26 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 26 Master's degrees.

San Francisco State University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 26 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 25 Master's degrees, and 1 Certificate.

Chapman University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 46 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 34 Bachelor's degrees, and 12 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in California

List of all creative writing colleges in california.

Department of Creative Writing

The Department of Creative Writing at UCR offers the only Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing in the University of California system and the MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts . It is a growing and dynamic program made up entirely of established writers and poets. Courses at UCR are designed for all students in the language arts, and they emphasize developing each student's skills and talents. Through writing fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and/or drama, students examine language and meaning both as practitioners and as readers as they develop and hone essential writing techniques.

Every writer needs to develop a critical sense to augment creative ability. For this reason, the Creative Writing Department offers two types of courses. Workshop courses are seminars that focus on writing and on the discussion of student work. Reading courses for writers focus on aspects of literature presented from a writer's point of view. Frequently, they employ writing in imitation as one of several approaches to understanding the craft of writing. Upper-division workshop courses are offered at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels in poetry, nonfiction, and fiction. Several reading courses link two genres such as fiction and poetry, and poetry and drama.

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Announcements

Katie Ford 's sequence of poems The Anchoress — set as a monodrama by composer David Serkin Ludwig — was performed this summer at Chamber Music Northwest.

Laila Lalami published the New York Times Magazine cover story “A State of Uncertainty” and was named a Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard for 2023-2024.

Charmaine Craig ’s  My Nemesis  has been published this year by Grove Press.

Thalia Williamson ’s “The Silent Part” was published this summer in Joyland .

Quyen Pham ’s “Such Good Girls” was published this past spring in Room .

Emily Doyle  published “Thursdays for Haru” earlier this year in the Sun.

Tom Lutz 's  1925 A Literary Encyclopedia  is being published by Rare Bird Lit, and his novel  Archipelago  is coming out from Red Hen Press. His essay "Gravy Donuts" was published in Iowa Review .

Reza Aslan 's  An American Martyr in Persia was longlisted for the PEN/Jacqueline Beograd Weld Award.

Allison Benis White won the 2022 Pushcart Prize and the Lucille Medwick Memorial Award.

Allison Hedge Coke  was a 2022  National Book Award finalist for  Look at This Blue ,  a 2023 finalist for  CLMP Firecracker Award  and  ASLE Best Creative Book of the Year .   Look at This Blue , was awarded the  Emory Elliott Book Award  by CHASS Center for Ideas and Society and Hedge Coke was awarded the  2023 Thomas Wolfe Prize & Lecture  by the University of North Carolina and the [http://Thomas Wolfe Endowment Fund]Thomas Wolfe Society in  fall 2023 .

Susan Straight 's  Mecca was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize and named a Top Ten California Book of the Year by the New York Times and one of the best books of 2022 by NPR, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

Juan Felipe Herrera  was a recent recipient of the Poetry Foundation’s Pegasus Award and the LARB/UCR lifetime achievement award. The Fresno Unified School District named its latest school Juan Felipe Herrera Elementary.

Conversations With Steve Erickson has been published by the University Press of Mississippi as part of a series that includes Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, James Baldwin, William Burroughs and Toni Morrison.

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Statement of Solidarity with the Asian American Pacific Islander Community

We are grieved by the recent killings in Atlanta, as well as by all other anti-Asian bigotry and violence, and stand in solidarity with our AAPI colleagues, students, and, more broadly, all AAPI across the nation. We stand against all anti-AAPI hate crimes, discrimination, and dehumanization, knowing that the group Stop AAPI Hate has reported 3,975 hate incidents against Asian Americans between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021.

To take action:

• Educational resources and petitions to sign: HERE .
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• Attend a bystander intervention training to learn ways to stop anti-Asian American and xenophobic harassment.  [ March 29 at 3 p.m. ] [ April 20 at 2 p.m. ]
• Send a message to elected officials.

To learn more:

• The New Yorker : Ed Park, "Confronting Anti-Asian Discrimination During the Coronavirus Crisis"
• The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans

Statement of Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. The brutal killings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia are part of a pattern of state violence against Black people, which too often remains invisible and unpunished when it is not blamed on the victims themselves.

America’s institutionalized practice of settler colonialism, genocide, slavery, and segregation continues in the form of continued occupation, discrimination, mass incarceration, and racist policing.

The nationwide protests we are witnessing this week are an expression of anger at police violence, a rejection of white supremacy, and a call to our leaders that they live up to the nation's founding proclamation of equality. We demand accountability from the police, disinvestment from law enforcement in favor of education, housing, and community services, and, above all, justice for the victims.

Recognition of Native Lands Statement

We acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the original and traditional territory of Tongva people [ Tongva and Cahuilla people] and within Tongva, Cahuilla, Luiseño & Serrano original lands and contemporary territories.

In the spirit of Rupert and Jeanette Costo’s founding relationship to our campus, we would like to respectfully acknowledge and recognize our responsibility to the original and current caretakers of this land, water and air: the Cahuilla , Tongva , Luiseño , and Serrano peoples and all of their ancestors and descendants, past, present and future. Today this meeting place is home to many Indigenous peoples from all over the world, including UCR faculty, students, and staff, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on these homelands. Please also visit our university founder's  legacy page, Cahuilla Scholar Rupert Costo ,  California Indian Studies & Scholars Association , UCR's  California Center for Native Nations ,  Native American Student Programs  (NASP), and the page of UCR's  Rupert Costo Chair, Dr. Clifford Trafzer .

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Creative Writing

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A defining feature of the Creative Writing Program is hybridity and experimentation, so students are free to take courses in, and to write in, any genre they wish. Poets may take prose workshops to learn narrative conventions and how to deploy or challenge them; fiction and nonfiction writers may benefit from poetry workshops that hone their use of and engagement with language; and still other students may develop multidimensional writing practices. All students graduate with the ability to comprehend and critique work across genres, and an expanded sense of possibilities for their own work.

