What Poets & Writers does

Poets & Writers is a nonprofit literary support organization founded in 1970 and headquartered in New York City that functions as the primary information clearinghouse for creative writers in the United States. Its core offering is a suite of editorially-vetted, searchable databases covering 800+ literary magazines, 280+ small presses, 220+ literary agents, 540+ writing contests and grants, 250+ MFA programs, 200+ conferences and residencies, 630+ literary places, and 50+ book review outlets. The organization publishes Poets & Writers Magazine in print and digital editions with archives dating to 1987, and operates complementary products including a 10,000+ member Poets & Writers Directory, the Poets & Writers Groups online community, a Submission Tracker tool, and recurring content features (Craft Capsules, The Time Is Now prompts, Agents & Editors Recommend, Writers Recommend, and an archive of 400+ author audio readings).

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit construct combining consumer-grade recurring revenue (magazine subscriptions priced at half newsstand), transactional revenue ($4.99 PDF subject guides covering publicity, book deals, agents, MFA programs, and contests), classified advertising for contests, workshops, and editing services, and donation-based fundraising. Supporting programs include the Readings & Workshops mini-grants program, the Get the Word Out publicity incubator for debut authors, the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award, and Poets & Writers Live in-person and virtual events. Distribution is primarily self-serve via pw.org, with audience development through Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and a Constant Contact newsletter.

The platform is built on standard web technology with searchable databases and has no disclosed API, SDK, proprietary AI/ML capabilities, or mobile applications. Customer segments are horizontal and persona-based: individual writers (primary), literary translators, literary professionals (agents, editors, publishers), and reading series coordinators. The organization reports 1-10 employees, no parent company, no venture or private equity backing, and global geographic scope for its databases and global outreach claims, while event programming is concentrated in U.S. cities.

Name

Poets & Writers

Legal name

Poets & Writers

Website

https://pw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Poets & Writers is a nonprofit founded in 1970 that serves as the primary information clearinghouse for creative writers, providing editorially-vetted databases of literary magazines, agents, MFA programs, and contests, along with a magazine, directory, and writer-support programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Information Services

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literary & Classics Publishing (MPAJAAAC), Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI), Writing Retreats & Intensive Bootcamps (EDAMAMAK)

Keywords

• Literary information services
• Writing contests database
• Literary magazines directory
• Creative writing resources
• MFA programs database

Headquarters

HQ city

Big Sandy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Poets & Writers Magazine is available in print and digital editions. Subscriptions are offered at half the newsstand price.
2. Guide Publications: PDF-format handbooks on subjects including publicity, book deals, literary agents, MFA programs, and writing contests sold at $4.99 each.
3. Classified Advertising: Paid listings for writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, and calls for submissions.
4. Donations: The organization accepts donations and operates as a nonprofit, with a donate option prominently featured on the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Poets & Writers is a nonprofit literary organization that operates an information clearinghouse for creative writers through the pw.org website, hosting searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, MFA programs, conferences and residencies, and book review outlets. It publishes Poets & Writers Magazine in print and digital editions, sells subject-specific PDF guides for $4.99 each, and runs direct-service programs including the Readings & Workshops mini-grants program, the Get the Word Out publicity incubator for debut authors, and the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award, while maintaining a community Directory of more than 10,000 poets and writers.

Product overview

Poets & Writers is a nonprofit literary support organization offering a comprehensive suite of databases, programs, and publications for writers. The core offering centers on multiple searchable databases: Writing Contests Database (540+ listings), Literary Magazines Database (800+ journals), Small Presses Database (280+ publishers), Literary Agents Database (220+ agents), MFA Programs Database (250+ programs), Conferences & Residencies Database (200+ opportunities), Book Review Outlets Database (50+ outlets), and a Poets & Writers Directory (10,000+ writer listings). Supporting programs include Get the Word Out (publicity incubator), Readings & Workshops grants, and the Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award. The organization publishes Poets & Writers Magazine in print and digital formats, along with PDF guides ($4.99 each) and provides features like The Time Is Now writing prompts, Craft Capsules, Writers Recommend, and Author Readings archive. Poets & Writers Groups enables online community connection, and Poets & Writers Live hosts in-person and virtual author events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Poets & Writers Magazine: The award-winning magazine published by Poets & Writers, covering the literary world with articles, interviews, profiles, and the Grants & Awards section.
• Poets & Writers Directory
• Get the Word Out
• Readings & Workshops

