The top 10 winter writing destinations for 2021

There’s no better time to get away from the cold and hit the open road than during winter. Whether you’re a writing enthusiast or just looking for someplace to relax and take in the new scenery, these five destinations are perfect for writers of all levels.

1. Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is a charming and picturesque city nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. With its abundance of art galleries, quirky shops, and restaurants, Asheville is a great place to get lost for a few days. The city is also home to a thriving writing community, with several writing workshops and groups meeting regularly.

2. Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is a writing town and its University of Arizona, home to over forty English professors and writers. The city has one writing conference per year and an active writing community all-year around with writing groups who meet monthly for workshops, writing sessions, writing sprints, readings, lectures on writing craft…all things writing!

3. Portland, Maine

Portland is a writing town for several reasons. It’s picturesque, with cobblestone streets and an island accessible by passenger ferry called Peaks Island where writers can go to get away from it all. The Portland Public Library hosts writing workshops every few months as well as lectures on writing craft and writing groups that meet regularly.

4. Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is a great place to write because of its location in the high desert of northern Arizona. The city has several writing groups that meet regularly, as well as writing contests and writing festivals. The nearby Grand Canyon and other natural wonders provide plenty of inspiration for writing about the outdoors.

5. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a city that’s alive with writing and writing culture. The city has several writing groups that meet regularly, as well as writing contests and writing festivals. New Orleans is also home to the annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, which celebrates all things writing and southern.

6. Seattle, Washington

The writing community in Seattle is thriving with writing groups throughout the year and conferences during the summertime. The city itself has a writing culture that’s vibrant, with writing sessions at bookstores and writing workshops offered by various writing groups. Some of the most famous writers come to Seattle to teach writing workshops at local writing conferences.

7. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a writing town with plenty to offer writers of all levels. The city has writing groups that meet regularly as well as writing contests and writing festivals. The most famous writing conference in the city is the Poetry Marathon, which takes place every year in April and features readings by some of America’s best writers.

8. Nassau, Bahamas

Montego Bay is known for its writing and writing culture and regularly hosts writing workshops and writing groups that meet frequently throughout the year. The city boasts several writing conferences in the summertime, including an annual Children’s Writing Retreat, where children can write and learn writing techniques.

9. Amherst, Massachusetts

Amherst is a writing town with writing groups that meet regularly and writing contests held throughout the year. Several writing conferences are also held in the area, including one every summer at nearby Hampshire College. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst also has an English department for students interested in writing and writing culture.

10. St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg is a writing town with writing groups that meet regularly and writing contests held throughout the year. The city also has an annual writing conference, the Florida Writers’ Conference, which offers lectures by published authors, writing workshops, and panel discussions on all things writing.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many writing towns and writing communities in the United States that offer writers plenty of opportunities to improve their writing craft. No matter what your writing level is, there’s a writing community out there for you that can help you grow as a writer. So get out there and start writing!