Students are encouraged to situate their creative practice in a critical context—to engage with the history, theory and politics of contemporary writing, and to think hard about what and why they write. The Program offers graduate students the chance to further develop both their craft and their knowledge base, and workshops combine attentive critique of student work with the discussion of readings on and in the various genres—or on special topics particularly relevant to writing today.

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Gabrielle Civil

Brian Evenson

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Muriel Leung

Anthony McCann

Chris Santiago

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Alumni Story

The two most important things about the Writing Program for me were the mentorship—being pushed by, and being championed by, faculty—both while I was at CalArts and after I graduated. Also, the peer group with which I’m still in contact. We had daily workshops; a handful of people working on the same projects for two years, who knew each other’s work really well. Taking criticism and learning how to communicate better based on that feedback, is important, because most of the time you’re trying to write on your own; you’re in a vacuum. You have no idea whether readers are going to pick up what you’re putting down. It’s valuable to learn that you can build from that criticism rather than being destroyed by it.

CalArts is a great place to be if you’re not sure exactly what you’re doing yet, and you want the room to grow and find your style or your niche. You’re encouraged to experiment, and there are some great faculty members that say, ‘What you've done here is good, but you need to go further.’ Or, maybe, ‘What you’ve done here isn’t so good.’ I gained a lot of confidence. When I came out of the Program I felt like I was no longer a dabbler. It also taught me discipline and good habits–having to produce work on a weekly basis.

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School of Critical Studies

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• Creative Writing Department

• Creative Writing, BA
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• School of Liberal Arts

Creative thinking for a complex world.

As part of a close-knit community of literary artists, Saint Mary's Creative Writing majors study the art and craft of poetry, fiction, nonfiction and drama, learning how to generate, polish and publish original work that captures the diversity and complexity of contemporary life. Students will study and receive mentorship from nationally recognized writers—including the College's permanent faculty, as well as Distinguished Visiting Writers who are breaking new ground in the literary arts.

Creative Writing Department Programs

Creative Writing Department Scholarships

Saint Mary's offers a variety of need-based and merit-based scholarships to all first-year, transfer, and international students.

MFA in Creative Writing

Pursue your Master of Fine Arts degree with a two year program to continue developing and discussing poems, stories, essays and plays in workshops, studying classic and contemporary literature, and honing the professional skills and knowledge necessary to lead a life of letters.

Creative Writing Events

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Contact Us:

Creative Writing Director: Chris Feliciano Arnold, MFA . Email: [email protected]

Administrative Assistant: Ryan McKinley Email: [email protected] Creative Writing faculty offices are located on the third floor of Dante Hall  

© 2024 Saint Mary’s College of California

What are you looking for?

Suggested search, english major.

Within the English major, there are two tracks: Literature (ENGL) or Creative Writing (CRWT) . Each of these tracks will prepare you for a B.A. in English.

Major Requirements

Please note requirements for this major have been changed in 2023:

If you have been admitted in the program as of 2023 or are a prospective student, please see “Major Requirements post-Fall 2023”.

If you have been admitted in the program before 2023, please see “Major Requirements pre-Fall 2023”.

Note that students under the ‘pre-Fall 2023’ requirements may opt to change their requirements to the that of the 2023 catalogue year. See advisor for more information.

Literature Track

• One sophomore seminar: ENGL 240
• Two courses in early literatures (one lower-division and one upper division)
• Two courses in later literatures (one lower-division and one upper-division)
• Race, gender, and/or sexuality
• Genre and media studies
• Two upper-division electives
• One senior seminar: ENGL 491

Creative Writing Track

• One course in early literatures
• One course in later literatures
• One course in interpretive lenses
• One introductory poetry workshop
• One introductory prose workshop
• One 400-level workshop
• One contemporary/modern literature course
• One upper-division elective

All majors take three introductory courses:

• ENGL-261g  “English Literature to 1800”
• ENGL-262g  “English Literature since 1800”
• ENGL-263g  “American Literature”

All three courses should be done or in progress of being done before enrolling in upper-division courses or workshops.

• Two courses in Literature written before 1800
• One course in 19th-century literature
• One course in American literature
• One senior seminar
• One course in literature written before 1900
• One course in literature written after 1900

Finalized course lists for major requirements pre-Fall 2023

Finalized course lists for major requirements post-Fall 2023

Course Plans

Dive into our sample course plans to get an idea of what your schedule would look like.

Double Majoring

An English degree can help prepare you for a career in entertainment, journalism, business, technology, law, medicine, public policy, or many other fields. Because of this, many of our students combine English with other majors for a double major. While students cannot double major in Literature and Creative Writing, since they each belong to the single English major, it is possible to combine a major in English with a major in our interdisciplinary Narrative Studies program.

Getting Involved

Students in the English major participate in overseas studies through USC Dornsife to study Anglophone literature on many continents in many countries. In recent semesters, students have taken classes like “Satire, Scandal, and Society, 1700-1740” at Queen Mary University of London, “Twentieth-Century Children’s Fiction” at the National University of Ireland in Galway, and “Romance to Realism” at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

As part of your application to study abroad, you will select courses to be pre-approved by your academic adviser to meet your major requirements.

Visit  dornsife.usc.edu/english-overseas/  to explore your opportunities abroad.

The English Honors Program is open to students in English Literature and in Creative Writing. The program provides a unique opportunity to pursue in depth a critical project of your own design. If you are thinking about applying to graduate school or professional school (such as law school) you will find the program especially rewarding. The Honors Thesis is a critical research project and typically runs upwards of 40 pages. Upon successful completion of a critical Senior Honors Thesis your USC transcript will record departmental honors.

