Overview
Murphy Writing of Stockton University offers programs in the US, abroad and online to help writers develop their craft. When writers immerse themselves in these challenging and supportive workshops and an encouraging community, they often make breakthroughs in their art. The Winter Poetry + Prose Getaway, founded in 1994, is the flagship program, attracting more than 200 poets and writers from around the globe each year. In 2014, Murphy Writing became part of Stockton University.
Fast Facts
- Founded in 1994 by Peter Murphy—Celebrating 30+ years!
- Offers a variety of writing workshops, retreats and conferences throughout the year
- Best known for the annual Winter Poetry + Prose Getaway
Programs
History
Peter E. Murphy, a nationally recognized writer and educator, founded Murphy Writing in 1994 based on the belief that when writers leave behind the distractions of their busy lives to gather in an encouraging community, they will make breakthroughs in their art.
Since 1994, Murphy Writing has expanded to offer one-day, online and overnight programming. Murphy Writing has also welcomed fulltime Program Coordinator Taylor Coyle to keep things running behind the scenes, as well as Faculty Director Emari DiGiorgio to continue to expand Murphy Writing’s vision and reach.
Murphy Writing + Stockton University
Located in the Pinelands National Reserve, Stockton University is NJ’s distinctive public university. Stockton is among the top Public Regional Universities in the North according to the U.S. News and World Report.
In 2012, Murphy Writing began partnering with Stockton University, eventually becoming an official entity of Stockton in 2014. Stockton has provided a home for Murphy Writing in Atlantic City, NJ at the Noyes Arts Garage.
Stockton University is committed to providing equal access to our programs and facilities for persons with disabilities.
Funding
Unlike other arts organizations that are funded by their parent university, Murphy Writing does not receive funds from Stockton to pay for its programming or operations. This means that participant registration fees are the only funds Murphy Writing receives to pay for all expenses. Learn how to support our organization.
Our Team
Peter E. Murphy, Founder
Peter E. Murphy was born in Wales and grew up in New York where he managed a night club, operated heavy equipment and drove a taxi. He has been awarded six creative writing fellowships from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, which might be a record, as well as multiple residencies at Yaddo, The Atlantic Center for the Arts, The Millay Colony and other artist retreats. He has published a dozen books and chapbooks of nonfiction and poetry including A Tipsy Fairy Tale: A Coming of Age Memoir of Alcohol and Redemption, forthcoming from Toplight Books in late 2024. Read “Their Last Argument” in The Sun and have a look at peteremurphy.com.
Cynthia Arrieu-King, co-Director
Cynthia Arrieu-King is a professor of creative writing at Stockton University and a former Kundiman fellow. Her poetry books include People are Tiny in Paintings of China (Octopus Books 2010), Manifest, winner of the Gatewood Prize chosen by Harryette Mullen (Switchback Books 2013), Futureless Languages (Radiator Press 2018) and its sequel Continuity (Octopus Books 2021). Her experimental prose memoir The Betweens (Noemi 2021) examines the difference between how we see others and how and who they really are. She’s working on a collection of short stories and a novel on caregiving and post-apocalyptic utopias. Her website is cynthiaarrieuking.blogspot.com.
Emari DiGiorgio, co-Director
Emari DiGiorgio is the author of Girl Torpedo, winner of the Numinous Orison, Luminous Origin Literary Award, and The Things a Body Might Become. Her poetry has received numerous awards, including the Auburn Witness Poetry Prize, RHINO’s Founder’s Prize and a poetry fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. At Stockton, Emari teaches first-year writing and poetry, and she serves as President of the Stockton Federation of Teachers. She is also a Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Poet and hosts World Above, a monthly reading series in Atlantic City, NJ.
Taylor Conti, program Coordinator
Taylor Conti, born, raised and residing in South Jersey, is a strong advocate of the Oxford Comma. She won 1st place in both the 2014 Stephen Dunn Poetry Contest and the 2014 Jennifer Cakert Poetry Awards. Her work has been published by Moonstone Press, Rewrites and Stockpot. She has also collaborated with a graphic design artist for a visual writing project, The Carnival by the Sea. Originally Murphy Writing’s intern, Taylor started working part time for Murphy Writing in 2013 and was hired full time in 2016. She also worked in a barbeque restaurant for 10+ years and graduated with honors with a degree in Literature from Stockton University. In her spare time, she likes to catch up on sleep, write and pet as many animals as possible.
