15 North Carolina Writing Resources
Posted by David Duhr in 
Up next in our State Writing Resources series is the good old Tar Heel State, North Carolina. The Province of North Carolina, which then included some of Tennessee, was one of the original thirteen colonies, and the twelfth admitted to the Union. North Carolina writing boasts such luminaries as Anne Tyler, Armistead Maupin and Thomas Wolfe. Maya Angelou spent much of her life in North Carolina. One of my favorites, Tom Robbins, was born a Tar Heel, as were Lionel Shriver and Jill McDonough.
Presented in no particular order, here are 15 North Carolina writing resources, from conferences to local critique groups to literary magazines. If you are a Tar Heel or are planning to become one, these are some organizations you might want to take a peek at.
1) North Carolina Haiku Society
Founded in 1979 to promote the writing and appreciation of haiku in English. Offers readings and other events.
2) North Carolina Poetry Society
Founded in 1932, this is an organization for poets and friends of poetry. Holds annual meetings and a poetry festival for its 400 members.
3) Poetry Alive Summer Residencies
Offers an accredited week-long summer residency program for educators on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
A group of writers who write fiction, nonfiction, plays and poetry. Offers programs, workshops, critique groups, open mic nights, web-based writing, contests and writers’ nights out.
Publishes a variety of poetry, fiction, essays, reviews and artwork three times a year.
6) UNC Wilmington Writers Week
Annual event bringing together visiting writers of local and national interest, UNCW students, and members of the general public with an interest in literature and writing. Activities throughout the week include workshops, panels and readings.
Sponsors three conferences each year—a spring conference in April, a writing residency in July, and a fall conference in late October or November. These conferences bring together hundreds of writers for workshops, readings, networking and lively discussion.
Published twice a year, offers poetry and black-and-white artwork.
Founded in 1965, publishes poetry and fiction.
10) Jargon Society
Publishes books, sponsors programs in literature and the arts, and occasionally provides support for a poet or photographer who is deserving but unrecognized.
11) North Carolina Literary Review
Published annually by East Carolina University and the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association, it offers poetry, fiction and nonfiction by North Carolina writers, interviews with North Carolina writers, and articles and essays about North Carolina writers, literature, and literary history and culture.
12) Carolinas Writers Conference
An annual conference bringing together North Carolina writers and readers.
Supports the work of writers and promotes their development through education, recognition and community in celebration of the written word.
14) North Carolina Literary Trails
More than 30 day-long and half-day tours place you in the communities where some of the state’s most notable writers have lived and worked. Each tour includes excerpts of the authors’ writing as well as information about libraries, museums, colleges, bookstores and other public venues where writers present their work or are featured in exhibitions, events, performances and festivals.
15) Book ‘Em Writers Conference
Brings together more than 75 authors under one roof to sell and sign their books, participate in panel discussions and talks, network and interact with fans one-on-one.
Help us add to this list, North Carolinians! Do you run a local writing group or a lit journal we should be aware of? Feel free to share info and links in the comments section below.
[…] Which, as I see now, is only sixth in the U.S. in tobacco production. North Carolina is first, and we’ve already covered it. I got my Carolinae confused! But it’s far, far too late to rewrite this lame intro […]