North Carolina Writing Groups, Workshops, and Creative Writing Classes
Here you’ll find a collection of resources for writers in North Carolina, from conferences to local critique groups, workshops, and creative writing classes. If you’re looking for writing groups near you, a workshop or class, a place to connect with other writers, or somewhere to submit your work, these North Carolina writing resources are worth checking out.
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Writing Organizations & Groups
Founded in 1956, the Burlington Writers’ Club welcomes writers working in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, plays, children’s literature, and more, with monthly meetings, workshops, member readings, and writing contests. (Burlington / Alamance County)
Carolina Piedmont Writers Guild
A nonprofit writing organization supporting writers of all genres and experience levels through meetings, mentoring, contests, literary events, and its annual journal, County Lines. (Piedmont)
A nonprofit literary arts center offering more than 50 writing classes and workshops in fiction, poetry, memoir, nonfiction, and other forms, along with free writing sessions, author events, conversations, and longer-term programs for writers working toward full-length books. (Charlotte)
Founded in 1922, the Charlotte Writers Club offers monthly meetings, craft talks, writing workshops, critique groups, open mics, contests, and other programs for writers across genres and experience levels. (Charlotte)
A hub for Asheville-area writers offering craft workshops, retreats, author events, co-working space, and other programs for writers looking to develop their work and connect with the local literary community. (Asheville)
A community writing program at UNC Asheville offering affordable university-level classes in fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, comedy, storytelling, and other forms. Courses are open to writers of all experience levels, whether or not they are enrolled at the university. (Asheville / Western North Carolina)
NC State Young and Teen Writers Workshops
One of the country’s longest-running programs for young writers, offering workshops led by professional authors and artists for children and teens interested in developing their creative writing. (Raleigh)
North Carolina Writers’ Network
A statewide organization connecting writers of all genres and experience levels through conferences, workshops, online classes, competitions, critique services, and other literary resources and events. (Statewide)
Founded in 1979, the North Carolina Haiku Society promotes the writing and appreciation of haiku in English through gatherings, readings, discussions, and its annual Haiku Holiday. (Chapel Hill / Statewide)
One of the nation’s longstanding state poetry organizations, the North Carolina Poetry Society offers meetings, contests, publications, fellowships, and other programs for a statewide community of poets and poetry lovers. (Statewide)
A long-running community of eastern North Carolina writers offering meetings, guest speakers, writing exercises, readings, and other opportunities for local writers to develop and share their work. (Washington / Eastern North Carolina)
A nonprofit literary center offering six-week writing classes, yearlong intensives, readings, retreats, contests, and other programs in fiction, memoir, poetry, and more for writers throughout the Research Triangle. (Raleigh / Triangle)
Triangle Association of Freelancers
A nonprofit organization for freelance writers offering monthly meetings, professional development, mentoring, networking, and an annual writing conference for aspiring and established writers. (Triangle)
A literary organization for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and plays, offering workshops, critique groups, open mics, contests, readings, and other programs for writers from beginners to published authors. (Winston-Salem)
Conferences, Retreats & Residencies
Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors
The largest annual book festival in the Carolinas brings more than 50 authors to downtown Winston-Salem for readings, conversations, book signings, family programming, and other literary events. (Winston-Salem)
An annual week of readings, writing workshops, craft talks, panels, and other literary events featuring visiting writers and publishing professionals. Most events are free and open to the public. (Wilmington)
Western Carolina University’s annual literary festival brings established and emerging writers to campus for several days of readings, conversations, book signings, and other literary events. Programming is free and open to the public. (Cullowhee / Western North Carolina)
Literary Magazines & Publishers
A nonprofit independent press publishing fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with a particular interest in voices and subjects historically overlooked by mainstream publishing and in writing rooted in the South. Blair accepts unagented nonfiction proposals and periodically offers contests and other submission opportunities. (Durham)
A Durham-based independent press publishing poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation, with an emphasis on short collections and chapbooks. Bull City holds recurring open reading periods and also publishes the micro-chapbook journal Inch. (Durham)
Founded in 1948 and published at UNC–Chapel Hill, The Carolina Quarterly publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art by emerging and established writers, with print issues and additional work published online. (Chapel Hill)
A longstanding literary journal publishing fiction and poetry by emerging and established writers. The journal also sponsors the annual Robert Watson Literary Prizes in fiction and poetry. (Greensboro)
Founded in 1951 by poet and publisher Jonathan Williams, the Jargon Society is an influential small press devoted to innovative poetry, art, photography, and unconventional literary work. The imprint now operates under the auspices of the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center. (Asheville)
North Carolina Literary Review
Produced at East Carolina University, North Carolina Literary Review publishes fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, drama, interviews, and criticism by or about North Carolina writers and literature. (Greenville)
An independent literary press publishing poetry, short fiction, flash nonfiction, anthologies, and craft books. Press 53 maintains recurring open submission periods and annual competitions, including its award for unpublished short-story collections. (Winston-Salem)
A biannual literary journal publishing poetry and short fiction by emerging and established writers. Raleigh Review maintains regular open submission periods, offers literary prizes, and also sponsors in-person writing workshops. (Raleigh)
An online literary journal devoted to fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry from the contemporary South, with an emphasis on showcasing both established and emerging Southern writers. (Greensboro)
Help us add to this list, North Carolinians! Do you know of writing groups near you, writing workshops near you, creative writing classes near you, or a North Carolina literary journal or publisher we should be aware of? Let us know here. We periodically review these listings for broken links and outdated information.