Poets & Writers

Poets & Writers, Inc. is the largest nonprofit literary organization in the United States serving poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. It is a source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers.

History

In 1970, the director of New York’s famed 92nd Street YM-YWHA Poetry Center, Galen Williams, leveraged seed money from the New York State Council on the Arts to launch a new organization for writers that would provide them with fees for giving readings and teaching workshops. Begun in an apartment on the fringe of the theater district, Poets & Writers has grown into the one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country for writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

In its first decade, in addition to supporting writers and literary events, Poets & Writers became a national clearinghouse of information. By 1973, it had compiled much of its knowledge into A Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers, a photocopied and stapled publication that listed contact information for writers. Subsequent supplements and updates to the Directory began to include literary news, advice to writers, and information on grants and awards. Gradually, this evolved into a 32-page newsletter, "Coda", which in turn became the foundation for "Poets & Writers Magazine", launched in 1987.

Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, Poets & Writers cultivated new sources of revenue, enabling the organization to expand its programs and publications. Award-winning editorial and design changes elevated "Poets & Writers Magazine" to new subscription and advertising levels. The organization’s Readings/Workshops program was offered in new regions across the country, connecting writers and audiences in California, Chicago and Detroit, in addition to New York State, where the program began. And the Writers Exchange program, which would introduce writers to the New York literary community, was initiated.

In 1990, P&W opened a satellite office in Berkeley to administer its Readings/Workshops program in California and provide technical assistance to the state’s literary presenters. The office, now located in Los Angeles, continues to play a vital role in knitting together literary communities throughout the state.

Launched in 1996, Poets & Writers Online has become a virtual resource center for thousands of writers, with up-to-date information on grants and awards, literary magazines, presses, jobs, and literary events; an active message forum on topics of interest to writers, and online-only content from "Poets & Writers Magazine".

In 2006, Poets & Writers successfully completed its first capital campaign, raising $3 million and establishing an endowment to bring the Readings/Workshops program to six new cities: Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, Seattle, Tucson, and Washington, D.C.

And in 2007, Poets & Writers introduced the Jackson Poetry Prize, which each year awards $50,000 to a distinguished early to mid-career poet.

Prizes Sponsored by Poets & Writers

Jackson Poetry Prize

The Jackson Poetry Prize, established in 2006, honors an American poet of exceptional talent who has published at least one book of recognized literary merit but has not yet received major national acclaim. The $50,000 prize is designed to provide what all poets need—time and the encouragement to write. There is no application process for the Jackson Poetry Prize—nominees are identified by a group of poets selected by Poets & Writers who remain anonymous; final selection is made by a panel of esteemed poets.

The 2008 Jackson Poetry Prize recipient is Tony Hoagland, who was selected by Philip Levine, Robert Pinsky, and Ellen Bryant Voigt.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award

Initiated in 1984, the Writers Exchange Award provides two emerging writers with an all-expenses-paid trip to New York where P&W arranges meetings with agents, editors, and prominent authors. The winners' visit culminates in a public reading in Manhattan.

Each year, two writers from one state are invited to submit manuscripts to Poets & Writers. To date, 76 writers from 30 states have received the Writers Exchange Award. Many of the winners have gone on to get their books published, receive other awards, and secure teaching positions. In 2007, a special grant enabled P&W to offer the Writers Exchange to two writers from California. Two writers from Missouri also received the Writers Exchange Award this year.

Writers who live in Tenessee are invited to apply for the 2009 Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award.

The Amy Award

The Amy Award is presented to women poets age 30 and under living in the New York City metropolitan area or on Long Island. Winners receive an honorarium and a reading in New York City. The award was established by Paula Trachtman and Edward Butscher of East Hampton, New York in memory of Ms. Trachtman's daughter, Amy Rothholz, an actor and poet.

Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award

Established in 1996, the Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, which is presented at P&W's annual dinner, recognizes authors who have given generously to other writers or to the broader literary community. Honorees are nominated by a committee composed of past winners, other prominent writers, and the Board of Directors of Poets & Writers. Title of the award has been given to Barnes & Noble in appreciation of their extraordinary support of Poets & Writers.

[http://pw.org/about-us/barnes_amp_noble_writers_writers_award View a list of past winners.]

References

[http://www.pw.org Poets & Writers official site]

[http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/love-marilyn/ New York Times Paper Cuts Blog]