Bennington Writing Seminars

Bennington Writing Seminars READ. WRITE. BE READ. The Bennington Writing Seminars is one of the top (and one of the first) low-residency programs in the country.

During your two years here, you commit as much to reading as to writing and conceive reading lists that strengthen and broaden your knowledge. You perform critical literary analysis. You craft bold new works of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry inspired by your discoveries. All this with the expert guidance of prestigious authors who develop a stake in your work and your life after Bennington.

08/28/2026

Nonfiction faculty member Lance Richardson shares his advice for staying consistent, strategic, and in it for the long haul when it comes to submitting creative work. ✍️ 📬

A reminder that applications to the MFA in Writing January 2027 term are due September 1! 🗓️Now's the time to put the fi...
08/27/2026

A reminder that applications to the MFA in Writing January 2027 term are due September 1! 🗓️

Now's the time to put the finishing touches on your application, give it one last read, and get ready to hit submit.

And looking ahead: applications for Summer 2027 are now open! 📄 🌞

https://vist.ly/5gd3y

“A fascinating ode to language, with all its pleasures and pitfalls. Mysterious, reflective, strange, and full of wonder...
08/18/2026

“A fascinating ode to language, with all its pleasures and pitfalls. Mysterious, reflective, strange, and full of wonder. I couldn’t put it down.”
—Bruna Dantas Lobato, author of Blue Light Hours

Happy Publication Day to fiction faculty member Katy Simpson Smith, MFA '13! Her latest novel, THE MALTESE VERSION, is out today from FSG Originals:

https://vist.ly/5f8vb

Congratulations to Brooke Axtell, MFA ’26 (Poetry), for winning the CALYX Press 26th Annual Lois Cranston Memorial Poetr...
08/17/2026

Congratulations to Brooke Axtell, MFA ’26 (Poetry), for winning the CALYX Press 26th Annual Lois Cranston Memorial Poetry Prize for her poem “Maundy Thursday at Planned Parenthood.” The poem was selected by this year’s judge, poet Nicole Cooley, and will be published in print and audio by CALYX next year. 🎉

Cooley writes: "Through beautiful swerves and deep intelligence, this poem reveals women’s power and shows us how, 'Protest is a garden rich with roots and berries.' I love this poem for both its beauty and its bravery."

https://vist.ly/5f46g

“The stars have somehow aligned to have Rebecca Makkai headline our 2027 conference. I can think of no better way to kic...
08/15/2026

“The stars have somehow aligned to have Rebecca Makkai headline our 2027 conference. I can think of no better way to kick off commemorating 60 years of AWP’s impact on writers, teachers, and readers everywhere.” —Travis Kurowski, AWP Board Chair

We're delighted that faculty member Rebecca Makkai has been selected as the Keynote Speaker for AWP 2027! ✨🎉

will take place in Chicago, Illinois, on March 17–20. See you there? ☺️

08/14/2026

What makes Bennington Writing Seminars stand apart from other MFA programs? Here’s what our fiction faculty member Stuart Nadler has to say.

Applications are due September 1 to begin in January 2027, and March 1 to begin in Summer 2027.

https://vist.ly/5esuf

Applications are now open for Summer 2027 at Bennington Writing Seminars. ✍️Join a community of writers committed to dev...
08/12/2026

Applications are now open for Summer 2027 at Bennington Writing Seminars. ✍️

Join a community of writers committed to developing their craft, expanding their creative practice, and building a body of work that lasts.

Learn more and apply:

https://vist.ly/5ehw2

“In Rachel Miranda's brilliant and beautiful debut novel, family love is the strongest power in the universe. Broken Cho...
08/07/2026

“In Rachel Miranda's brilliant and beautiful debut novel, family love is the strongest power in the universe. Broken Chocolate is both a suspenseful medical drama and a marvel of empathy and insight.” —Brian Morton, author of Tasha: A Son's Memoir

Congratulations to Rachel Miranda, MFA '14, on the publication of her debut novel BROKEN CHOCOLATE, now available from Vine Leaves Press. 🎉

One of the nation's top low-residency MFA programs begins with extraordinary mentors—and our faculty reflects the calibe...
08/05/2026

One of the nation's top low-residency MFA programs begins with extraordinary mentors—and our faculty reflects the caliber of writers who shape the Bennington Writing Seminars.

Study fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with acclaimed authors who are deeply invested in your work through rigorous one-on-one mentorship and an immersive literary community.

Beginning in January 2027, Literary Translation joins the program as a dual-genre option, offering writers new ways to explore the craft of storytelling across languages and genres.

Applications due September 1 to begin in January 2027.

https://vist.ly/5dnf3

"Families interested in a balanced exploration of today's educational options will find this a boon." —Publishers Weekly...
08/04/2026

"Families interested in a balanced exploration of today's educational options will find this a boon." —Publishers Weekly

Happy Publication Day to Mickey Revenaugh, MFA '17! Her book, SCHOOL'S OUT: Why Families Are Choosing Unconventional Education, is available now from Johns Hopkins University Press:

https://vist.ly/5di6r

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Bennington, VT
05201

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(802) 440-4452

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