Learn more about the Honors Thesis Program

Our students complete internships and volunteerships tutoring students at neighborhood elementary schools with the Joint Education Project, assisting with faculty research and research at USC Libraries, volunteering on political campaigns, and working in publishing, marketing, and media. These opportunities complement the intensive study and professionalization on campus in classes and co-curricular activities, and they guide students toward the diverse set of careers open to those with liberal arts educations.

Students can find these opportunities through the USC Career Center at  careers.usc.edu , and students majoring in English are eligible to apply for the  USC Dornsife Gateway Internship Program .

Students majoring in English are eligible to apply to our progressive degree program in Literary Editing and Publishing and earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC Dornsife in just five years.

Learn more about the progressive degree program

Graduates of our programs in English Literature and Creative Writing have pursued graduate school;  published  fiction, nonfiction, and poetry; worked in publishing and social media; pursued law school; and worked at film and television production companies in Los Angeles. Alumni who pursue graduate school have enrolled in education programs, the top MFA programs across the country, and research-based programs overseas.

Please share your stories, updates, and projects with us by contacting our  undergraduate student coordinators .

Additional Resources

For advisement and to declare a major in the Department of English, please contact one of our undergraduate student coordinators.

Contact Details

Usc department of english.

3501 Trousdale Parkway Taper Hall of Humanities 404 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0354

Office Hours

Monday – Friday

8:30am- 5pm

Times may adjust in accordance with university holidays.

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News &  Events

• May 17, 2024 Karen Tei Yamashita Featured in MAH Exhibition
• April 27, 2024 Karen Tei Yamashita and Angie Sijun Lou New Book Available for Pre-Order
• April 10, 2024 Jared Harvey's New Book Rose Mask Out From Five Nine

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The Creative Writing Program program is administered by the Literature Department at UCSC .

Literature Major/Minor Advising:

Humanities 1, room 303

  (831) 459-4778

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Your gift to the Creative Writing Program helps to support outstanding students and our nationally recognized program. Learn more or give today.

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Return to: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences    

Writing Program courses are designed to help students develop practices of reading, writing and critical reasoning that are necessary for success in academic and professional discourse. Writing Program pedagogy emphasizes small classes and frequent conferences in order to provide the highly individuated instruction and careful feedback necessary to extend the writing process and enhance the rhetorical judgment of each student. To meet the university’s writing requirement, students must complete WRIT 150    (or its equivalent) and an advanced writing course, WRIT 340   .

Jefferson Building 150 (JEF 150, mc 1293) (213) 740-1980 FAX: (213) 740-4100 Email: [email protected] dornsife.usc.edu/writing-program

Director: Norah Ashe-McNalley, PhD

Associate Directors:  Jeffrey Chisum, PhD; Mariko Dawson Zare, PhD 

Professor (Teaching):  Mark Marino, PhD

Associate Professors (Teaching): Norah Ashe, PhD; Jennifer S. Bankard, PhD; Stephanie Bower, PhD; Michael Bunn, PhD; Jessica Cantiello, PhD; LauraAnne Carroll-Adler, PhD; Jeffrey Chisum, PhD; James Condon VII, PhD; Andrew De Silva, MPW; Elizabeth Durst, PhD; William Feuer, PhD; Farida Habeeb, PhD; Nathalie Joseph, PhD; Stephen Mack, PhD; Matthew Manson, PhD; Amy Meyereson, MPW; Indra Mukhopadhyay, PhD; John Murray, EdD; Daniel Pecchenino, PhD; Shefali Rajamannar, PhD; Eric Rawson, PhD; Sandra Ross, MA; Deborah Sims, PhD; Scott Smith, PhD; David Tomkins, PhD; Robert Waller Jr., MPW; Ellen Wayland-Smith, PhD; William Wyatt, MPW

Assistant Professors (Teaching):  Emily Artiano, PhD; Justin Bibler, PhD; Tamara Black, PhD; Amanda Bloom, PhD; Ryan Boyd, PhD; Brent Chappelow, PhD; James Clements, PhD; Nicholas De Dominic, MFA; Carlos Delgado, MFA; Daniel Dissinger, PhD; Antonio Elefano, JD; Amber Foster, PhD; Rochelle Gold, PhD; Amanda Hobmeier, PhD; Ashley Karlin, PhD; Meridith Kruse, PhD; Rory Lukins, PhD; P.T. McNiff, MPW; Sarah Mesle, PhD; Cory Nelson, PhD; Vanessa Osborne, PhD; Benjamin Pack, MPW; Leah Pate, PhD; Steve Posner, MPW; DeAnna Rivera, JD; Daniel Pecchenino, PhD; Steve Posner, MPW; DeAnna Rivera, JD; Alisa Sanchez, PhD; Atia Sattar, PhD; Anne Schindel, PhD; Mary Traester, PhD

Lecturers:  Christ Belcher, MFA; William Gorski, PhD; Taiyaba Husain, MFA; Jessi Johnson, MPW; Shana Kraynak, PhD; Kate Levin, MFA; Dana Milstein, PhD; Chris Muniz, PhD; Tanvi Patel, PhD; Stephanie Payne, MFA; Jessica Piazza, PhD; Michelle Rosado, PhD; Isabel Sobral Campos, PhD; Patti Taylor, PhD

Lower-Division Requirement

WRIT 150 Writing and Critical Reasoning–Thematic Approaches    focuses on the rhetorical principles and techniques necessary for successful college-level writing. Special attention is paid to critical thinking and reading, sentence-level fluency, research techniques, and the elements of academic argument and reasoning. WRIT 150    will not satisfy the lower-division writing requirement if taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

Advanced Writing Requirement

All students at USC, except those who satisfy their general education requirements through the Thematic Option Program, must complete WRIT 340 Advanced Writing   , an upper-division course designed to help students write on topics related to their disciplinary or professional interests. Students usually enroll in WRIT 340    in their junior year, and may not take the course earlier than their sophomore year. Different schools within the university offer sections of this course. Students should consult their major departments to determine which version of WRIT 340    best complements their program of study. WRIT 340    will not satisfy the university’s advanced writing requirement if taken on a Pass/No Pass basis.

