Manhattanville University MFA in Creative Writing Program Hosts Summer Writers’ Week

The Manhattanville University MFA in Creative Writing Program successfully hosted its annual Summer Writers’ Week during June 22-26, continuing a cherished tradition that brought together students, writers, alumni, and faculty for an immersive and inspiring creative experience.

Each year, Manhattanville’s Summer Writers’ Week offers intensive writing workshops in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, allowing participants to deepen their craft while fostering meaningful connections within a vibrant literary community. The week also featured a series of free, public afternoon programs that welcomed the wider community to experience the energy and artistry of the Manhattanville MFA program firsthand.

The 2026 lineup also included readings from distinguished authors who led writing workshops during the week, including:

• Jared Harel (Poetry) – Author of Let Our Bodies Change the Subject and winner of the Prairie Schooner Raz/Shumaker Book Prize in Poetry
• Rahla Xenopoulos (Creative Nonfiction) – Author of A Memoir of Love & Madness: Living with Bipolar Disorder
• Lauren Acampora (Fiction) – Author of The Animal Room   

The week also included an Editors’ Panel featuring industry professionals from Reactor Books and Four Way Books, who shared insights into publishing and the editorial process.

“Summer Writers’ Week is one of our most meaningful traditions here at Mville MFA,” said Iain Haley Pollock,Director of the Manhattanville MFA program. “Our 2026 gathering once again created space for lasting connections and the exchange of powerful stories among writers at varying stages of their careers.”

Manhattanville’s MFA Program also announced details for its upcoming Fall Writers’ Weekend, scheduled for the weekend of September 18, 2026. The 2026 program is set to focus on creative nonfiction and will be guided by acclaimed writer Sonya Huber, known for her innovative contributions to the genre. The event is expected to feature an impressive roster of visiting writers, including Manhattanville MFA alumni Barbara Perez Marquez and Victoria Setian.

Additionally, award-winning poet Erika Meitner is slated to serve as a featured guest and as the anchor of the MFA program’s annual Fall Poetry Festival in December.