Astute readers of the Scout Report may find themselves asking: "What is electronic literature?" Well, as defined by the Electronic Literature Organization (ELO) the term refers to "works with important literary aspects that take advantage of the capabilities and contexts provided by the stand-alone or networked computer." The ELO was started in 1999, and since that time the organization has worked...

The Lannan Foundation was founded in 1960 by J. Patrick Lannan, Sr., a self-educated scholar and financier who believed in the cultural importance of innovative and controversial forms of visual and literary art. As the mission statement notes, the Foundation supports these types of long-term projects, along with "inspired Native activists in rural indigenous communities." Specifically, the...

Founded in 1922, the PEN American Center works "to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship". To support these ideals, the organization sponsors a number of public literary programs and forums on topical issues, administers a number of well-known literary prizes, and also offers loans and grants to writers facing financial or medical...

With a lyre serving as their organization's totem, the Poetry Society of America has served the poetry community of the United States for over seventy years. The Society may be best known for its annual awards, which include the prestigious Frost Award, the Cecil Hemly Memorial Award, and the Shelley Memorial Award. Aspiring poets can read about the entry guidelines for these awards, along with...