All classes that meet the university’s advanced writing requirement teach students to write clear, grammatical, well-structured prose; to discover and convey complex ideas critically; and to appreciate the nuances of effective argumentation. The principal aim of the requirement is to develop a student’s capacity to formulate thoughtful and compelling writing for specific academic, professional and public audiences.

Preparatory Course Work

Some students are better served by taking a preparatory course before they enroll in WRIT 150   . Entering freshmen who score below a specified level on the verbal portion of the SAT take the University Writing Examination. Based on the results of this examination, certain students enroll in WRIT 120 Introduction to College Writing    or  WRIT 121 Introduction to College Writing in a Second Language    during their first semester at USC.

International students take the University Writing Examination after having completed any course work required by the American Language Institute.

Transfer Credit

Students may complete the lower-division requirement by completing an equivalent second-semester composition course that is taken for a letter grade option (not Pass/No Pass) at another institution after high school graduation and prior to enrolling at USC. Equivalent transfer credit is determined by the university’s articulation officer. The advanced writing requirement must be completed at USC.

Time Limits

Students should complete the lower-division writing course requirement by the end of their first year at USC and must complete it before they enroll in their 65th unit. Transfer students who have not completed the lower-division requirement prior to entering USC should enroll in WRIT 150    during their first semester at USC, and must enroll in WRIT 150    no later than their 19th unit (second semester) at USC.

Writing Program

• •  WRIT 095x Writing Tutorial
• •  WRIT 120 Introduction to College Writing
• •  WRIT 121 Introduction to College Writing in a Second Language
• •  WRIT 130 Analytical Writing
• •  WRIT 133 College Writing for International Students
• •  WRIT 150 Writing and Critical Reasoning–Thematic Approaches
• •  WRIT 320 Inside-Out Writing Workshop
• •  WRIT 340 Advanced Writing
• •  WRIT 380 Writing in Global Contexts
• •  WRIT 385 Writing Fellows Practicum
• •  WRIT 440 Writing in Practical Contexts
• •  WRIT 450 Advanced Research Writing
• •  WRIT 499 Special Topics
• •  WRIT 501a Theory and Practice in Teaching Expository Writing
• •  WRIT 501b Theory and Practice in Teaching Expository Writing
• •  WRIT 540 Writing for Master’s Students

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CCA’s blend of theory and practice inspires students at every level to make work that matters. Select your status to learn about the application process, requirements, and deadlines, as well as contact information should you need any support along the way.

MFA Writing

Define your voice and explore your creative practice—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—alongside writers, designers, and visual artists.

Writing at CCA is dynamic

Embedded in a creative community like no other, your writing will be energized in unexpected or unconventional ways.

At CCA, you’ll join a writing community that truly sees and supports you.

We’ve grown an MFA Writing program at an arts college with 116 years of history in the San Francisco Bay Area. The workshops and seminars where we gather are places of inventiveness, self-discovery, and exuberance. Together we’ve created a close-knit community for diverse writers who are making their mark on the world.

We believe creativity is sparked when you have space to develop your ideas, and from your first to your final semester at CCA you’ll have close, sustained support from your professors through one-on-one mentorships. Our award-winning faculty includes Faith Adiele, Tom Barbash, Dodie Bellamy, Rita Bullwinkel, Jasmin Darznik, Joseph Lease, Trisha Ya-wen Low, Aimee Phan, Denise Newman, and Leslie Carol Roberts.

The Bay Area, a site of rich literary history, is our home. You’ll have access to resources and literary institutions you won’t find anywhere else, like City Lights Publishers, Litquake, and the Bay Area Book Festival. In the fall semester, we offer Tuesday Seminar, a course that brings illustrious professional writers right into the classroom with you.

MFA writing professor Faith Adiele.

An exciting blend of the emergent and established

Our MFA Writing program recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary, and we embrace the rich literary history of the Bay Area, from the Beat poetry movement and the Language poets, to the annual Litquake literary festival, to the Slam/Spoken Word scene.

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Huge thanks to Rebecca Foust for sharing her publishing wisdom today in the studio. Some takeaways:

Aim high—it’s better than the alternative.

Be like Tom Petty—study the person a step or two ahead of you and follow their lead.

Nothing’s ever finished, so you may as well send it out.

📝 Students who couldn’t make it, you are in luck! She shared some fantastic handouts and you can find extra copies in the studio.

Our first free all-program field trip takes us to City Arts & Lectures this Thursday to hear Leila Mottley talk about her new book Nightcrawling. We meet outside the Sidney Goldstein Theater at 7. See you there, MFAW.📚🤓

By popular demand, we're devoting next week's Tuesday Coffee Hour to a practical, in-depth conversation about getting published in literary magazines. On 10/4 from 3-4 pm Rebecca Foust, poet and assistant editor of fiction at Narrative Magazine, will join us in the garden to talk about specific submission strategies and answer your questions about the publishing process. This is for writers of all genres, so come one, come all!

October Happenings! Check out the fabulous upcoming events we’ve got lined up. ✍🏻📖💫

Join a top-ranking MFA Writing program

Study.com ranks our program among the top five in California. Located in one of the world’s creative capitals, we encourage MFA candidates to explore many different forms and incorporate visual art into their work.

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Practice critique, readings, and performance.

MFA students are at home in the Humanities and Sciences Graduate Center on CCA’s main San Francisco campus. Outside the studio, we write and meet alongside redwood trees in our beautiful garden. Inside, we hold our workshops, readings, and craft talks. We also host our famed Tuesday Talks series in the Humanities and Sciences Graduate Center. Today’s most dynamic writers, including Hanif Abdurraqib, Camille Dungy, Andrew Sean Greer, R.O. Kwon, sam sax, and Tracy K. Smith, read and discuss new work and lead craft talks during masterclasses. There are endless opportunities to share your writing with peers, get constructive feedback, and nurture your craft.

