Frequently Asked Questions About AWP

Q: What is The Association of Writers & Writing Programs?
A: The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) is a national, nonprofit literary organization for teachers and writers. Founded in 1967, AWP is dedicated to serving writers, teachers, and writing programs. Our core services include publication of The Writer's Chronicle, the AWP Job List, and the AWP Official Guide to Creative Writing Programs. Our Career Services, are available for members only. AWP also sponsors an annual conference & a number of annual writing competitions.

Q: How do I get access to the services offered by eLink?
A: All current full members and members at membership institutions will have access and eventually a limited access to just Chronicle subscribers. Please contact our Membership Services Department at services@awpwriter.org if you have not already.
Log in to eLink

Q: My personal information has changed. How do I update it?
A: If your name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number, billing information, etc. have recently changed, you will need to let AWP know so we can update our records. To do this, please call AWP Membership Assistance at 703-993-4301 or e-mail them at awp@awpwriter.org.

Q: I am looking for the Web Board, where is it?
A: The defunct Web Board is now revamped into The Writers' Circle (Forums) and is a quantum leap from what it once was. Please visit the plethora of capabilities, options, and customization it offers now.

Q: Do I have to apply for membership? How do I become involved?
A: You do not have to submit an application for membership. Individual membership in the AWP, which includes a subscription to The Writer's Chronicle as well as the AWP Job List, is available for $65.00 for one year or $110.00 for two years. For more information on becoming a member, please see our individual membership page on this website.

Q: Do you employ freelance writers or editors? Can you publish my book?
A: AWP does not employ freelance writers or editors. While we accept submissions such as articles & interviews for The Writer's Chronicle, we do not publish works of fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction except through our contests. (See next question.) For more information about publishing opportunities, please see the sections on the AWP Award Series & our Writer's Bookshelf, where we offer books on topics such as publishing.

Q: Can you post a link to my site/program/contest on your website?
A: If you have a writing award, contest, or submit, e-mail the writer's calendar so we can add it to our listing. If it's a site/program link you want posted, the short answer is no. However, if you have a writing-related site you think our members would be interested in, post the information in our The Writer's Circle Forums. On our eLink members site, organizations may purchase banner advertisement space on the sides of our pages. We also have many levels of sponsorship.

Q: Do you offer scholarships or grants?
Every year, AWP holds the WC&C Scholarship Competition, which awards the winners full or partial tuition to attend a writers' conference of their choice. AWP also sponsors an annual competition for the publication of new book-length works--the AWP Award Series. Winners in novel, short fiction, and creative nonfiction receive publication and a cash honorarium of $2,000. The Donald Hall Prize in Poetry & Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction award the winners publication & a cash honorarias of $4,000.

Q: How do I get guidelines for the AWP Award Series?
A: The final guidelines for the AWP Award Series will be announced in August. To receive the guidelines, please send us a business-size SASE or look them up on this website.

Q: What is the Intro Contest? How do I find out the winners?
The Intro Journals Project is a literary competition for the discovery and publication of the best new works by students currently enrolled in the programs of AWP. Both graduates and undergraduates are eligible. The web page provides guidelines and a list of this year's winners in poetry, fiction, & nonfiction.

Q: Do you have workshops?
A: No, we do not offer workshops.

Q: Do you have chapters in other regions I can join?
A: Our national headquarters are located in Fairfax, VA. We do not have chapters anywhere else in the United States. Our board of directors members serve as our regional representatives. The five regions of AWP are Pacific West, West, Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast.

Q: What are some of the best creative writing programs?
A: AWP does not rank creative writing programs. We used to publish The AWP Official Guide to Writing Programs, but all of that information is now on its own, free website at The AWP Official Guide to Writing Programs. If you are wondering which writing program would be best for you, consult the Guide online for up-to-date, searchable information. Because member programs can now log into the site and update their program information any time they want, there is no need for an outdated print version.

Q: Why did AWP terminate the publication of the printed Job List?
A: The web-based AWP Job List is simply the fastest and best way for AWP to relay job opportunities to our members. Job listings, as you know, are time-sensitive and many last-minute job postings have small windows of time during which their institutions accept applications. The online Job List enables AWP to post job listings four weeks earlier than the printed version. The last printed AWP Job List was published March 15th, 2007. Whereas the printed list was published only seven times a year, the online AWP Job List is published twelve times a year, the first week of every month and updated several times a week during the month. In frequency and in timeliness, the online AWP Job List is a huge improvement in this AWP service

Q: Can I subscribe to the Job List only?
A: In order to receive access to the Job List, you must be an individual member of AWP.

Q: How does the Career Services work? Do I have to be a member first?
A: AWP will maintain, copy, and mail your dossier for job searches. For more information about Career Services, click here. You must be an individual member--not a Chronicle subscriber-- to use Career Services.

Q: Why am I not getting any issues during the summer?
A: The Writer's Chronicle follows an academic publication schedule. The online version of the AWP Job List is published the first week of every month and updated frequently throughout the month.

Q: I notified AWP of my change of address, but I'm still not receiving current issues of the Chronicle. What is wrong?
A: Please send us your change of address in advance so we may enter it into our system. Even if you send your change of address to your post office, they will not forward bulk mail, which is the method we use to send the Chronicle. Again, please contact our office at least one month before moving. This will ensure timely delivery of your AWP magazines.

Q: How do I advertise on the AWP website?
A: The AWP websites, on an average, get more than 62,000 unique visitors a month, so our website is an excellent venue for your advertisement. Ads are placed on the index pages of key sections. All reservations will be made for a 2-month period. Please allow five working days for the advertisement to be uploaded. The same discount rates that apply to ads in the Writer's Chronicle (please see inside) will also apply to online advertising. We offer two sizes for online advertising: Button ads and Skyscraper ads. For requirements, specifics, and cost, please see the Online Advertising page.

Q: Who do I contact about...?
A: Information regarding who to contact for various reasons can be found on the contacts page.

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