North Carolina Writers' Network

What North Carolina Writers' Network does

The North Carolina Writers' Network is a 501(c)(3) literary arts nonprofit founded on June 12, 1985, in Greensboro, North Carolina, and currently headquartered in Winston-Salem. It operates a community-driven model serving writers across North Carolina through a portfolio of programs: three annual conferences (Spring Conference, Squire Summer Writing Workshops, Fall Conference) rotating across NC university venues; eight annual writing competitions awarding over $5,000 in prizes with publication partnerships through East Carolina University's NC Literary Review and other journals; an Online Series of virtual craft and business classes; a manuscript Critique Service priced below market ($3-4/page); a Representation Reads service; and a Prison Writers Outreach program pairing volunteers with incarcerated writers in partnership with the Paul Green Foundation. Its core customer base is ~1,400 individual members, with a wider reach of 4,000-6,000 monthly website visitors and 1,350+ weekly e-blast subscribers.

The organization runs on a distributed revenue model combining recurring membership dues, conference registration fees (e.g., Spring ~$150, Squire $30-500), competition entry fees, per-page critique charges, advertising placements ($250-800/month), sponsorships (Dogwood $1,500, Longleaf $900), and merchandise. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by 18+ Regional Representatives hosting free monthly events across NC counties, supplemented by the Network Weekly e-blast, Highway 64 blog, social channels (@NCWriters, @writingeststate), and the NC Literary Calendar. Operations are lean: 2 core staff (Executive Director Ed Southern, in role since 2008, and Membership Director Kaylie Saidin) plus 2 seasonal interns from Davidson College, working remotely around the state since 2008. In 2026, the organization received a five-year general operating grant from the Literary Arts Fund as one of 40 inaugural recipients of a national initiative supporting creative-writing service nonprofits.

Name

North Carolina Writers' Network

Legal name

North Carolina Writers' Network

Website

https://ncwriters.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The North Carolina Writers' Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 that serves ~1,400 individual writer members across North Carolina through annual conferences, writing competitions, online classes, and critique services, with 2 core staff and remote operations based in Winston-Salem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Arts Community Services

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), All Other Publishers (513199), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Literary Arts & Writing Organizations (BPAGAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creative Nonfiction & Memoir Workshops (EDAMAMAC), Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI), Writing Critique Groups & Peer Workshops (EDAMAMAJ), Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Writing community services
• Writing workshops conferences
• Fiction poetry contests
• Manuscript critique services
• Creative writing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to programs, services, competitions, critique service, regional events, and member-only content including the Network Weekly e-blast and archived online class videos.
2. Writing Competitions Entry Fees: Eight annual competitions awarding over $5,000 in prizes, including Doris Betts Fiction Prize, Barrax/Bayes Poetry Contest, Jacobs/Jones African-American Literary Prize, Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Competition, Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, Marianne Gingher Flash Prose Contest, Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition, and NCWN Weymouth Fellowship.
3. Conference Registration: Three annual conferences with registration fees: Spring Conference (~$150), Fall Conference, and Squire Summer Writing Workshops (~$30-500 range). Includes workshops, master classes, readings, and networking.
4. Critique Service: Manuscript critique service at below-market rates: $4/page for pages 5-50, $3/page for remaining pages, plus $15-30 administrative fee. Available exclusively to members.
5. Advertising: Advertising opportunities including website banners ($400-800/month), newsletter ads ($250-600), weekly e-blast placements ($250-500/week), and conference packet insertions ($100-150). Also sponsorships and advertising packages (Dogwood $1,500, Longleaf $900).
6. Merchandise Sales: Official NCWN merchandise including t-shirts sold through Bonfire marketplace.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

North Carolina Writers' Network is a literary arts 501(c)(3) nonprofit that creates and nurtures community for writers through annual conferences (Spring Conference, Squire Summer Writing Workshops, Fall Conference), eight annual writing competitions awarding more than $5,000 in prizes, an Online Series of craft and business classes, and member services including a manuscript Critique Service, Representation Reads, and Prison Writers Outreach. The Network charges annual membership dues, conference registration fees, competition entry fees, critique service page-rate fees, and advertising/sponsorship rates to fund programming for roughly 1,400 dedicated writers primarily across North Carolina.