Support to tell your stories

We help our students locate and tell their stories; we write what we want, how we want. We embrace all forms of writing, from literary novels and poetry to science fiction and mysteries. Our MFA Writing program is designed to make sure each student finds their voice. You can explore nonfiction, fiction, and poetry during supportive workshops that celebrate voice and form. We believe in grounding our work in craft so we emphasize close reading and individualized instruction.

Expand your creative practice

In addition to our vibrant writing workshops and dynamic seminars, we encourage graduate students to immerse themselves in our diverse art and design culture. Want to learn how to design beautiful publications, paint, or make a children’s book? Access CCA’s phenomenal resources, including Risograph printers for making broadsides, audio suites for recording podcasts, and a letterpress studio for making books and zines. You’ll work with top practitioners in their fields across the college’s faculty, grow as a writer, and learn to turn your research passions and written works into literal art objects.

Frame and finish your book

You’ll get regular feedback during writing workshops and meetings with full-time faculty who believe in meeting one-on-one—not as part of any requirement, but because personalized attention is how you grow as a writer. Close reading, editorial guidance, and individualized reading lists all push our writing students toward success. We teach you craft as well as how to establish and maintain a serious writing practice.

Your creative life at CCA and beyond

From studying one-on-one with faculty mentors to participating in craft workshops with visiting writers—among the best and brightest working today—you’ll be exposed to myriad forms. You’ll learn the elements of podcasting; how to make audio stories; how to prepare a full-length manuscript; and how to collaborate with painters, filmmakers, illustrators, photographers, and more.

Your community of mentors

• Memoirist and travel writer Faith Adiele
• Novelist Tom Barbash
• Novelist Rita Bullwinkel
• Novelist and memoirist Jasmin Darznik
• Poet Joseph Lease
• Poet and performer Trisha Low
• Poet and translator Denise Newman
• Novelist Aimee Phan
• Eco-memoirist Leslie Carol Roberts

More studios, shops, and labs

Access lithography presses and a range of bookbinding equipment at the San Francisco Center for the Book

The Black-and-White Darkroom has a range of enlarging stations and two print washers

Check out DSLR cameras, lighting kits, GoPros, and more from the San Francisco campus Media Center

Study with award-winning writers

MFA Writing faculty have received major prizes, fellowships, residencies, and grants. Their books have been New York Times bestsellers and award-winning collections in fiction, hybrid essay/memoir, poetry, literary criticism, creative nonfiction, and memoir. Together they offer unique voices across multiple genres, aesthetic traditions, and vibrant writing communities.

Jasmin Darznik, Chair of MFA Writing

Chair Jasmin Darznik is a New York Times- bestselling author of three books,  The Bohemians, Song of a Captive Bird , and The Good Daughter . Born in Iran, she immigrated to America as a child and is a first-generation college graduate. After receiving a Ph.D. in English from Princeton University, she obtained an MFA in fiction from Bennington College, broadening her academic scholarship to tell stories about women who've been left out or obscured from the historical record. Her forthcoming novel, American Goddess, takes on themes of celebrity, gender, and ethnic identity in Old Hollywood. 

MFA Writing Faculty

Faith E Adiele

Tom Barbash

Rita Bullwinkel

Joseph Lease

Denise Newman

Leslie Carol Roberts

Michael Wertz

View all MFA Writing faculty

Faculty stories

Two-year intensive program

Our two-year, 48-unit MFA Writing program includes workshops, craft seminars, literature courses, and mentorships. Courses like Experiments in Life Writing, Contemporary International Fiction, and Writing As An Act of Witness will inspire you to take risks and try new styles as you hone your craft and deepen your writing practice.

One of the many perks of being at an art school is the chance to take courses outside of the writing discipline as well as to collaborate with painters, photographers, filmmakers, bookmakers, and more. This unique opportunity allows you to move in new directions as you find and express your unique voice. Preview our workshops and courses .

Year 1: Fall Semester

Year 1: spring semester, year 2: fall semester, year 2: spring semester.

Total 48.0 units

Publish your dream project

MFA in Writing program alumni have impressive success getting their work out in the world, publishing books across genres. Recent publications include:

• Tom Comitta, The Nature Book , Coffee House Press, 2023
• Dior Stephens, Cruel/Cruel , Nightboat, 2023
• Alka Joshi, The Perfumist of Paris, Harper Collins, 2023
• Sonja Swift, Echo Loba, Loba Echo , Rocky Mountain Press, 2023
• Jessamyn Violet, Secret Rules to Being a Rock Star , Three Rooms Press, 2023
• Alka Joshi, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur , Harper Collins, 2021
• Julie Lythcott-Haims, Your Turn: How to Be An Adult , Henry Holt, 2021
• Alka Joshi, The Henna Artist , Mira Publishing, a division of Harper Collins, 2019
• Rheea Mukherjee, The Body Myth , Unnamed Press, 2019
• Adam Nemett, We Can Save Us All , Unnamed Press, 2018
• Sonia Belasco, Speak of Me As I Am , Philomel Books, 2017
• Julie Lythcott-Haims, Real American , St. Martin’s Griffin, 2017
• Molly Prentiss, Tuesday Nights in 1980 , Simon & Schuster, 2017
• Catie Jarvis, The Peacock Room , Hyperborea, 2016
• Andrew Nicholson, A Lamp Brighter Than Foxfire , Colorado State, 2015
• LaTasha Nevada Diggs, TWerk , Belladonna Press, 2013

In addition to becoming published authors, our students find traction at established and emergent platforms like Medium , and also work as educators; performance artists; editors; and writers for newspapers, magazines, and marketing agencies.

