Association of Writers & Writing Programs
Encyclopedia
The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) is a literary organization whose mission is "to foster literary talent and achievement, to advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, and to serve the makers, teachers, students, and readers of contemporary writing."
, that offer degree-conferring programs in creative writing. Individual writers may also be members.
The official publication of AWP is The Writer's Chronicle
, established in 1967, and annually AWP holds a conference for both members and non-members of the organization. AWP publishes a job list for writers, has a career services program that maintains dossiers for members, and sponsors annual contests for book publication in fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. AWP hosts an annual award series contest for novel, short fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. They also established Writers' Conferences & Centers (WC&C) a division of AWP designed to promote and disseminate information about writing conferences, centers, retreats, and festivals. In 2007 their AWP Official Guide to Writing Programs became its own free, searchable website.
The Writer's Chronicle reaches more and more people each year. Now with so many university presses and prizes plus the steadily increasing number of internet electronic magazines (ezines), also known as online magazines, there is a surge in interest. Although most ezines are the counter-culture to the academic press, the Writer's Chronicle is a resource for both.
, Rhode Island
by R.V. Cassill and George Garrett to support the growing presence of literary writers in American higher education. At that time, Departments of English were mainly conservatories of the literature of the past, and many scholars resisted the establishment of creative writing programs. Fifteen writers who represented twelve writing programs established AWP aiming to overcome this resistance, to give mutual support and to encourage new programs, and to provide publishing opportunities for young writers.
In 1971 the organization moved from Brown University
to Washington College
, in Chestertown
, Maryland
. In 1978 it moved to Old Dominion University
, Norfolk
, Virginia
. In 1994, the organization moved to its present headquarters, at George Mason University
in Fairfax
, Virginia.
Future conferences include:
2012 Chicago
February 29-March 3, 2012
Hilton Chicago & Palmer House Hilton
2013 Boston, Massachusetts
March 6-9, 2013
Sheraton Hotel & Hynes Convention Center
2014 Seattle, Washington
February 26-March 1, 2014
Sheraton Seattle & Washington State Convention Center
2015 Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 8-11, 2015
Hilton Minneapolis & Minneapolis Convention Center
2016 Los Angeles, California
March 30-April 2, 2016
JW Marriott L.A. & Los Angeles Convention Center
AWP sponsors an annual competition for the publication of new book-length works.
The Donald Hall
Prize for Poetry is an award of $5,000 and publication.
The Grace Paley
Prize for Short Fiction is an award of $5,000 and publication. Winners in the novel and creative nonfiction categories receive a $2,000 cash honorarium and publication.
AWP hires a staff of “screeners” who review manuscripts for the judges, who select ten manuscripts in each genre for each judge’s final evaluations.
AWP also sponsors the WC&C Scolarship Competition, which provides scholarships for emerging writers who wish to attend a writers’ conference, center, retreat, festival, or residency. The 2010 competition was judged by poet Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, and the award winners were Chidelia Edochie for fiction, and Dilruba Ahmed in poetry.
Members
AWP comprises more than 500 colleges and universities, mostly in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, that offer degree-conferring programs in creative writing. Individual writers may also be members.
The official publication of AWP is The Writer's Chronicle
The Writer's Chronicle
The Writer's Chronicle is a journal published 6 times each year. It is the flagship publication of the Association of Writers & Writing Programs....
, established in 1967, and annually AWP holds a conference for both members and non-members of the organization. AWP publishes a job list for writers, has a career services program that maintains dossiers for members, and sponsors annual contests for book publication in fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. AWP hosts an annual award series contest for novel, short fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. They also established Writers' Conferences & Centers (WC&C) a division of AWP designed to promote and disseminate information about writing conferences, centers, retreats, and festivals. In 2007 their AWP Official Guide to Writing Programs became its own free, searchable website.
The Writer's Chronicle reaches more and more people each year. Now with so many university presses and prizes plus the steadily increasing number of internet electronic magazines (ezines), also known as online magazines, there is a surge in interest. Although most ezines are the counter-culture to the academic press, the Writer's Chronicle is a resource for both.
History
The organization was founded in 1967 in ProvidenceProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
by R.V. Cassill and George Garrett to support the growing presence of literary writers in American higher education. At that time, Departments of English were mainly conservatories of the literature of the past, and many scholars resisted the establishment of creative writing programs. Fifteen writers who represented twelve writing programs established AWP aiming to overcome this resistance, to give mutual support and to encourage new programs, and to provide publishing opportunities for young writers.
In 1971 the organization moved from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
to Washington College
Washington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
, in Chestertown
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. In 1978 it moved to Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
, Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. In 1994, the organization moved to its present headquarters, at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
in Fairfax
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
, Virginia.
Conferences
The AWP continues to grow and reach more and more people. In 2005, the first international conference was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. AWP holds an Annual Conference in a different region of North America, featuring over 1600 presenters and 400 presentations, readings, lectures, panel discussions, book signings, and receptions. The 2009 conference was held in Chicago. The conference attracts more than 9000 attendees and is the largest literary conference in North America.Future conferences include:
2012 Chicago
February 29-March 3, 2012
Hilton Chicago & Palmer House Hilton
2013 Boston, Massachusetts
March 6-9, 2013
Sheraton Hotel & Hynes Convention Center
2014 Seattle, Washington
February 26-March 1, 2014
Sheraton Seattle & Washington State Convention Center
2015 Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 8-11, 2015
Hilton Minneapolis & Minneapolis Convention Center
2016 Los Angeles, California
March 30-April 2, 2016
JW Marriott L.A. & Los Angeles Convention Center
Awards
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Association_of_Writers_%26_Writing_Programs&action=edit§ion=4AWP sponsors an annual competition for the publication of new book-length works.
The Donald Hall
Donald Hall
Donald Hall is an American poet. He was appointed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 2006.-Personal life:...
Prize for Poetry is an award of $5,000 and publication.
The Grace Paley
Grace Paley
Grace Paley was an American-Jewish short story writer, poet, and political activist.-Biography:Grace Paley was born in the Bronx to Isaac and Manya Ridnyik Goodside, who anglicized the family name from Gutseit on immigrating from Ukraine. Her father was a doctor. The family spoke Russian and...
Prize for Short Fiction is an award of $5,000 and publication. Winners in the novel and creative nonfiction categories receive a $2,000 cash honorarium and publication.
AWP hires a staff of “screeners” who review manuscripts for the judges, who select ten manuscripts in each genre for each judge’s final evaluations.
AWP also sponsors the WC&C Scolarship Competition, which provides scholarships for emerging writers who wish to attend a writers’ conference, center, retreat, festival, or residency. The 2010 competition was judged by poet Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, and the award winners were Chidelia Edochie for fiction, and Dilruba Ahmed in poetry.