Poor Yorick Journal

12/15/2025

Our 2026 Winter Residency schedule is live! Take a look at the outstanding lineup of faculty, alumni, and visiting writers, including Morgan Talty, Sonja Mongar, David Rich, Amy Alvarez, Jabari Asim, Penny Guisinger, Jane Cleland, Ron Farina, Melanie Brooks, Marlene Daut, Jason Bussman, Lisa Acerbo, Shannon Kearns, Chelsea Nevin, Alexis Paige, Sean Singer, Ian M. Rogers, Erik Ofgang, Kate Katcher, Layla Schlack, Cha McCoy, Chris Tebbetts, and many more!

https://www.wcsu.edu/writing-mfa/wp-content/uploads/sites/172/2025/12/WestConn-MFA-Writing_Winter-Residency.pdf

Our opening reception and faculty flash reading on January 2 is open to the public. If any alumni, undergraduates, or prospective students would like to sit in on a workshop or panel (or our information session about the 2026 Dublin Residency), feel free to contact MFA Coordinator Anthony D'Aries for more details: [email protected].

Residency bookshop available through Byrd's Books: https://byrdsbooks.com/list/wcsu-residency-2025

See you in January!

08/26/2024

My year-long sabbatical starts tomorrow! Looking forward to wrapping up this novel, that short story collection, and following wherever this new project leads me.

But have no fear, MFA gang, I'll be around (just not on here much)! Plus, the program is in good hands with John Roche and S. Salazar leading the charge. Can't wait to see all the fun and exciting things you two have in store.

Also wishing Matt Homrich-Knieling good luck on starting his role as Editor-in-Chief of Poor Yorick Journal. Matt is a multi-talented writer and educator, and I know he'll guide the editorial team into new and thought-provoking terrain.

Very special thanks to the folks at Aquila's Nest Vineyards for hosting our fall semester kick-off yesterday and starting our year-long 20th Anniversary celebration. Keep an eye out for updates about a special event on October 3 at The BookSmiths Shoppe and an MFA community holiday book fair at the winter residency co-sponsored by Byrd's Books with live music by MFA student Sara Sherman!

Lastly, applications for our 2025 Dublin Residency are open. The residency will run from Oct 23 - Nov. 2. Workshops in Oscar Wilde House Dublin and events at the Bram Stoker Festival, Dublin. Visit our website to complete a free application. All are welcome, including writers outside of the WCSU community. https://www.wcsu.edu/writing-mfa/dublin/

Wishing you all a fun and productive year!

Western Connecticut State University
WCSU MFA
The Highlights Foundation
WCSU Writing Department

07/18/2024

Fall 2024 marks Western Connecticut State University's Master of Fine Arts in Creative and Professional Writing's 20th anniversary! All proceeds from t-shirt sales support the MFA Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance for students to attend our residencies at the Highlights Retreat C...

07/12/2024

https://news.wcsu.edu/wcsu-m-f-a-program-prepares-to-celebrate-20-years/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR23Qv-2zsk0Rkvmi0SZr1Guw-YIOC4wqOFBEXZ75yh52-lSI3hnjIPXRVg_aem_Z4qpQ8I62ajJgTCPZAcZhw

Exciting announcements coming soon as we gear up for our 20th anniversary this fall!

Take a look at the press release in our bio ❤️.

Stay tuned…
mfa

07/11/2024

We’re less than 3 weeks out from our 2024 Summer Residency at ! 🌞✍️

We’re thrilled to be hosting some incredibly talented faculty & guests who will be leading workshops and readings during the week. Stay tuned for some more sneak peeks of our upcoming residency events as we get closer to July 30th.

We can’t wait to see all of our residency students, guests, and faculty! Let the countdown begin!📚🧡

04/19/2024

Our spring issue just went live! Check it out and show our talented contributors some love 🥳🥳

Welcome to the Spring 2024 issue of Poor Yorick Journal! We are so excited to share this with you all. Please enjoy, and support our wonderful contributors by taking a moment to read their bios at the end of the journal and engage with their other work. For best viewing,Continue readingSpring Issue....

04/17/2024

TOMORROW, April 18th, is open mic night! Join us on campus at 7pm for an evening of reading and community 🥳 Address and further details are in the photos below.

This event is open to the public, all are welcome to share work or come as audience members.

Please email [email protected] to sign up to read! (You have an opportunity to sign up in person as well, but emailing will guarantee you a spot and help us plan!)

05/04/2023

This Saturday!!! Come out to Greenwood Cinema in Bethel, CT for an open mic at 2:30, followed by a film screening 🥳🥳🥳

Come connect with our wonderful writing community! If you’re interested in participating in the reading, please send us a message, or let us know in a comment on this post!

event is free to attend, drinks and snacks will be available to purchase

03/23/2023

Pre-register here!

https://www.artsescape.org/breathing-space-exploring-collaboration-across-art-forms/?fbclid=IwAR08kqKagzwXFYB4fIhKjOvQp0RduvR19EZuZwEK1rvwz0aKtnP58L1QTuM