Potential career paths

• Freelance writer
• Content strategist
• Arts administrator
• Social activist
• Technical writer
• Publication and production assistant
• Small press publisher

Learn about career development

News & Events

What’s happening for mfa writing students.

Reading and lecture series span disciplines

How to Apply

Make writing your top priority.

Our two-year program welcomes students of all ages, career profiles, and backgrounds, including law, advertising, tech, music, and academia. We focus on your writing sample and your letters of recommendation in making admissions decisions.

Start your application

You’ll apply to CCA and submit all required application materials via SlideRoom. Afterward, you may be contacted for an interview with a faculty member as part of the application process. Being selected for an interview doesn’t indicate applicant status or increase or decrease an applicant’s chances of being admitted into their desired graduate program. Interviews are conducted at the program’s discretion and are used to gain more insight into an application.

Create an account and start your application

MFA Writing application requirements

• Application and $70 nonrefundable application fee To be completed and submitted on SlideRoom.
• Resume/curriculum vitae Please outline your educational and professional background and relevant experiences and activities, including community work. Resumes/CVs must be in PDF document format.
• Two recommendation letters You’ll request two letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources in SlideRoom by entering the contact information for your recommenders/references. They will then receive an automated email from SlideRoom with instructions for uploading their letter of recommendation.
• Unofficial college transcripts You are required to provide your complete undergraduate academic history. Students who have already taken graduate courses are encouraged to submit those transcripts, too. For international applicants, all transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation. Please provide an unofficial transcript from the college where you will receive or have received your bachelor’s degree, as well as unofficial transcripts for all other undergraduate coursework. Unofficial transcripts will be used for review purposes. Once you have been admitted and enrolled, all students will need to submit official, sealed transcripts showing the completion of a bachelor’s degree to our graduate admissions office by August 1 of the fall semester they begin enrollment at CCA.
• Proof of English proficiency (international applicants only) Review and plan to meet our English proficiency requirements for graduate students .
• Personal essay In a personal essay, submitted as a PDF, write 500 to 1,000 words about your writing experience, why you want to study writing at the graduate level, your educational objectives, and any critical influences on your work.
• Portfolio Your portfolio, submitted as one to two PDFs (up to 10 MB each), should consist of a selection of writing samples (totaling no more than 25 double-spaced pages) that reflect your main areas of interest. You may include poems, short stories, a section of a novel, text for performance (include video, if available), creative nonfiction, or writing for new genres. You’re welcome, but not required, to submit visual materials in support of your application, including book arts and videos. Please note: We do not accept co-written material.

For prospective student inquiries, including questions about the program or how to apply, please contact us

Graduate Admissions

+1 415-548-2271 (call, text)

Nurture your craft in a dynamic environment

Related programs

Visual & Critical Studies

Creative Writing Graduate Programs in California

1-20 of 20 results

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

• Los Angeles, CA ·
• University of Southern California ·
• Graduate School

University of Southern California ,

Graduate School ,

LOS ANGELES, CA ,

UC Irvine School of Humanities

• Irvine, CA ·
• University of California - Irvine ·

University of California - Irvine ,

IRVINE, CA ,

Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

• Loyola Marymount University ·

Blue checkmark.

Loyola Marymount University ,

Graduate College of Education - San Francisco State University

• San Francisco State University ·
• Graduate School ·
• SAN FRANCISCO, CA

University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley College of Fine Arts

• University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley ·
• EDINBURG, TX
• · Rating 5 out of 5   2

School of Christian Leadership - William Jessup University

• Jessup University ·
• ROCKLIN, CA

Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

• Orange, CA ·
• Chapman University ·

Chapman University ,

ORANGE, CA ,

University of San Francisco College of Arts and Sciences

• San Francisco, CA ·
• University of San Francisco ·

University of San Francisco ,

SAN FRANCISCO, CA ,

College of Liberal Arts - California State University - Long Beach

• Long Beach, CA ·
• California State University - Long Beach ·

California State University - Long Beach ,

LONG BEACH, CA ,

• Find college scholarships

College of Arts and Letters - San Diego State University

• San Diego, CA ·
• San Diego State University ·
• · Rating 5 out of 5   2 reviews

San Diego State University ,

SAN DIEGO, CA ,

2 Niche users give it an average review of 5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The SDSU program for Social Work is amazing!! You get to practice real scenarios and are prepared for when you have to apply tools when emplyed. Professors are amazing and help you throughout your... .

Read 2 reviews.

College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

• Riverside, CA ·
• University of California - Riverside ·
• · Rating 4.25 out of 5   4 reviews

University of California - Riverside ,

RIVERSIDE, CA ,

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I hope to learn a lot from the Teacher Education Program at UCR! I love the opportunities that are offered to me and my peers. .

Read 4 reviews.

Saint Mary's College of California

• Moraga, CA ·
• · Rating 4.26 out of 5   34 reviews

MORAGA, CA ,

34 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says As a former student at Saint Mary's College, I can confidently say that the best part of my experience was my exceptional education. The dedicated and supportive teachers fostered a stimulating... .

Read 34 reviews.

Mills College at Northeastern University Graduate Programs

• Oakland, CA ·
• Mills College at Northeastern University ·

Mills College at Northeastern University ,

OAKLAND, CA ,

Featured Review: Alum says I did a Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Medicine and the instructors and advisors were top-notch. I learned a lot and did very well. Highly recommend although they have been taken over by another school... .

School of Critical Studies - California Institute of the Arts

• Valencia, CA ·
• California Institute of the Arts ·

California Institute of the Arts ,

VALENCIA, CA ,

Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles

• · Rating 4.54 out of 5   46 reviews

46 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The professors are very professional and care about their students. The faculty and staff including the dean are very caring and interested in there there students. There business program is... .

Read 46 reviews.

