Today we're kicking off a new series for writers, The Writer's World. Through it, we will bring you news, information, and resources to help expand your writing community. We'll highlight organizations, web sites, blogs, prizes, and basically anything we love that we think will help writers. And how could we start with anything other than AWP?
The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) is a great organization for writers of all stripes. Their mission is to "foster literary achievement, advance the art of writing as essential to a good education, and serve the makers, teachers, students, and readers of contemporary writing." To that end, their website has great resources and information for writers, they host a the largest literary conference in North America each spring, and sponsor a variety of annual contests and awards.
Submissions for AWP's largest prizes, their annual Award Series, start next month. The awards are granted to one work of creative nonfiction, one novel, one poetry collection, and one work of short fiction each year. Each winner receives a cash prize and publication a selected press. Get your submissions ready--they will only be accepted from January 1 to February 28: https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/awp_award_series_overview
They also offer scholarships to their annual conference. Submissions are accepted through March 30.
If you've never been, it's a must (or at least worth the time it takes to apply for a scholarship). Thousands of writers, publishers, teachers, and book geeks attend hundreds of readings, lectures, panels, book signings, and general literary festivities over four days. According to AWP, "more than 10,000 writers and readers attended our 2012 conference, and 600 exhibitors were represented at our bookfair."
Exhibitors range from the big five publishing houses, to tattooed hipsters giving out whiskey shots while they sell their handmade poetry journal. The conference fills up fast--at last check the main hotel was already booked for this year's confernece in Boston. So meet Randolph Lundine at this year's meeting and see how many clever stickers, buttons, and tote bags you can bring home: https://www.awpwriter.org/contests/wcc_scholarships_overview