Cambridge Common Writers exists to provide a gathering place for alumni, faculty, and friends of Lesley University’s MFA Program in Creative Writing, situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We seek to cultivate new and diverse literary voices.



Publication News & Announcements: March 2024

D. Dina Friedman’s (Fiction, January 2016) new poetry collection Here in Sanctuary–Whirling is now available from Querencia Press. Ella N. Alkiewicz (Nonfiction, June 2018) has a poem “Kooyook Poodlat carved […]

Publication News & Announcements: February 2024

Kent Neal (Poetry, January 2023) has three poems in the current issue of Hole in the Head Review: “Conversion Therapy for a Straight Razor,” “Maintaining the Line,” and “Men Like […]

Publication News & Announcements: January 2024

Katherine Karch’s (WFYP, June 2018) story “A Wielder Does Not Know Regret” is included in The Best of 2023 Anthology from Metaphorosis: a Magazine of Speculative Fiction. Eileen Cleary (Poetry, […]

Publication News & Announcements: December 2023

Enzo Silon Surin’s (Poetry, 2012) poem “When Night Fills with Premature Exits” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Black Lawrence Press. The poem was also featured recently on Poets.org. […]

Cambridge Common Writers End-of-Year Celebration and Gift Guide 2023

Of all the features on our website that we get to share with the Lesley MFA community, our End-of-Year Celebration and Gift Guide is our favorite. Not only do we […]

Publication News & Announcements: November 2023

Deborah Sosin (Nonfiction, January 2015) has an essay “What Matthew Perry Taught Us” in Cognoscenti. Julie Wittes Schlack (Nonfiction, June 2013) has an essay “Nostalgia is Lovely, and a Waste […]

Creating Narratives in Film and Other Mediums – A Conversation with Thato Mwosa

For this interview, we had the pleasure of talking with Thato Mwosa about the enriching experience of working with teens in her films, teaching students at the Lesley MFA in […]


Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Hub

CCW is dedicated to supporting our writers of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability/disability, and geographic region, and providing our community the resources with which to celebrate, embrace, and learn about all cultures.

25 books that highlight the beauty of Indigenous literature

THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL QUEER BOOKS OF ALL TIME

AAPI Picture Book Recommendations from the New York Public Library
[Alum Featured!]

Confronting Cultural Illiteracy: LGBTQ Books 2022

Roxane Gay partnering with Substack to create the Joel Gay Creative Fellowships for emerging writers

All articles from the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Hub are archived on our DEI Hub page.

September 10, 2024

Balzer + Bray

August 06, 2024

Freedom Fire

July 16, 2024

Dutton

June 18, 2024

Delacorte Press

June 1, 2024

Get Fresh Books Publishing

May 21, 2024

Roaring Brook Press

April 25, 2024

Black Rose Writing

March 19, 2024

Neal Porter Books

March 5, 2024

Balzer + Bray

march 5, 2024

Kokila