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College of Letters and Sciences - National University

• National University ·

National University ,

College of Arts and Humanities - California State University - Fresno

• Fresno, CA ·
• California State University - Fresno ·

California State University - Fresno ,

FRESNO, CA ,

College of Humanities and the Arts - San Jose State University

• San Jose, CA ·
• San Jose State University ·

San Jose State University ,

SAN JOSE, CA ,

California State University - San Bernardino College of Arts and Letters

• San Bernardino, CA ·
• California State University - San Bernardino ·

California State University - San Bernardino ,

SAN BERNARDINO, CA ,

Featured Review: Master's Student says This tight knit community is surrounded by students, faculty, and staff who encourage and uplift each other in order to reach personal and acadmic goals. It is just as connected inside the classroom... .

Otis College of Art and Design

• · Rating 4.33 out of 5   3 reviews

3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.3 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says It’s a great school, and I’m glad I was accepted based upon my art portfolio. This is my dream school to attend, and the courses are very well organized, and educational. This contribute s to my... .

Read 3 reviews.

California College of the Arts

• · Rating 4.5 out of 5   4 reviews

4 Niche users give it an average review of 4.5 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says The application process was very smooth. The admissions team gave me good advice about how to put together my portfolio. .

Antioch University Los Angeles

• Culver City, CA ·
• · Rating 4.44 out of 5   18 reviews

CULVER CITY, CA ,

18 Niche users give it an average review of 4.4 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says I am a new student to Antioch University & so far my experience has been wonderful. They have provided multiple resources such as a writing workshop for the admissions letter. Additionally, the orientation was very informative & helpful for getting my courses selected. .

Read 18 reviews.

Antioch University Santa Barbara

• Santa Barbara, CA ·
• · Rating 3.7 out of 5   20 reviews

SANTA BARBARA, CA ,

20 Niche users give it an average review of 3.7 stars.

Featured Review: Master's Student says Antioch University's emphasis on holistic education and social justice resonated deeply with my evolving worldview. The curriculum's integration of real-world scenarios and hands-on experiences... .

Read 20 reviews.

Miami University

• · Rating 4.59 out of 5   27

College of Ethnic Studies - San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University

• · Rating 4.21 out of 5   53

Showing results 1 through 20 of 20

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2024 Best Creative Writing Master's Degree Schools in California

College Factual reviewed 14 schools in California to determine which ones were the best for master's degree seekers in the field of creative writing. Combined, these schools handed out 289 master's degrees in creative writing to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

• Best Master’s Degree Schools List

Choosing a Great Creative Writing School for Your Master's Degree

Quality Overall Is Important

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

• Major Focus - How much a school focuses on creative writing students vs. other majors.
• Major Demand - How many other creative writing students want to attend this school to pursue a master's degree.
• Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
• Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized creative writing related body.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for creative writing students working on their master's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The creative writing school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings , including this list of the Best Creative Writing Master's Degree Schools in California.

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Creative Writing in California

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in creative writing.

10 Top California Schools for a Master's in Creative Writing

Any student who is interested in a master's degree in creative writing needs to look into San Diego State University. SDSU is a very large public university located in the large city of San Diego. More information about a master’s in creative writing from San Diego State University

San Jose State University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in creative writing. San Jose State is a fairly large public university located in the city of San Jose. More information about a master’s in creative writing from San Jose State University

It is difficult to beat National University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in creative writing. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. More information about a master’s in creative writing from National University

It is difficult to beat University of California - Riverside if you wish to pursue a master's degree in creative writing. Located in the large city of Riverside, UCR is a public university with a very large student population. More information about a master’s in creative writing from University of California - Riverside

USFCA is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of San Francisco. More information about a master’s in creative writing from University of San Francisco

Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a very large student population. More information about a master’s in creative writing from University of California - Davis

SFSU is a very large public university located in the large city of San Francisco. More information about a master’s in creative writing from San Francisco State University

CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Long Beach. More information about a master’s in creative writing from California State University - Long Beach

SMC is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Moraga. More information about a master’s in creative writing from Saint Mary’s College of California

Chapman is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Orange. More information about a master’s in creative writing from Chapman University

Related Programs

Learn about other programs related to Creative Writing that might interest you.

Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction

Harness your passion for storytelling with SNHU's Mountainview Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction. In this small, two-year creative writing program, students work one-on-one with our distinguished faculty remotely for most of the semester but convene for weeklong intensive residencies in June and January. At residencies, students critique each other's work face-to-face, meet with major authors, agents and editors and learn how to teach at the college level.

English (I Have a Bachelors)

Best Creative Writing Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Creative Writing Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

Other Rankings

Best associate degrees in creative writing, best doctorate degrees in creative writing, best bachelor's degrees in creative writing, best overall in creative writing.

View All Rankings >

Creative Writing Related Rankings by Major

One of 4 majors within the Writing Studies area of study, Creative Writing has other similar majors worth exploring.

Most Popular Related Majors

Notes and references.

• The bars on the spread charts above show the distribution of the schools on this list +/- one standard deviation from the mean.
• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System ( IPEDS ) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s ( College Scorecard ).
• Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO . More about our data sources and methodologies .

Popular Reports

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News | Metro begins Tap-to-Exit pilot program at North…

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News | metro begins tap-to-exit pilot program at north hollywood train station, similar tap-to-exit programs are already in place on other systems, including bay area rapid transit, washington metropolitan transit authority and metropolitan atlanta regional transit authority..

The move is aimed at providing more assurance that people who are riding the trains paid the fare to board the line. Sheriff Robert Luna said in recent comments that the vast majority of people arrested or detained in connection with wrongdoing on the transit system had not paid the proper fare to board.

Related: LA Metro beefing up police patrols, ‘hardening’ stations to stop rise in violence

Passengers are required to use a TAP card to pay the fare before boarding a bus or train. Under the pilot program that began Tuesday, passengers exiting the Metro B (Red) Line train at the North Hollywood station are required to again tap the fare card to leave the station.

