GrubStreet
Professional services
UnclaimedA Boston nonprofit creative-writing center offering workshops, courses, consultations, literary events, and scholarships.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
GrubStreet is a nonprofit creative-writing center based in Boston, Massachusetts. It provides instruction and community programming for writers through workshops, seminars, consultations, conferences, and related literary events. Its educational scope has included fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting, and playwriting, serving both emerging writers and more experienced authors. The organization also offers scholarships intended to broaden access to its programs. Eve Bridburg founded GrubStreet in Boston in 1997. The center began on a small scale, with two instructors and eight students participating in fiction-focused workshops. Bridburg was one of the original instructors. By 2001, the organization had expanded to nearly 100 students and more than a dozen instructors, while broadening its curriculum beyond fiction to include poetry, screenwriting, nonfiction, and playwriting. GrubStreet adopted nonprofit status in 2002. The organization has operated not only as a school but also as a literary convening institution. Its annual Muse and the Marketplace symposium brings writers together with authors, agents, editors, and other publishing professionals for panels, lectures, consultations, and networking. The event has featured figures such as Chuck Palahniuk and Amanda Palmer as keynote speakers. The 2020 edition was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 program was held virtually and included panelists such as Alexander Chee, Vievee Francis, and Nick Flynn. GrubStreet has also participated in civic cultural development. Beginning in 2012, it led a coalition seeking recognition for a Boston Literary Cultural District. The proposed district identified approximately 80 literary landmarks in areas including downtown Boston, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill. The coalition included the Boston Public Library, the Boston Book Festival, and Emerson College, among other partners. Massachusetts officially recognized the district in October 2014. A major institutional development occurred in the late 2010s. In 2018, the Boston Planning and Development Agency selected GrubStreet for construction support and below-market rent connected with a planned move from its approximately 3,500-square-foot Back Bay headquarters to a roughly 13,000-square-foot facility in Boston's Seaport District. The relocation was supported by a $2 million grant from the Calderwood Charitable Foundation, although the organization stated that substantial additional fundraising would be necessary. After raising $8 million, GrubStreet moved to the Seaport in 2019. The organization has also administered literary awards. From 2007 through 2015, the GrubStreet Book Prize recognized writers publishing a second book or later work in fiction, poetry, or nonfiction. Eligibility was restricted to writers whose primary residence was outside Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, reflecting the prize's stated aim of bringing writers to Boston. The award was discontinued after 2015. In 2021, GrubStreet faced public scrutiny connected with a plagiarism and defamation dispute involving Sonya Larson, then director of the Muse Conference, and Dawn Dorland, a former GrubStreet student. Following reporting on the dispute and concerns raised by members, GrubStreet commissioned a third-party review. On October 29, 2021, it announced leadership changes involving Larson, Director of Online Learning Alison Murphy, and board member Jennifer De Leon. Artistic director Christopher Castellani remained in his role and publicly expressed regret for personal harm caused to Dorland. The episode became a significant governance and reputational event for the organization, although GrubStreet continued its literary and educational work.
History
GrubStreet was established in Boston in 1997 by Eve Bridburg as a small creative-writing workshop. Bridburg was one of two instructors at the outset, teaching eight students in fiction-centered classes. The organization grew quickly: by 2001 it had nearly 100 students, more than a dozen instructors, and an expanded curriculum covering poetry, screenwriting, nonfiction, and playwriting. GrubStreet became a nonprofit in 2002, formalizing its role as a literary-education organization rather than a conventional commercial school. As its educational program developed, GrubStreet broadened its activities to include seminars, consultations, scholarships, public events, and professional-development opportunities. Its most prominent recurring event is Muse and the Marketplace, an annual writers' symposium connecting writers with established authors, agents, editors, and other publishing professionals. The symposium had attracted more than 900 writers and publishing professionals by 2010. Chuck Palahniuk served as keynote speaker in 2010, and Amanda Palmer held the role in 2013. The 2020 event did not take place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 edition was delivered online. GrubStreet has also played a role in Boston's literary civic infrastructure. From 2012 onward, it led a coalition advocating a Literary Cultural District that would connect roughly 80 literary sites across downtown Boston, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill. Partners included the Boston Public Library, the Boston Book Festival, and Emerson College. Massachusetts recognized Boston's Literary Cultural District in October 2014, giving formal institutional support to the area's literary heritage and public programming. The organization's physical expansion became a major milestone in the late 2010s. In 2018, the Boston Planning and Development Agency selected GrubStreet to receive construction funding and below-market rent associated with a move from a 3,500-square-foot Back Bay location to a 13,000-square-foot space in a Seaport condominium development. GrubStreet had previously received a $2 million Calderwood Charitable Foundation grant to support the transition, but indicated that considerable further fundraising was required. It ultimately raised $8 million and moved to the Seaport in 2019, giving it substantially more room for classes, events, and community activity. Between 2007 and 2015, GrubStreet operated the GrubStreet Book Prize. The award was intended for writers publishing a second book or a later work and was divided among fiction, poetry, and nonfiction when awards were made. The geographic eligibility rules excluded residents of Massachusetts and neighboring New England states, reflecting the prize's aim of attracting writers from outside the region to Boston. The prize was discontinued after 2015. Recorded recipients included Sheri Joseph, Linda Gregg, Susan Richards Shreve, Joshua Furst, Rebecca Seiferle, Dinty W. Moore, Vestal McIntyre, Debra Allbery, Rahna Reiko Rizzuto, Wendy Call, Eileen Pollack, Ellen Cassedy, Rob Schlegel, and Josh Weil, among others. In 2021, GrubStreet became involved in a highly publicized controversy connected to litigation between Sonya Larson, then director of the Muse Conference, and Dawn Dorland, a former GrubStreet student and instructor. Dorland alleged that a letter she had written was used without authorization in Larson's published short story, while Larson sued Dorland for defamation. Reporting brought attention to communications among GrubStreet colleagues and leaders who were close to Larson, including artistic director Christopher Castellani. GrubStreet responded to member concerns by initiating an investigation. On October 29, 2021, it said that a third-party review had led it to ask Larson, online-learning director Alison Murphy, and board member Jennifer De Leon to leave their leadership positions. Castellani remained artistic director and published an expression of regret regarding the personal hurt experienced by Dorland. The controversy is an important part of GrubStreet's institutional history because it raised questions about workplace relationships, literary ethics, governance, and the handling of conflicts within a nonprofit writing community.
