Authors sign books for attendees at the GPCW publishing event.
Graduate Program in Creative Writing

WordFire Press

Where literary dreams become printed works.

Founded by GPCW faculty, WordFire Press is a professional publishing company where students step into the role of publisher, working directly on real projects that reach readers worldwide. From collaborative anthologies to re-published editions of public domain classics, Creative Writing graduates take the lead in editing, design, and marketing, shaping each work from start to finish. By managing every aspect of publication, students gain hands-on experience while seeing their names in print. These projects not only strengthen professional portfolios but also connect students to a broader network of readers, authors, and industry professionals.

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A publishing student signs copies of her book for attendees of the GPCW publishing event,

Rooted in Experience

WordFire Press was founded in 2011 by bestselling authors Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. Since then, it has grown to publish new and classic titles from a wide range of authors. Anderson, who also directs our very own Publishing Concentration, partnered with WordFire Press to give students hands-on publishing experience. Graduate students edit, design, market, and distribute real books through the press, gaining practical skills and publishing credits that carry into their professional careers.

Books laid out in display on a table.

Re-Work the Classics

As part of Western’s Master of Arts in Publishing program, students each select a work in the public domain to re-publish, adding contemporary edits and new forewords from invited writers. Classics brought back to life by WordFire Press include works by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Virginia Woolf, H.G. Wells, and E. Nesbit. Students thoughtfully adapt these texts to make them more accessible and relevant for a modern audience, considering societal, political, and cultural perspectives.

GPCW faculty and students socialize at the GPCW publishing event,

Collaborative Anthology

Each year, students and faculty from across all areas of the Graduate Program in Creative Writing submit thematic literary works for inclusion in the annual anthology published by Wordfire Press. Publishing students work together throughout the year to compile, edit, design, and market this anthology, which is then available for purchase by the public. This allows writers to manifest their works into a physical copy, a unique opportunity for students.

Publishing student signs books for attendees at the GPCW publishing event.

Book Signing and Presentation

To celebrate their hard work, the GPCW hosts a public book signing and presentation each summer during the in-person residency at Western. Students share their work, connect with peers, and sign copies for enthusiastic readers. Attendees can also purchase paperback and hardcover editions published by Western students, meet the authors, and gain insight into the creative and publishing process behind each book.

See the GPCW in the news.

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Real-World Impact

WordFire Press plays a central role in the Graduate Program in Creative Writing’s mission to empower passionate writers to refine and share their craft. As an interdisciplinary hub connecting all concentrations, it gives students the unique opportunity to make a real-world impact through their published work.

Here are just a few examples of how GPCW students have made history with WordFire Press:

  • In 2025, Edgar Rice Burroughs Incorporated (ERB Inc.) recognized the potential of Publishing students to re-release classic works such as Tarzan, A Princess of Mars, and At the Earth’s Core. With permission from ERB Inc., the students’ revised editions have become the official new versions of these iconic novels.
  • The 2025 anthology Chaotic Cupids received an overwhelming number of submissions, not only from GPCW students but also from writers outside the program.
  • Since establishing its partnership with Western’s Publishing program, WordFire Press has published more than 200 works by GPCW students.
  • WordFire Press co-founder and Publishing Director Kevin J. Anderson, a renowned sci-fi author with producing credits for DUNE films and television projects, provides invaluable mentorship that enriches the GPCW student experience.
Books laid out in display on a table.

Become a published writer.

Opportunities at WordFire Press extend far beyond Publishing students. Poetry, Screenwriting, Genre Fiction, and Nature Writing students can collaborate on published works by contributing forewords or submitting their own pieces to the annual anthology. At the Graduate Program in Creative Writing, every student has the chance to leave their mark as a writer, editor, or publisher and see their work come to life. Discover how our MA and MFA programs can help you turn your creative vision into a published reality.

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