If you’re a writer who is looking for writing groups in NJ, continue reading to learn about 10 located in the state.
1. Ink at TCNJ
Students at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) who have a passion for writing and are looking for a local writing group to participate in should think about joining INK, a creative writing group at TCNJ. Group meetings consist of writing games, workshops, and discussions on different writing topics.
Each semester, student writers can look forward to the Student Reading Series, an opportunity for selected student writers to share their writing in public, and the Visiting Writers Series, an initiative by INK that invites professional writers to the TCNJ campus. Ink’s writing group meetings are held every Wednesday in the Bliss Lounge on the TNCJ campus. The writing group is also on social media, with active accounts on Instagram and Discord, where interested participants can find information and interact with current members.
Speak to INK for more details!
2. Shut Up & Write!
With multiple chapters across the United States, Shut Up & Write! is a writing group that aims to encourage people of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels with a passion for writing to join. Writing group meetings involve about 40 minutes of personal writing where writers can find a place to work on their own manuscripts, followed by a time to socialize and get to know other writers.
Shut Up & Write! chapters can be found in Woodbridge, Newark and Westfield, New Jersey. Writers can also benefit from the writing group’s monthly prompt-based writer challenge to keep writers motivated and inspired to keep writing. Aside from connecting with writers at group meetings, Shut Up & Write! also has an online forum where writers can connect, ask for advice, and share about their work in progress with other members.
Contact Shut Up & Write! for more details.
3. Montclair Write Group
Montclair Write Group is a writing group located in northern New Jersey. Also referred to as “The Write Group,” Montclair Write Group was founded in 1999 to create a community for writers to support other writers. Montclair Write Group is also active online on their Facebook group.
Montclair Write Group offers various online writing groups targeting a particular demographic or writing style. “Writers’ Support Group” meets every Tuesday morning to network with other writers and get writing ideas and advice. There is a “Free Write Workshops” for creative writers that meets on Saturday mornings, and even a “Kid’s Lit” writing group for children meets on the fourth Thursday of every month.
Start a conversation with Montclair Write Group.
4. Princeton Writing Group
Based in central New Jersey, Princeton Writing Group is a writing group that welcomes writers looking for a support network and the opportunity to network with other writers to get advice and help with writing in any genre, including novels, poems and academic writing. Princeton Writing Group also creates other opportunities for writers to meet up with other writers, including field trips, writing contests, mixers and discussions.
Princeton Writing Group offers various services to writers, including write-ins, which are in-person writing opportunities for writers to get together with other writers in the same space. For writers who are looking for writing support but are uncomfortable or unable to meet up in person, Princeton Writing Group also has online write-ins that they can attend.
Find out more about Princeton Writing Group.
5. Jersey City Writers
Jersey City Writers is a writing group based in Hudson County, New Jersey. Writers who are focused on novels, poetry, plays, short stories and memoirs are all welcome and encouraged to participate. Jersey City Writers was originally created in 2009 and is run by president Rachel Poy and her talented team today.
Jersey City Writers’ regular writing workshops are online every other Thursday evening. Writers who participate should sign up in advance for the next writing workshop. Every workshop allows writers to receive constructive criticism from fellow Jersey City Writers members.
Let Jersey City Writers support you!
6. New Jersey Romance Writers
Supporting writers in New Jersey, New Jersey Romance Writers is a writing group that has been active since 1986. The non-profit organization was formerly associated with the Romance Writers of America until 2021 when New Jersey Romance Writers became an independent group that continues to support writers in the romance genre.
New Jersey Romance Writers writing group meetings happen on the third Saturday of the month. Meetings are currently being held online. Participants can look forward to listening to feature speakers talk about relevant topics for writers, from subject matter experts providing background information to speakers with expertise on technical skills like how to maximize use of the Amazon Store.
Connect with New Jersey Romance Writers!
7. The South Jersey Writers’ Group
The South Jersey Writers’ Group is a writer group run out of Barrington, New Jersey. Established in 2006 by Janice Wilson, the South Jersey Writers’ Group continues to welcome writers of all backgrounds, genres and writing experience to their writing group meetings.
The South Jersey Writers’ Group’s writing group meetings are usually held on Thursday evenings. Participants will benefit from conversations with professionals with insight and experience in the writing experience, including author Naseem Jamnia and editor Ellen Datlow. Interested writers can participate by connecting with the South Jersey Writers’ Group through their Meetup.com page.
Learn more about The South Jersey Writers’ Group.
8. Women Who Write
New Jersey is home to Women Who Write, a writing group that has been a part of the community since 1988. Originally founded as Mothers Who Write, the non-profit writing group continues to support professional, amateur and aspiring women writers throughout the state.
Today, Women Who Write is led by president Ginger Pate. Members can benefit from connecting with other members of Women Who Write at their annual Winter Gathering. Women Who Write’s literary journal Goldfinch is a chance for selected authors to read their published writing to a live audience. There are also group meetings and events focused on various writing-related topics, including poetry, prose and screenwriting.
Check out more about Women Who Write.
9. Morristown Young Writers Meetup
Morristown Young Writers Meetup is a writing group that welcomes writers from the ages of 18 to 35. Situated in Morristown, New Jersey, Morristown Young Writers Meetup is managed by Christopher Joseph and other co-organizers as a private Meetup.com group.
Writers who enjoy working on different genres, including memoir, fiction, poetry and essay, are welcome to join Morristown Young Writers Meetup. The writing group meets on Wednesday evenings every week in person for a critique session, where writers can look forward to positive feedback and constructive criticism from other writers.
Discover what else Morristown Young Writers Meetup can help you with!
10. Black Writers Collective
Working out of New Jersey, Black Writers Collective is a writing group that was created in 1998 with the express goal of connecting Black writers. Professional writers and hobbyists looking to get advice and making relationships with other writers should look at what else Black Writers Collective can provide you.
Black Writers Collective is a supportive environment for Black writers who are looking for opportunities to share their work and receive constructive criticism, in an effort to improve their craft. Interested writers have an opportunity to join Black Writers Collective at different membership levels, either at the affiliate level, which is free of charge, or at their core or advanced levels, which have an annual fee and additional benefits and features such as access to additional writer’s resources.
For more information, speak to Black Writers Collective.