AWP Resources & Documents

We offer the following free resources for AWP members & the public

A directory of over 500 AWP member schools

A directory of over 100 writers' conferences and centers

Links to literary websites across the globe

AWP Articles of Recent Interest

2009-2010 Survey Results, MFA in Creative Writing Programs in the United States
AWP's comprehensive survey of MFA programs in the United States, which was conducted in 2009-2010.

"Creative Writing & Its Discontents" (2000)
An apology for the teaching of creative writing. Written by the Executive Director of AWP, the essay includes an overview of the history of creative writing as an academic discipline.

"The Growth of Creative Writing Programs"
A brief history of AWP by David Fenza, Executive Director

AWP Hallmarks & Guidelines

These documents establish professional standards for degree conferring programs in creative writing. Download the complete AWP Director's Handbook. (rev. 2012)

The Director's Handbook- 2012 (917KB)

• Handbook Table of Contents
• A Letter from AWP's Executive Director
• AWP Guidelines for Creative Writing Programs & Teachers of Creative Writing
• AWP Hallmarks of a Successful MFA Program in Creative Writing
• AWP Hallmarks of an Effective Low-Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing
• AWP Recommendations on the Teaching of Creative Writing to Undergraduates
• AWP Hallmarks of an Effective BFA Program or BA Major in Creative Writing
• AWP Hallmarks of an Effective Minor in the Undergraduate Study of Creative Writing
• AWP Hallmarks of an Effective Program in Creative Writing at a Two-Year College
• AWP's Recommendations Regarding Non-Tenure Stream Faculty
• AWP Policy on Electronic Theses and Dissertations
• AWP Assessments
• Sample Exit Survey
• Numbers of Degree-Conferring Programs

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Friends of AWP

Why Should I Support AWP?

A Brief History of AWP

Undergraduate Hallmarks

Graduate Hallmarks

The AWP Annual report is a comprehensive look at the organization's activities throughout the year.

Annual Report 2011
(PDF-5.11MB)