Cindy Faughnan: Middle Grade Author and Poet, Vermont

Cindy Faughnan writes contemporary middle grade fiction that often takes place in Vermont where she taught seventh and eighth grade English. She completed an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts and loves talking about her experience there. She won the PEN New England Children’s Book Caucus Discovery Award and is a member of SCBWI.

Published Work

“Window Art”High Five, February 2026
“Don't Worry”The Country in the Mirror: Poems of Protest & Witness, ed. Sharon Darrow
“Saturday Tradition”Little Thoughts Press: Traditions & Rituals, July 2026
“Fog Magic”Tyger, Tyger, Issue 10: Surprise, December 2025
“A Soft Snow Falls”Dirigible Balloon, December 2025

Poetry Prompts

Kelly Bennett and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge more than ten years ago. We have written a poem a day for more than 3700 days! Sometimes we use prompts from books or other websites, and sometimes we create our own. The prompts below are ones that we have taken turns making over the years. Set your timer for seven minutes, and start writing!