Literary organizations and associations are institutions that promote, protect, and sustain the creation, study, and dissemination of writing by supporting authors, fostering communities, and advocating for the cultural and social value of literature.
Literature has always been more than the solitary act of writing or reading. It is a social practice, embedded in communities of readers, writers, and critics. To sustain this cultural ecosystem, organizations and associations dedicated to literature have emerged across centuries. These institutions, ranging from informal groups to international advocacy groups, have shaped the production, circulation, and reception of literary works.
The origins of literary associations can be traced to the medieval and early modern periods, when guild-like groups such as the chambers of rhetoric in the Low Countries fostered poetry and drama. In 17th- and 18th-century Europe, literary salons and coffeehouse societies provided spaces for intellectual exchange, often hosted by women who played crucial roles in shaping the literary culture of the time.
By the 19th century, the rise of mass literacy and print culture gave birth to literary societies and clubs across Europe and North America. In the United States, collegiate literary societies became central to campus life, offering debates, libraries, and journals that supplemented formal curricula. These organizations democratized access to literature and cultivated public speaking, writing, and critical thinking skills.
The 20th century marked a shift toward professionalization and internationalism. The founding of the Modern Language Association (1883) institutionalized literary scholarship, while PEN International (1921) combined literary fellowship with advocacy for freedom of expression. These organizations reflected the growing recognition of literature not only as an art form but also as a political and social force.
Today's literary organizations are shaped by globalization, digital technology, and shifting publishing models. Their functions can be grouped into several key areas, such as advocacy and rights protection, professional development, publishing and promotion, community engagement, education and research, and digital innovation.
By no means an exhaustive list, ten major literary organizations in the English-speaking world include PEN International/PEN America (a global network advocating for freedom of expression and supporting writers at risk, founded in 1921/1922), Authors Guild (the oldest and largest professional organization for American authors, founded in 1912), Modern Language Association (founded in 1883, it is a scholarly association central to literary studies, known for its conferences and the MLA Handbook), Association of Writers & Writing Programs (founded in 1967, the AWP supports creative writing programs and hosts the largest annual writers' conference in North America), Society of Authors (founded in 1884, it provides contract advice, grants, and advocacy for British writers), Poetry Society (a UK organization, founded in 1909, that promotes poetry through publications, competitions, and educational outreach), National Writers Union (a US labor union representing freelance and contract writers, advocating for fair play and working conditions), International Women's writing Guild (empowering women writers through mentorship, conferences, and global networking), Poets & Writers (the largest US non-profit serving creative writers, publishes Poets & Writers Magazine), and Commonwealth Foundation Creatives (created as Commonwealth Writers in 1987, it promoted literary exchange across the Commonwealth, and now serves other art genres as well.
Beyond these major organizations, countless specialized societies exist, dedicated to individual authors or genres. UNESCO's Cities of Literature program further demonstrates the global recognition of literature as a civic and cultural asset.
However, literary associations face challenges, such as declining public funding, competition with digital entertainment, and the need to diversify leadership and mentorship. Yet, these pressures have also spurred innovation, with many groups embracing digital platforms and expanding their reach to global audiences.
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American Comparative Literature Association
The ACLA is the principal learned society in the U.S. for scholars whose work crosses national, linguistic, or cultural boundaries. It promotes comparative study among literatures, the interactions of literature with other humanities and arts, and intercultural research. Founded in 1960, the non-profit organization hosts an annual meeting that convenes comparative literature scholars and related interdisciplinary researchers, offering awards, prizes, programs, and resources to its members.
https://www.acla.org/
American Literature Association
Based in the United States, the ALA is a non-profit coalition of societies devoted to the study of American authors. Founded in 1989, it has more than a hundred affiliated societies, most of them concerned with the work of a particular author, such as the Thoreau Society. Its bylaws, membership information, conference schedules, online registration, and a list of member societies are included, along with fellowships, institutes, and employment opportunities.
https://americanliteratureassociation.org/
The Arizona-based literary non-profit promotes literary arts in the greater Phoenix area by creating public events and opportunities for writers to reach diverse audiences. Founded in 1994, Anthology has produced thousands of literary events, published more than a decade of scholarly journals, and runs ongoing programs such as internships and volunteer opportunities. Its key programs include the Mesa Book Festival, the Mesa Book Crawl, Cirque du Livre, and other literary events and fundraisers.
