• A sisterhood of dedicated and professional women in the arts with a passion for sharing their artistic gifts with the wider community

Founded in 1897, the National League of American Pen Women, Inc. (NLAPW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes professional women in arts, letters, music, and allied professions. 

-What’s New-

  • New Poetry Competition Offered to Non-Members

    New Poetry Competition Offered to Non-Members

    NLAPW League headquarters and NLAPW branches are offering a Discovery Competition for women poets over the age of 18 who are not currently Pen Women. Women poets should submit their poetry to any of the NLAPW branches for the semi-finalist round of this national competition, which opens November 15. Entry forms are available through the branches.

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  • Vinnie Ream Competitions Submissions Are Now Open

    Vinnie Ream Competitions Submissions Are Now Open

    The League is accepting entries into the 2026-27 Vinnie Ream Competition through March 30, 2027. The aim is to challenge participants to follow Ream’s sterling example of elevating one’s art work to the highest level.

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  • The 2026-2027 Cross-Genre Competition for Members Now Open

    The 2026-2027 Cross-Genre Competition for Members Now Open

    The second annual NLAPW Cross-Genre Competition is designed to encourage Pen Women across genres and branches to collaborate creatively with each other. The League hopes to inspire new creative and collaborative projects showcasing members’ talents.

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First Friday Art Walk at Pen Arts November 6

The NLAPW will present “Pen Women of the 20th Century” retrospective art exhibition in the Pen Arts gallery for the First Friday Art Walk in Washington, D.C. on Friday evening, November 6. The public is welcome to drop in during this Dupont event, 6–8 p.m., to see this spectacular showing. The Pen Arts building is located at 1300 17th Street, Washington, D.C.

Learn more about Dupont First Friday Art Walks…

 

  • Marcia Zina Mager

    Featured Member: Marcia Zina Mager, Honolulu Branch

    Marcia Zina Mager is an international author, book coach, and performer. Her 40-plus years of publishing credits include novels, nonfiction books, articles, essays, awardwinning poetry, and plays. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh, she writes about the power of writing badly.

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  • 1,200+ members strong

  • 58 branches across country

  • 35 disciplines represented

Thank you for joining us at this year’s Biennial conference in Washington, D.C.! See highlights from the event.