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’s First 2025 Issue Introduces “LGBTQ+ Literature” Feature
The Winter online issue of the North Carolina Literary Review introduces the 2025 feature, LGBTQ+ Literature of North Carolina.
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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NC Writers’ Network Conference
Join us for the NC Writers’ Network Spring Conference.
From the Archives
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Cinderella in the Swamp
Friday from the Archives: “The Patchwork Princess of the Great Dismal Swamp” a short story written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Molly Windsor in NCLR 2006
Book Reviews
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Knox reviews Youmans
Saturday Review: “What Blooms in the Wildwood?” a review by Amber Knox of Marly Youmans’ book Seren of the Wildwood (2023) in NCLR Online Winter 2025
Editors’ Blog
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From Plate to Page: Intersections of Food and Poetry
A Guest post from our friends at the North Carolina Poetry Society. Reminder: April is National Poetry Month and the submission window for both our poetry contests!
North Carolina Literary Review
East Carolina University
Mailstop 555 English | Greenville, NC 27858-4353
NCLRstaff@ecu.edu | 252-328-1537