https://www.anthology.org/
Antiquarian Booksellers Association
The ABA is the senior trade body for dealers in antiquarian and rare books, manuscripts, and allied materials in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founded in 1906, the organization sets standards for business ethics and professional conduct in the trade. Its website features searchable inventories of ABA and ILAB member booksellers, as well as downloadable catalogs and specialist catalogs. The organization organizes and lists fairs and runs programs such as the ABA National Book Collecting Prize.
https://aba.org.uk/
Association for the Study of Literature and Environment
ASLE is a non-profit professional organization that supports scholars, writers, and activists working in the environmental humanities. The organization publishes a quarterly journal through Oxford University Press, hosts biennial conferences that include awards and receptions for authors and scholars, such as the ASLE Book Awards in ecocriticism and environmental creative writing, and features digital episodes that spotlight thematic conversations across media.
https://www.asle.org/
Association of Writers & Writing Programs
The AWP is a non-profit literary organization that provides support, advocacy, resources, and community to writers, college and university creative writing programs, and writers' conferences and centers. Founded in 1967, it was initially named Associated Writing Programs and is headquartered in Riverdale Park, Maryland. It publishes "The Writer's Chronicle," which may be subscribed to through the website. Past issues are also available, along with other resources.
https://www.awpwriter.org/
Founded as the Authors League of America in 1912, The Authors Guild is the oldest and largest professional organization for writers in the United States. It provides advocacy on issues of free expression and copyright protection. The organization lobbies at the national and state levels on censorship and tax concerns, and has initiated or supported several major lawsuits in defense of author copyrights, as well as working against the consolidation of the publishing industry through mergers.
https://authorsguild.org/
British Comparative Literature Association
The BCLA is the UK professional association for scholars working in comparative literature and related fields such as translation, creative writing, and poetry. The organization was founded in 1975 to promote comparative approaches to literary and cultural study and to support research, teaching, and collaboration across languages and regions. The BCLA hosts annual and special conferences, regional and postgraduate events, and offers funding support and prizes to its members.
https://bcla.org/
Previously known as Christian Literature Crusade, the evangelical, interdenominational not-for-profit organization was founded in England in 1941, where it is still headquartered. The organization distributes Bibles, Christian literature, and other Christian media worldwide. Its missions and projects are highlighted, and contributions may be made online. Books may be purchased through its online shopping area, and volunteer and employment opportunities are posted.
https://clcusa.org/
Commonwealth Foundation Creatives
Founded as Commonwealth Writers with the goal of inspiring, connecting, and helping to develop writers, the organization later expanded to include creatives working in several other areas, from filmmaking and performance poetry, to painting and photography. It is a global network of creative practitioners from all disciplines and backgrounds, as well as a platform where artists can support one another and develop their craft, no matter where in the Commonwealth they come from.
https://commonwealthfoundation.com/
International Thriller Writers
Founded in 2004, the ITW is a professional organization for thriller authors that supports craft, business education, and reader engagement for writers worldwide. The organization has thousands of members across dozens of countries and represents billions of books sold by its members. Its core programs and events include ThrillerFest, the ITW Awards, Online Thriller School, Debut Authors Program, and The Big Thrill, which are featured here. ITW has produced multi-author thriller anthologies.
https://thrillerwriters.org/
International Women's Writing Guild
The IWWG was founded in 1976. The non-profit organization's mission is to "empower women writers personally and professionally through writing." The IWWG organizes regional events throughout the year, while regional volunteers host roundtable discussions in their local areas and offer mentoring to other writers. There are also day-long retreats that take place around the country, with no portfolio or experience required for these retreats. Membership gives access to discounts on events.
https://www.iwwg.org/
The Modern Language Association of America (MLA) is a professional association for scholars of language and literature in the United States. Still, it includes over 20,000 members in 100 countries, primarily academic scholars, professors, and graduate students who study and teach language and literature, including English, other modern languages, and comparative literature. While based in New York City, its membership, concerns, reputation, and influence are international.
https://www.mla.org/
MythSoc is a non-profit organization devoted to the study of mythopoeic literature, particularly the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, and C.S. Lewis, who were all members of The Inklings, an informal group of writers who met weekly in Lewis's rooms at Magdalen College in Oxford, from the early 1930s until late 1949. Founded in 1967, the Society originally consisted of discussion groups based in the Los Angeles area, expanding to include organized branches across North America.
