Five Reasons Why You Should Attend the Five Ponds Creative Writing Festival

In anticipation of the Five Ponds Creative Writing Festival, which kicks off on the morning of March 28, 2026, I sat down for an interview with Professor Mark Stevick '87, founder and host of the festival. Although Stevick was incredibly humble and wanted to avoid seeming, as he put it, too “bragadocious,” I think that it’s only right to commend the depth of his creativity.

Known around campus as the face of Gordon’s creative writing program, Stevick teaches students through spirited, engaging classes. He also founded the Princemere Writers’ Series and co-designed the English department’s study-abroad trip to England. Beyond campus, Professor Stevick’s play, Cry Innocent, debuted in Salem in 1992 and still runs to this day. “I love the literary life,” Stevick says, “going from just an impulse to something that you work, and craft, and make beautiful.”

In our discussion, Stevick explained the purpose of the Five Ponds Festival and taught me a bit about its history. As a writing enthusiast myself, I was already bought in, but here are five reasons why you—yes, you—should attend.

1. Hearing from Accomplished Writers 

The Five Ponds Festival offers the opportunity to hear from a cast of accomplished writers who are true masters of their craft. In my interview with Professor Stevick, he revealed how the festival has previously hosted nationally acclaimed figures like Robert Pinsky, the former poet laureate of the United States. This year, Five Ponds is excited to welcome Paul Mariani, a renowned biographer and poet; Paul Harding, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist; January Gill O'Neil, a poet and professor at Salem State University; and Alan Smith Soto, an accomplished poet and playwright.

2. Developing Creative Prowess 

When you are not hearing from acclaimed speakers, you will be able to attend four unique literary sessions, including “Finding the Line: Writing from Memory, Place, and Joy,” and “Listen Up: Music as a Way to Tap into the Primal in Your Writing.” Within each of these sessions, there are four workshops, meaning a total of 24 opportunities for you to put pen to paper and hone your talents. As Professor Stevick puts it, the Five Ponds Festival is a “thrilling” chance for “writers to show up and exchange love and ideas and words as they craft techniques and strategies.”

3. Learning How to Teach Writing

As a student of creativity himself, Professor Stevick explained how the Five Ponds Festival is not only for those learning to write, but also for those teaching writing. “We have a couple of sessions,” Stevick said, “that are geared especially for high school teachers. So they can show up and have an experience that they can learn from and then replicate in their own classroom.” No matter where you are in your writing journey, Five Ponds has something for you.

4. Exploring Gordon’s Legacy

In our conversation, Professor Stevick taught me about the legacy of the Five Ponds Festival, tracing its roots to “Gordon’s long history of creative writing and attentiveness to writing, which goes way back to the ’60s and ’70s.” Although Five Ponds, as it exists today, has only been around for about five years, it is certainly the product of an influential past. Given this, attending the festival offers a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of other writers, and, in doing so, become part of something bigger than yourself.

5. Finding Community in Creativity 

One thing that Professor Stevick made sure to emphasize was that Five Ponds is “not just a festival for Christian writers. It tries to be open to our neighbors and say, ‘We have this great place here. Please come, and let’s interact and learn from each other.’” So, whether you are a person of faith or simply someone passionate about creativity, the Five Ponds Creative Writing Festival is a place where you can find genuine community and inspiration. “And that,” Stevick remarks, “makes it all worth it.”

I can only hope that this list has thoroughly convinced you to attend the Five Ponds Creative Writing Festival. If it hasn’t, well . . . read the article again and consider a change of heart. But if it has, I look forward to seeing you for a wonderful day of writing, learning, and community fun!