5 Reasons a Writer Should Move to… Tucson

For most, Arizona evokes images of the Grand Canyon and perhaps the desert sprawl of Phoenix, but one of the state’s real gems lies further to the south in the city of Tucson. A diverse city with a rich history and stunning landscapes—and home to the University of Arizona’s MFA program—Tucson is a haven for any writer. Between the intoxicating creosote, the spirit-lifting sunshine, and the plethora of literary events and culture, Tucson will fulfill all the senses, including the creative ones.

1.
Discover a Robust Literary Scene

Tucson’s thriving literary landscape is anchored by the University of Arizona Poetry Center, one of the largest libraries of poetry in the country. Dedicated to building community, the Poetry Center’s programs include hosting writers like Ross Gay, Charles Yu, and Kristen Radtke to putting on family days events that laud “brave books” to a variety of evening writing workshops. In addition, the Poetry Center hosts a poet-in-residence every summer and is open to the public as a calming space to read, write, and contemplate.

The city’s bookstores also contribute heavily to emphasis on writing in Tucson. Antigone Books is a feminist and 100 percent solar-powered bookstore staple, while Revolutionary Grounds is a wonderful space with an emphasis on lefty social awareness. For used bookstores, check out all the Bookman’s stores or The Book Stop, which is open late amongst the revelry on Fourth Avenue.

For more literary programming, Tucson residents can also see what events and workshops Casa Libre and POG are hosting. With a large community that comes together often, Tucson is the ideal spot for writers looking for kindred spirits.

2.
Find Inspiration in a Unique Desert Landscape

It won’t take long to feel the electric undercurrent of Tucson’s unique flora and fauna. Nestled between rocky mountains, Tucson is home to legions of the infamous saguaro cactus, probably best known from classic Westerns. Enjoy them towering over the city streets, or head to Saguaro National Park to see them in an astonishing panorama against the sunset. For a hike, head up Tumamoc Hill or seek out desert waterfalls on the Seven Falls trail. Learn about the bat colonies at Kartchner Caverns or visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and try to spot a tortoise, a family of javelinas, or sunning rattlesnakes.

Comfortably warm for most of the year, Tucson temperatures shoot up from May to September—but with those hotter days come the annual monsoons, during which the sky erupts in glorious displays of forked lightning. This is the time of year the desert flourishes: jeweled beetles fly through the air, coyotes roam with purpose, and cacti flower in all manner of colors. It’s a beautiful place to write and think.

3.
Spend Your Days in a Dreamy Writer’s Casita

Say goodbye to over-priced studio apartments and too many roommates. The Tucson housing market includes the ever-popular casita model, where renters can take over a smaller residence in the backyard of a main house.

In general, housing is affordable in Tucson, with the average rent for a studio apartment around $525, a one-bedroom around $620, and a two-bedroom around $800. Often, these casitas seem more like a miraculous writer’s retreat than the tiny closet other cities might tout as a good deal.

4.
Eat Your Way Through a Gastronomical Paradise

Designated the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, Tucson’s Mexican food can’t be beat. At Pico de Gallo, order tacos on fresh corn tortillas and wash them down with a horchata, jamaica or champurrado, a Mexican chocolate and corn drink. Don’t miss out on Tucson’s tamales either; make a stop at El Charro Cafe, which also claims to be the founder of the chimichanga. For something quicker, try a Sonoran hot dog at the James Beard Award winner, El Güero Canelo. These frankfurters are wrapped in bacon, then nestled inside a Mexican bolillo roll. They’re topped with chopped tomatoes and onions, pinto beans, yellow mustard, jalapeño sauce, and mayonnaise, a combination that’ll both surprise and excite the tongue. Still hungry? Dessert has to be a creamy raspado at Sonoran Delights.

Tucson’s foodie scene extends into other cuisines too. At Café Santa Rosa eat traditional fry bread from Tucson’s original inhabitants, the Tohono O’odom nation. For a dumpling craving, visit China Pasta House. If on the hunt for Ethiopian, Cafe Desta is the place to go.

Writers interested in using Tucson flavors in their own creative cooking ventures can celebrate the biodiversity of the area through Native Seeds/SEARCH, which distributes local seeds to plant, or the various farmer’s markets and Tucson CSA. With a prickly pear lemonade in hand, let Tucson diversify and excite your palate.

5.
Engage with Social and Environmental Issues

For so many writers, keen observation about the world around them is an important part of the craft. Situated in a conservative state that also borders Mexico, Tucson residents are not shy about political activism. Organizations like Mariposas Sin Fronteras, Protection Network Action Fund, and No More Deaths help bordercrossers trying to come to the US. Other associations like the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection and The Nature Conservancy focus on nature and climate issues in the area.

With a large Latinx population, deep indigenous roots, and an environmentally conscious populace, Tucson is a hub for conversations about culture and social issues, along with a conduit for exchange of questions and ideas about the world.