Product overview

The North Carolina Writers' Network is a literary nonprofit organization offering a suite of programs and services for writers at all stages of development. Its core offerings include three annual conferences (Spring Conference, Squire Summer Writing Workshops, and Fall Conference), eight annual writing competitions awarding over $5,000 in prizes, an Online Series of virtual classes, and member services including a Critique Service, Representation Reads, and Prison Writers Outreach. These programs collectively serve the Network's mission to create and nurture community for those who care about writing, providing education in craft and business, opportunities for recognition, and community connection across North Carolina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NCWN-West: A program of the North Carolina Writers' Network for writers in the state's westernmost counties.
• Highway 64
• NCWN A.I. Statement

Products and services

• Annual Conferences (Spring Conference, Squire Summer Writing Workshops, Fall Conference) Three annual in-person conferences — Spring Conference, Squire Summer Writing Workshops, and Fall Conference — that bring together hundreds of writers for craft workshops, master classes, readings, panel discussions, keynote addresses, Manuscript Mart, and networking with agents, editors, and other writers. Hosted at rotating NC university and regional venues (e.g., UNC Greensboro, Appalachian State, Wrightsville Beach). Registration is per-event.
• Annual Writing Competitions Eight annual writing competitions awarding more than $5,000 in prizes, including the Doris Betts Fiction Prize, Barrax/Bayes Poetry Contest, Jacobs/Jones African-American Literary Prize, Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Competition, Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, Marianne Gingher Flash Prose Contest, Randall Jarrell Poetry Competition, and NCWN Weymouth Fellowship. Winners receive cash prizes ($200-$1,000) plus publication opportunities in partner literary journals. Submissions accepted via Submittable.
• Online Series (Online Classes) Online classes offered each year in June, October, and December through March, covering craft and business-of-writing topics taught by accomplished instructors. Members receive access to archived video recordings of past sessions. Registration is per-class via the website.
• Critique Service Members-only manuscript critique service providing feedback on unpublished work by established writers and editors at below-market rates. Critiques take a macro view with comments on constituent elements and overall effectiveness. Pricing: $4/page for pages 5-50; $3/page for pages beyond 50; plus $15 electronic or $30 print administrative fee. Manuscript submitted via email as a Word document.
• Representation Reads Service connecting writers with qualified readers who provide feedback to help avoid false or clichéd portrayals and bring characters to life fully and responsibly. Targeted at writers whose work involves identities or experiences outside their own lived experience.
• Prison Writers Outreach Program pairing NCWN volunteers with currently incarcerated writers in North Carolina State facilities to correspond about the craft and business of writing, encouraging creative expression through mentorship. Supported by the Paul Green Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $5,000 awarded annually in competition prizes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Davidson College (Department of English)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavidson College, through Alan Michael Parker and the Department of English, provides funding and course credit for two Creative Communications Interns serving the Network each summer.
• Weymouth Center for the Arts and HumanitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Weymouth Center in Southern Pines provides residency space for the NCWN Weymouth Fellowship, which awards $500 annually to cover travel and supplies for a writer's week-long residency.
• Appalachian State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Squire Summer Writing Workshops 2026 (July 16-19) in Boone, NC. Previously hosted at Davidson, Winston-Salem, and other NC venues.
• University of North Carolina GreensborominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Spring Conference 2026 at UNC Greensboro on April 18. Previously hosted at Asheville, Durham, Charlotte, and other NC locations.
• UNC Wilmington (Department of Creative Writing)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNC Wilmington co-hosts Writers' Week Conference annually in November and provides MFA reading series, collaborating on literary programming.
• North Carolina Literary Review (East Carolina University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCLR provides publication opportunities for winners of multiple NCWN competitions including Doris Betts Fiction Prize, Barrax/Bayes Poetry Contest, Jacobs/Jones African-American Literary Prize, and others.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/WritingestState
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyrJepmblOCol0M_hv3Syzg
• Facebookfacebook.com/NCWriters
• Instagraminstagram.com/writingeststate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ncwn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 North Carolina Writers' Network