- 2021
Leadership changes followed third-party review
[1]The organization announced departures from leadership roles connected with its handling of the Larson-Dorland controversy.
- 2019
Relocated to Boston's Seaport District
[1]After raising funds for the project, GrubStreet moved from Back Bay into a substantially larger Seaport facility.
- 2014
Boston Literary Cultural District recognized
[1]Massachusetts officially recognized the Literary Cultural District promoted by GrubStreet and partner organizations.
- 2002
Became a nonprofit
[1]GrubStreet formally adopted nonprofit status.
- 2001
Curriculum and enrollment expanded
[1]The center had nearly 100 students, more than a dozen instructors, and courses spanning fiction, poetry, screenwriting, nonfiction, and playwriting.
- 1997
GrubStreet founded in Boston
[1]Eve Bridburg founded GrubStreet as a small fiction-oriented writing workshop with two instructors and eight students.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit literary center combining practical writing education, professional development, community programming, and access-oriented scholarships. GrubStreet is positioned as both a classroom for writers and a convening platform connecting writers with the publishing world.
Writing education · 1997
Creative-writing workshops and courses
GrubStreet's core offering is a program of workshops and courses for writers at different stages. The curriculum has included fiction, poetry, nonfiction, screenwriting, and playwriting, combining classroom instruction with feedback and a writer-centered community. The organization began with fiction workshops and later expanded into a broader literary-arts curriculum.
Literary symposium
Muse and the Marketplace
Muse and the Marketplace is GrubStreet's annual weekend writers' symposium. It brings together writers, authors, agents, editors, and other publishing professionals through panels, talks, consultations, and networking opportunities. The event has operated in both in-person and virtual formats, including a virtual edition in 2021 after the 2020 program was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Literary award · 2007
GrubStreet Book Prize
The GrubStreet Book Prize recognized writers publishing a second book or later work. Awards were made in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction in different years, with eligibility rules excluding residents of Massachusetts and neighboring New England states. The geographic design was intended to bring writers from outside the region to Boston. The prize operated from 2007 through 2015 and was then discontinued.
Access program
Scholarships
GrubStreet offers scholarships connected with its educational programming. These awards support access to writing instruction and help extend participation beyond writers who can independently pay for workshops, courses, or related activities.
Controversies
2021
Larson-Dorland plagiarism and defamation controversy
GrubStreet faced scrutiny over a dispute involving Sonya Larson, then director of the Muse Conference, and Dawn Dorland, a former student and instructor. Dorland alleged that a letter she wrote was used in Larson's short story, while Larson brought a defamation suit. Public reporting also examined communications among GrubStreet personnel and leaders. After an internal response and third-party review, GrubStreet announced leadership departures involving Larson, Alison Murphy, and board member Jennifer De Leon.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Boston Literary Cultural District campaign
Boston · Massachusetts
GrubStreet led a coalition seeking formal recognition for a Boston literary district encompassing approximately 80 literary landmarks in downtown Boston, Back Bay, and Beacon Hill. The effort involved partners including the Boston Public Library, the Boston Book Festival, and Emerson College.
Outcome. Massachusetts recognized Boston's Literary Cultural District in October 2014.
Brand decisions
2021
Commissioned third-party review after member concernsStrategyBackground
Members raised concerns about GrubStreet's handling of the Larson-Dorland dispute and relationships among involved staff and leaders.
Action taken
GrubStreet initiated an investigation and announced that several people would step down from leadership roles after a third-party review.
Aftermath
Sonya Larson, Alison Murphy, and Jennifer De Leon left their respective leadership positions; Christopher Castellani remained artistic director and issued a public statement expressing regret for personal harm caused to Dorland.
2020
Canceled Muse and the Marketplace during COVID-19OtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person literary events.
Action taken
GrubStreet canceled the 2020 edition of its annual symposium.
Aftermath
The symposium returned in a virtual format in 2021.
2018
Planned expansion and relocation to the SeaportStrategyBackground
GrubStreet had outgrown its approximately 3,500-square-foot Back Bay headquarters and sought a larger facility for classes and literary programming.
Action taken
The organization accepted construction support and below-market rent associated with a planned move to a roughly 13,000-square-foot space in Boston's Seaport District, while undertaking a major fundraising effort.
Aftermath
GrubStreet raised $8 million and completed the relocation in 2019.
Recent events
Reported
Grub Street and New York Magazine team up on the Cookie Edit[3]
Grub Street and New York Magazine teamed up with NY Forever on the Cookie Edit, a limited-edition box of cookies sourced from restaurants and bakeries across New York City's five boroughs. Boxes could be preordered starting April 5, with proceeds donated to ROAR.
Sources3 sources
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