Association of Writers & Writing Programs

08/28/2026

In August’s WRITER’S CHRONICLE, Maria Hummel dives deep into what makes a compelling villain in a work of fiction. Members and subscribers can read “My Antagonist” in full now.

Maria Hummel investigates what makes a three-dimensional villain.

08/28/2026

Why wait for writers to come to you? Go to them! They’ll be waiting at the Bookfair in Chicago, March 17–20, 2027. Reserve your organization’s exhibit space on our website.

Copyright © 2025 by AWP. All rights reserved.

08/28/2026

We’re delighted to present the ten finalists for the 2026 James Alan McPherson Prize for the Novel! One winner, selected by Justin Torres, will receive $5,500 and publication by the University of Nebraska Press. Congrats to all finalists of the AWP Award Series! Winners will be announced later this year.

Justin Torres is the author of Blackouts, which won the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction, as well as the California Book Award, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Lambda Literary Award. A 2024 Guggenheim fellow, he’s also re...

08/27/2026

Folio Literary Management is accepting applications for its twelve-week Intern Academy, a program designed to introduce college students to the many aspects of literary representation and book publishing! AWP members can learn more on our Job List.

Copyright © 2025 by AWP. All rights reserved.

08/27/2026

We’re thrilled to present the 2026 finalists for the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction! One of these finalists will be selected by judge Weike Wang to receive $5,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, an imprint of The Ohio State University Press. Check back tomorrow for this year’s novel finalists!

Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction: $5,500 and publication by Mad Creek Books, an imprint of The Ohio State University Press.

08/26/2026

This National Dog Day, Attendee Relations Specialist & Brand Ambassador Solo wants to know: Are you coming to in Chicago? Register now!

An in-person registration to includes admission to all events, readings, panel discussions, meetings, the bookfair, and public receptions over the days of the conference, as well as all…

08/26/2026

A huge congrats to the finalists of the 2026 Sue William Silverman Prize for Creative Nonfiction! One winner, selected by judge Kiese Laymon, will receive $2,500 and publication by the University of Georgia Press. Stay tuned for more AWP Award Series finalists announcements this week!

Kiese Laymon is a Black Southern writer from Jackson, Mississippi. Laymon is the Libbie Shearn Moody Professor of English and Creative Writing at Rice University. Laymon is the author of Long Division, which won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for fiction, and the essay collection How to Slowly Kill Your...

08/25/2026

The Miami University Novella Prize will award $1,000 to a winning novella-length manuscript of fiction! Submit your entry by September 1. AWP members can learn more about this opportunity on the Contests & Calls directory.

Copyright © 2025 by AWP. All rights reserved.

08/25/2026

We are so excited to announce the ten finalists for AWP’s 2026 Donald Hall Prize for Poetry! One winner (to be announced later this year) will receive $5,500 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Thank you to Maggie Smith for judging! Stay tuned this week for more AWP Award Series finalists.

Maggie Smith is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of nine books of poetry and prose, including A Suit or a Suitcase, Dear Writer, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Good Bones, Goldenrod, Keep Moving, and My Thoughts Have Wings. A 2011 recipient of a Creative Writing Fellowship....

08/25/2026

What’s a book you recommend to everyone, no matter what?