Products and services

• Poets & Writers Magazine Award-winning magazine published in print and digital editions, containing essays, articles, interviews, profiles, craft advice, and the Grants & Awards section. Subscriptions are offered at half the newsstand price.
• Writing Contests Database Searchable database of more than 540 poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, novel awards, and translator grants, each vetted by editorial staff for legitimacy.
• Literary Magazines Database Database of nearly 1,000 vetted literary journals and magazines, with editorial policies, submission guidelines, and contact information for poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers.
• Small Presses Database Database of over 280 small press publishers with submission guidelines, editor tips, contact information, and details about representative authors.
• Literary Agents Database Database of more than 220 agents representing poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, including client details, submission preferences, and contact information.
• MFA Programs Database Database of more than 250 full- and low-residency MFA programs and over 50 MA and PhD programs, with details on deadlines, funding, class size, and core faculty.
• Conferences & Residencies Database Database of more than 300 writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world for writers seeking peers or focused writing environments.
• Book Review Outlets Database Database of more than 50 newspapers, magazines, and websites that consistently publish book reviews, with publishing schedules, submission guidelines, and fee information.
• Poets & Writers Directory Membership directory where more than 10,000 poets and writers maintain listings to connect with peers, editors, agents, and reading series coordinators.
• Poets & Writers Guides Series of subject-based PDF handbooks sold for $4.99 each, including guides to publicity and promotion, the book deal, literary agents, MFA programs, and writing contests.
• Readings & Workshops Program Annual program providing support, including mini-grants, to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.
• Get the Word Out Publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets, featuring a six-session online publicity workshop, seminars with media and marketing professionals, and a peer learning community.
• Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award Annual award that introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing a network for professional advancement.
• Poets & Writers Live In-person and virtual events featuring readings and conversations with debut authors and acclaimed writers, held in cities across the country and online.
• Poets & Writers Groups Online community platform that lets writers find or create writers groups and connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Catapult: Catapult is a literary publisher and online writing community offering books, magazine content, and writing classes. It overlaps P&W's audience of writers and readers and competes in adjacent content and education categories.
• Tin House: Tin House is a literary publisher and former literary magazine (Tin House) known for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry publishing, with the Tin House Summer Workshop. It directly parallels P&W's exposure to literary publishing and writers' workshop programming.
• The Paris Review: The Paris Review is a renowned literary magazine (now nonprofit) publishing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and author interviews, with an archive of craft-focused content. It directly parallels P&W Magazine as a literary magazine serving writers and serious readers.
• Writer's Digest: Writer's Digest is a long-established commercial media brand (magazine, books, conferences, competitions) serving aspiring and working writers. It overlaps P&W's audience and offerings (competitions, conferences, how-to content) but as a for-profit incumbent rather than a nonprofit clearinghouse.

Direct peers

• Electric Literature: Electric Literature is a nonprofit digital literary magazine and community publisher producing Recommended Reading, The Commuter, and other reader-facing content. It shares P&W's nonprofit literary media model and audience of writers, editors, and engaged readers.
• The Kenyon Review: The Kenyon Review is a literary magazine associated with Kenyon College that also runs the Kenyon Review Writers Workshops and Young Writers Workshop. It directly parallels P&W's combination of literary publishing and workshop/retreat programming for writers.
• GrubStreet: GrubStreet is one of the largest independent creative writing centers in the U.S., offering workshops, conferences, consulting, and writing contests. It directly parallels P&W's programming mission (Readings & Workshops, Get the Word Out) and serves the same emerging-to-established writer audience.
• Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP): AWP is the largest nonprofit organization serving writers and writing programs in the U.S., operating a national conference, The Writer's Chronicle magazine, and a joblist/guidelines service. It is the most direct peer to Poets & Writers, sharing mission, audience (writers, MFA students, program administrators), and nonprofit funding model.
• Lambda Literary: Lambda Literary is a nonprofit organization nurturing, celebrating, and advancing LGBTQ+ literature through the Lambda Literary Awards, writing retreats, and writer mentorship programs. It mirrors P&W's combination of a literary awards program, retreat/conference offerings, and writer-support services.
• Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP): CLMP is a nonprofit arts service organization supporting independent literary publishers through advocacy, technical assistance, and resources. It directly overlaps P&W's ecosystem focus on literary magazines and small presses and serves many of the same publisher-side constituents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/poetswritersinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/poetsandwriters
• Instagraminstagram.com/poetswritersinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Poets & Writers