Fiction Writing Communities in Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville's vibrant literary community offers year-round opportunities for writers at all levels, from university-sponsored programs to grassroots writing groups and seasonal festivals.

Knoxville's literary landscape flows like the Tennessee River through its heart—rich, enduring, and deeply rooted in place. James Agee's tender prose immortalized the city's summer evenings and childhood wonder, while Cormac McCarthy found inspiration in the surrounding Appalachian mountains during his university years. The city's literary soul thrives in the intersection of Southern Gothic tradition and Appalachian storytelling, where voices like Nikki Giovanni continue to shape contemporary poetry and social consciousness. From the University of Tennessee's distinguished MFA program to intimate independent bookstores, Knoxville nurtures both emerging and established writers. The city's literary heritage celebrates the power of place—how geography, community, and memory interweave to create lasting art. Whether through Agee's nostalgic reflections or the continuing tradition of Appalachian literature, Knoxville remains a wellspring of American literary culture, honoring its past while fostering new voices that will carry its stories forward.