Donald Murray

Donald M. Murray (1924–2006) was a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, acclaimed writing teacher, and influential voice in composition studies and journalism education. He taught for many years as Professor of English at the University of New Hampshire, where he helped establish the journalism program, contributed to the development of a graduate program in composition studies, and served in roles including director of freshman English and department chair. As a journalist, he won the 1954 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing at the Boston Herald and later became well known for his long‑running “Over 60” column for The Boston Globe.

Murray authored more than ten books on the writing process and the teaching of writing, as well as poetry, fiction, and memoir. His works on writing include What a Writer Needs, Second Edition, Write to Learn, The Craft of Revision, Writer in the Newsroom, A Writer Teaches Writing, and Crafting a Life in Essay, Story, Poem. Widely regarded as a pioneer of process‑oriented writing instruction, he influenced generations of teachers and journalists and is frequently cited as one of the most important writing coaches in American journalism.