Poets & Writers

Poets & Writers is the largest nonprofit organization serving creative writers in the United States of America. Its mission is to foster the professional development of poets and writers, promote communication throughout the literary community, and help create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible public.

From the About Us Page

Poets & Writers was founded in 1970 and is the biggest nonprofit organization serving creative writers in the United States of America.

Our mission? To foster the professional development of poets and writers, to promote communication throughout the literary community, and to help create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible public.

Each year, tens of thousands of poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers benefit from P&W’s programs, which include its eponymous magazine; a dynamic, information-rich website; financial support for readings and other literary events; and sponsorship of several notable writing prizes and awards.

Poets & Writers Magazine

The bimonthly Poets & Writers Magazine addresses issues of importance to creative writers, from finding an agent to promoting one’s book. It publishes essays on the literary life, profiles of contemporary authors, and listings of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prize winners. Each issue reaches more than 100,000 writers.

Poets & Writers Website

The website, pw.org, receives one million unique visitors per year, and provides information about how to get published, and access to an active community of writers who share information, support, and advice with one another. Poets & Writers staff members respond directly to queries via e-mail, telephone, and letter, offering answers to writers’ questions on topics ranging from first book contents to applying for MFA programs.

The website publishes some of the articles from the magazine and includes the following resources:

• A Directory of Poets & Writers, which provides contact information, publication credits, and biographical information for more than 9,300 authors;
• A database of literary magazines and journals,
• A database of small and independent presses,
• A directory of literary agents,
• A database MFA programs,
• An extensive database of writing contests,
• and literary places;
• a calendar for literary events around the United States.

Readings & Workshops

The Poets & Writers Readings & Workshops program has paid writers fees for giving readings and leading workshops since 1970.

Annually, it supports more than 750 writers participating in over 2,000 literary events throughout New York State and California, as well as in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, Tucson, and Washington, D.C. It distributes more than $200,000 annually in the form of matching grants (restricted to the payment of writers’ fees) to a variety of organizations—from community centers to major art museums.

Poets & Writers has maintained a satellite office in California since 1989. In addition to overseeing the Readings & Workshops program in California, Houston, Seattle, and Tucson, this office convenes regional meetings in California that bring together writers and literary presenters.

Prizes for Writers

Poets & Writers sponsors a select number of notable prizes for writers, including the Jackson Poetry Prize, the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award, the Barnes & Noble Writers for Writer Award, and the Amy Award.

The Literary Network

Poets & Writers is  a co-founder of The Literary Network, a coalition of nonprofit literary organizations, presses, and magazines which champions the cause of freedom of expression and advocates on behalf of writers for public funding of literature and the arts.

Friends of Poets & Writers

You can help Poets & Writers continue their work by joining the Friends of Poets & Writers. This is a group of generous individuals who help make all of the organization’s programs possible.