The University of Texas at Austin

Creative Writing

The Department of English offers creative writing instruction in multiple formats and offers several degrees and qualifications.

Undergraduate

At the undergraduate level, students who are enrolled in a B.A. program at UT Austin can pursue the Creative Writing Certificate .

We offer two MFA programs in creative writing:

  • the  New Writers Project

                and

  • the  Michener Center  for Writers.

The University of Texas at Austin

Creative Writing Certificate Program

Illustration by valerie tran, announcements, join us for lit on the lawn, wednesday, november 13, 2024, 5:00pm-7:00pm, in the grassy courtyard between parlin and calhoun.

The undergraduate creative writing program is holding its first Open Mic event to give all creative writing students the opportunity to share a brief excerpt from their work, and to hear what other students are working on.

Do you have a fragment of a work-in-progress you want to share?  Do you have a polished piece of writing you’ve been waiting to read out loud?  Then join us this WEDNESDAY, November 13th, 5:00pm-7:00pm for “LIT ON THE LAWN.”  All participants can read up to 3 minutes of original fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction.  Just show up and sign up!  Open mic is FIRST COME FIRST SERVE until all slots are filled and the cookies are gone!

Come and read for a bit, or just hang out with other writers...

WRITING CONTESTS

The submission window for the Parker Prizes and Kruger Fellowships will open on January 1, with a deadline of March 1, 2025. 

2024 Writing Contest Winners Announced

Congratulations to the Winners of the Kruger Fellowships and Parker Prizes for student writing. 

KRUGER Fiction 

1st Place     Lara Palmqvist - "In Another Life"

Runner-up   Stephanie Degnore - "Where the Light Shines Brightest"

Runner-up   Varun Jawarani - "Lakshana"

KRUGER Poetry  

1st Place     Aguilar Alfredo - "After Three Beers My Tia Talks About The Border"

Runner-up   Safiyya Haider - "Assimilation Is Performance Art" 

PARKER Fiction

1st Place      Molly Tompkins - "Bolt from the Blue"

Runner-up    Charlie Sharpe - "A Horse of Course” 

Runner-up    Ashley Rummel - "The Artists" 

PARKER Poetry

1st Place      Leah Piñon - "The World Ends Through the Mirrors in Your House"

Runner-up    Boppana Pradhitha - "Alternate Methods of Crying"

PARKER Lit Crit

1st Place      Molly Tompkins - "Celestial, Beautiful, and Social Bodies" 

Runner-up    Lane Dent - “Our False Perception of Nature”,

Congratulations to all the contest winners and honors thesis students! 

Ongoing Opportunities

Check back often for more links to publishing, contest, and internship opportunities.

  • Writer's League of Texas
  • Texas Book Festival
  • Poets and Writers Magazine
  • Tab Option 4
  • Tab Option 5

The Writers' League of Texas provides internship, networking, literary, and educational opportunities in Austin and around the state, as well as an annual conference featuring literary agents and editors. 

The Texas Book Festival , one of the largest in the country, takes place annually in late October / early November, but offers volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

Poets and Writers magazine lists contests, fellowships, grants, and literary journals for writers of all levels.