About Murphy Writing Seminars Murphy Writing Seminars is celebrating its 19th year offering writing retreats and workshops. Founded by Peter E. Murphy, a nationally recognized poet and educator, our programs focus on writing getaways. These retreats from the distractions of everyday life allow poets and writers to advance their craft and energize their writing. During years of leading writing workshops for the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the N.J. State Council on the Arts, The National Council of Teachers of English and other organizations, Peter learned to critique writers so they would not only improve their work, but feel empowered and inspired to do so. In 1994, Peter created the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway, where writers work together against the melancholic winter seascape of Cape May. Fast-forward to 2011—Murphy Writing now offers four writing getaways and works with hundreds of writers each year. We specialize in making our programs both challenging and supportive. Never one to stay idle, Peter also started Inservice Solutions to share his successful classroom teaching strategies more widely. In 2008 Peter hired his daughter Amanda away from an educational nonprofit in Delaware. What a steal!
Peter E. Murphy, Founder/Director :|: peter@murphywriting.com
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Peter was born in Wales
and grew up in New York City where he operated heavy equipment,
managed a night club and drove a cab. He is the author of
Stubborn Child a finalist for the 2006 Paterson Poetry
Prize, and a chapbook of poems, Thorough & Efficient both
from Jane Street Press. In addition to receiving a 2009 Poetry
Fellowship from the New Jersey Council on the Arts, he has
received awards and fellowships from The Atlantic Center for the
Arts, Yaddo, The Folger Shakespeare Library, and the White House
Commission on Presidential Scholars. He directs the Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway and other programs for
poets, writers and teachers. 
Amanda
holds an M.A. from the University of Delaware in Economics and
Entrepreneurship for Educators and has led workshops for
students and teachers in venues including the Federal Reserve
Bank of Philadelphia. Previously she was Deputy Director of the
Delaware Financial Literacy Institute, worked in arts management
and for a London-based non-governmental organization. At Murphy
Writing, Amanda is in charge of day to day operations,
international programs and Inservice Solutions Professional
Development. In addition she manages the marketing and websites.
She spends what's left of her time trying to keep Peter
organized.