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.



“Reading Is Fundamental” — A Conversation with Daniel Giovinazzo

Our Spotlight series continues with Fiction alum Daniel Giovinazzo who shares with us how his practice of writing has evolved over time, the great influence his former mentors at the […]

Publication News & Announcements: April 2023

Kate Fussner (WFYP, June 2021) has a review of her debut YA novel The Song of Us in Publishers Weekly. Tracey Baptiste (WFYP, MFA faculty) was featured on Good Morning […]

Making Space for Writing — A Conversation with Natalie Young

We love learning about how our alums are making an impact in the literary world, and were thrilled to talk to Natalie Young, poetry alum and a founder of the […]

Publication News & Announcements: March 2023

Naomi Mulvihill (Poetry, 2011) is the winner of the 2023 Clayton Prize, awarded by the editors the Michigan Quarterly Review for her poem “Poly-, Ambi-“ Katie DeBonville (Nonfiction, January 2023) […]

“Writing Freely” – Meenakshi Chhabra Graduation Speech January 2023

We’re always thrilled when one of our alums speaks about the impact of the Lesley MFA program. Those of us who attended the January 2023 graduation ceremony were fortunate to […]

Life as a Picture Book Author–Using the languages of text and image to tell stories with Claudia Rueda

In our first Spotlight Interview of 2023, Claudia Rueda talks to us about her work with PEN, Domestika, some of her early literary influences, and changing the world through children’s […]

Publication News & Announcements: February 2023

Enzo Surin Silon (Poetry, 2012) is featured in an article in The Item, where he discusses winning the Massachusetts Book Award, and his forthcoming poetry collection American Scapegoat, now available […]


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.

November 7, 2023

Titan Books

October 3, 2023

Dutton Books for Young Readers

October 3, 2023

Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

August 29, 2023

Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

May 19, 2023

Onion River Press

may 14, 2023

Littoral Books

may 10, 2023

Blue Light Press

May 9, 2023

Sounds True

May 2, 2023

Delacorte Press

may 1, 2023

Laughing Buddha Books