Metro officials described it as an effort to boost compliance with fare requirements, noting that people who do not pay the fare are subject to citation or removal from the system.

According to Metro, similar tap-to-exit programs are already in place on other systems, including Bay Area Rapid Transit, Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority and Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority.

Tapping the TAP card upon exiting the station will confirm that valid fare was paid for the trip. People who did not pay the fare when they boarded the train will be charged when they tap to exit, but those people could still be cited or removed from the transit system for failing to pay up front.

“We have also increased the visible presence of our teams at North Hollywood Station,” according to Metro. “These include our Blue Shirts, who provide assistance with our Ticket Vending Machines, our Metro Ambassadors, who help riders navigate the system, connect you to resources and report issues they see, as well as our law enforcement partners, and our Transit Security Officers who enforce the Code of Conduct.

“… We are listening to your feedback, and this is one of many steps that we are taking to improve safety and cleanliness on your system.”

Safety on the transit system has been a major topic in recent weeks, with a series of attacks on bus drivers and violence involving passengers, including Monday’s incident in which a woman allegedly attacked and robbed a Metro bus driver on Spring Street just south of Temple Street, the stabbing of a man on a Metro bus in the Lynwood area, the recent shooting death of a bus passenger in Commerce and stabbing death of a woman on a B Line train between the North Hollywood and Studio City stations.

The Metro Board of Directors last week approved a pair of motions aimed at boosting safety on the transit system in response to a string of recent attacks involving drivers and passengers. The motions approved by the Metro board include a call for immediate deployment of more law enforcement on the transit system and at stations, along with the exploration of possible technological improvements that can be made on buses, trains and stations.

The board had previously voted to expedite the acquisition and installation of driver-protection barriers on about 2,000 buses.

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More From Forbes

How new york’s music scene is sparking social good.

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INDIO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: (L-R) Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses perform ... [+] onstage during the Power Trip music festival at Empire Polo Club on October 06, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Power Trip)

Anti Social Camp, a grand-scale five-day music camp and festival, is making its comeback June 10-15 in New York City. More than 200 music artists and industry creatives including Jacob Collier, Alec Benjamin, Miranda Lambert, Cults, Daya and Rob Thomas are planned to gather for more than 100 recording sessions and catalogue of shows.

Known as "the SXSW SPDR S&P Software & Services ETF for Songwriters," the fourth annual Anti Social Camp is free of cost to participants and designed to put a new spin on traditional, private songwriting camps. The public event will connect participating artists to create new hit songs that positively impact culture and energize the city's music scene.

Grayson Music Group CEO Bridget Flynn, title partner bringing sync expertise to this year's event, says, "Sync can create incredibly powerful opportunities for producers, songwriters and artists. We’re grateful to have the space to promote its value and empower the New York songwriting community."

The first official event album , Anti Social Camp Volume 1 , was released this past March by Amuse. The second volume will be released later this year featuring songs created at this June's camp.

Anti Social Camp Founder Danny Ross says that many New York creators have relocated to Los Angeles, Nashville and Austin over the last decade, so he is spotlighting the city as a music capital of the world and connecting artists with key industry leaders to elevate their careers.

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Also inspiring positive social change through music is New York-based Road Recovery. Now in its 25th year, the music industry-driven non-profit guides young people facing addiction and other adversities in life to develop healthy coping, communication and life skills.

Mentors at Road Recovery include mental health professionals and entertainment industry leaders who have overcome similar life challenges. Action-driven programs guide youth through the process of creating, planning and presenting their own live musical performances and studio recording projects.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 26: Slash performs on stage during the Slash ft Myles Kennedy and ... [+] The Conspirators Living The Dream Tour at Spark Arena on January 26, 2019 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Dave Simpson/WireImage)

"Two unlikely characters, the healthcare world and the entertainment industry, have come together to work with youth," says Road Recovery founder and president Gene Bowen. "The ultimate goal is to give the kids a safe space where they can use creative content to express their voice and validate what they want to talk about and present it in live performance."

Youth Clubhouses within the Road Recovery Trax program offer a safe place for youth and young adults in recovery from addiction as well as those who have been impacted by a family member’s substance use disorder or who are at risk for developing a substance use disorder.

The Clubhouses offer a program throughout New York State in a federal grant partnership with the US Department of Justice/Office of Justice Programs, and a state program partnership with the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Community-based curriculum is offered in a non-clinical setting to promote long-term recovery through skill-building, recreation, education, wellness, evidence-based prevention programs and additional social activities throughout the state.

Road Recovery artist ambassador Slash (Guns N' Roses) says, "Road Recovery promotes hope and creativity. It brings people together to learn to work as a team and not isolate or ruminate inside one's head, which is crucial to recovery for a lot of addicts. I have seen Road Recovery truly rehabilitate a lot of people. It helped me to stay sober in my early years of sobriety, and the ideology stays with me to this day."

Several young adults who Slash mentored in Road Recovery's Trax program wrote a song for the rock star. He recorded it, and Road Recovery released "Crimson Chaos" featuring Slash in August of 2022.

Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses also believes in the power of mentoring in music and says, "Learning how to play music and playing in early punk bands really brought out (things like substance use) that were not good for my future as a human. Seeing how successful the program has now become is just simply super damn stellar."

Additional artist ambassadors include: Mick Fleetwood, Don Miggs, Peter Frampton, Simon Kirke, Fred Schneider (The B-52’s), James Hetfield (Metallica), Tom Morello, Wayne Kramer, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Justin Furstenfeld (Blue October), Tony Bennett, Doug E. Fresh, Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Adam Clayton (U2) Iggy Pop, Ronnie Wood, Joe Perry, Keb’ Mo,’ Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), Joan Jett, Jon Anderson, Duff McKagen, Smokey Robinson, Doug E. Fresh, Paul Williams, Juliet Lewis and Reeve Carney.

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