https://www.mythsoc.org/
The NMU is a US trade union for freelance and contract writers founded in 1981. It affiliated with the International Federation of Journalists, the International Authors Forum, and the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations. The organization seeks to defend the right of, and improve the economic and working conditions for, all writers, offering advocacy, contract advice, grievance assistance, a job hotline, member education, and press passes for qualified members.
https://nwu.org/
The non-profit defends free expression and advances literature at the intersection of literature and human rights. It convenes writers, journalists, editors, translators, and readers to protect the freedom to write, publish, and access ideas. Its stated mission is to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide, and to champion the power of the written word. Core activities include advocacy and policy campaigns, research, and reports on censorship, disinformation, and online abuse.
https://pen.org/
Founded to promote friendship and intellectual cooperation among writers, its name originally stood for "Poets, Essayists, Novelists," and now includes playwrights, editors, journalists, historians, and translators. Its core aims are to promote literature, foster international literary cooperation, and defend freedom of expression for writers everywhere. Headquartered in London, autonomous PEN Centres exist in more than 100 countries. Its programs, campaigns, and resources are highlighted.
https://www.pen-international.org/
Founded in 1910, the Poetry Society of America is the nation's oldest poetry organization. It offers public programs and initiatives, such as "Poems on Wheels" and "Poetry in Motion," along with readings, lectures, and online content, including videos, featured poems, and essays. The organization also issues annual awards and prizes, including the "Four Quartets Prize and Chapbook Fellowships." Poems, essays, and chapbooks are listed on the site. Its programs, events, and contacts are included.
https://poetrysociety.org/
P&W is the largest US non-profit serving creative writers, offering news, a magazine, and searchable databases of contests, MFA programs, agents, grants, presses, and other resources for writers. "Poets & Writers Magazine" features essays, interviews, and columns about craft and the publishing world. Contests, grants, agents, and programs can be found by deadline, genre, geography, and eligibility, and its classifieds feature paid opportunities and openings in publishing and arts administration.
https://www.pw.org
Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes are 23 annual awards presented by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in journalism, the arts, and letters. Each winner receives a certificate and $15,000 in cash, except in the Public Service category, where a gold medal is awarded. The history of the Pulitzer Prizes, information on the awarding of the Prizes, and past Prize winners are featured on the site, which includes complete guidelines and rules for entries.
https://www.pulitzer.org/
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, dba Science Fiction Writers Association (SFWA), is a non-profit organization of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. While based in the United States, its membership is open to writers worldwide. SFWA informs, supports, promotes, defends, and advocates for its members, who are eligible to vote for the Nebula Awards. Its programs, events, publications, and online store are featured on the website.
https://www.sfwa.org/
Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing
SHARP is an international scholarly association devoted to the history of the book, authorship, reading, and the transmission of written culture. The organization operates an open-access news outlet called SHARP News, publishes the peer-reviewed journal "Book History," maintains an active electronic discussion list, organizes annual conferences, and produces a yearly bibliography and other field resources. Membership information, grants, publications, and schedules are posted.
https://sharpweb.org/
The SoA is a UK-based trade union for professional writers, illustrators, and literary translators. It was founded in 1884 to protect the rights and further the interests of authors, with membership open to "anyone who creates work for publication, broadcast, or performance." Member eligibility, student membership information, group details, subscription rates, and a calendar of events are all posted on the site, along with details on prizes, grants, literary estates, and contact information.
https://societyofauthors.org/
Speculative Literature Foundation
Formed in 2004 to promote literary quality in speculative fiction, the SLF is a US-based non-profit that remains devoted to this purpose, achieving its goals through grants, programming, and community support. The organization encourages new writers, assists established writers, supports quality magazines and small presses, and promotes broader public appreciation of speculative fiction, which includes science fiction, fantasy, folklore, fairy tales, and ghost stories.
https://speculativeliterature.org/
The non-profit organization supports Texas writers through education, community, and resources, offering classes, workshops, events, and programs for both published and unpublished writers. Its core programs and offerings include courses and workshops taught by published writers and professionals, as well as events and readings such as salons, panels, and monthly programming. Additionally, a resource directory features videos, podcasts, and blog posts designed to support writer development.
https://writersleague.org/
