The North Carolina Literary Review (NCLR), produced at East Carolina University, publishes interviews and literary criticism about North Carolina writers and high-quality poetry, fiction, drama, and creative nonfiction by North Carolina writers or set in North Carolina. Our definition of a North Carolina writer is anyone who currently lives in North Carolina, has lived in North Carolina, or uses North Carolina as subject matter.
A cross between a scholarly journal and a literary magazine, NCLR has won numerous awards and citations, including six from the Council of Editors of Learned Journals: the Best New Journal award in 1994, the Best Journal Design award in 1999 and 2010, the Parnassus Award for Significant Editorial Achievement in 2007, the Phoenix Award for Significant Editorial Achievement in 2014, and Best Public Intellectual Special Issue in 2023.
Latest News
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NCLR Releases Fourth Issue of the Year
The Fall issue feature rounds out with pieces by Ashely Harris, Vivian Bikulege, Paula Gallant Eckard, and more. (Cover art by Nysie Hurst)
Current Call for Submissions
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2026: Saluting Veterans’ Writing
This special feature section of NCLR seeks to bridge the gap between military personnel and civilians by celebrating veteran writers and their impacts on literary and cultural studies.
Upcoming Events
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NCLR Celebrates NC Book/Drama Awards
Join us for the NCLHA Awards in December.
From the Archives
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Nature’s Original Inspiration
Friday from the Archives: “You Sang me a song, and I heard”: The Song Behind a Wellman Legend” by Mark Ogilvie, from NCLR 11 (2002) Written By: Fall Intern Robert Miranda
Book Reviews
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MacLeod Reviews McKenzie
Saturday Review: “North Carolina’s Own Otto Wood: Notorious Criminal and Treasured Folk Hero” a review by Douglas C. MacLeod, Jr. In NCLR Online Winter 2025 of Trevor McKenzie’s book Otto Wood: The Bandit Another early look at a review from the forthcoming Online Winter 2025 issue!
Editors’ Blog
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Writers’ Resiliency
Graduate Student and Editorial Assistant Kenly Corya shares her uplifting experience at the NCWN Fall Conference.
North Carolina Literary Review
East Carolina University
Mailstop 555 English | Greenville, NC 27858-4353
NCLRstaff@ecu.edu | 252-328-1537