The Creative Writing MFA program encourages its students to get outside the classroom and find their inspiration everywhere they can. Students can work as editors and manuscript readers for our online literary journal, TINGE Magazine, join the Graduate English Association, become a recipient of a creative writing scholarship and attend a number of Philadelphia reading series.

TINGE Magazine

TINGE Magazine, Temple University’s online literary journal, is usually published twice a year, in the spring (May) and in the fall (December). The journal is edited by the graduate students of Temple’s MFA Program in Creative Writing and has an open submission policy.

Graduate English Association

The Graduate English Association is an organization for all graduate students in the English department, regardless of program (Literature or Creative Writing) or funding status (fellowship, GA, TA or otherwise). The organization conducts regular monthly meetings, and its purpose is to make recommendations to the faculty on departmental issues (instructor training, program changes, etc.) and to enrich the graduate experience with developmental workshops and social events.

Creative Writing Scholarships

• The Frances Tebet Israel Prize in Poetry and Fiction: The Frances Israel Prize was established in 1996 by her family in her memory. Mrs. Israel was a School of Education graduate, class of 1936. This prize is given at the end of every year for the best Master’s thesis in poetry and the best master’s thesis in fiction.
• The Joseph Beam Scholarship Prize: Joseph Beam was an African American gay rights activist. He edited one of the first anthologies of gay black writing titled In the Life. His mother, Dorothy S. Beam, EDU ’72, established the Joseph Beam Scholarship Prize when he died of AIDS. This prize is awarded annually to a student in the Creative Writing Program who has demonstrated academic achievement and financial need, and has written an essay or literary piece that would be of interest and importance to sexual minorities.
• The William H. Gunn Scholarship in Creative Writing: The William H. Gunn Scholarship in Creative Writing provides financial aid to graduate students enrolled in the Creative Writing program. The scholarship was established by William H. Gunn’s mother, Louise A. Gunn, in memory of her son, the noted black independent author, film director, playwright and scenarist. Gunn, a Philadelphia native, died in April 1989 at the age of 59. To the extent allowed by law, preference will be given to African American graduate students.

Local Philadelphia Reading Series

• Kelly Writers House Located at the University of Pennsylvania (3805 Locust Walk), the Kelly Writers House hosts readings and literary events almost every night of the academic year.

• Free Library of Philadelphia The Central Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library (at 1901 Vine St.) bring some of the biggest literary names around to read from their works. Some of the events are ticketed, but many are free to the public.

• Bryn Mawr College Reading Series Bryn Mawr can be easily reached via public transportation by taking the Paoli/Thorndale line to the Bryn Mawr station.

• Villanova Literary Festival This festival is held every Spring semester. Villanova can be easily reached via public transportation by taking the Paoli/Thorndale line to the Villanova station.

• Blue Stoop: A community-driven literary arts center, Blue Stoop sponsor readings at the Penn Book Center and other venues.