The Dakota Writing Project
The Dakota Writing Project (DWP) is one of approximately 160 sites affiliated with The National Writing Project (NWP), "a collaborative university/school staff development program to improve the teaching and learning of writing in the nation's classrooms." Like NWP, DWP is dedicated to improving the teaching of writing in all disciplines from kindergarten through college by hosting annual summer institutes for teachers and providing writing resources on the website.

South Dakota Arts Council
Recognizing the importance of creativity in the lives of all South Dakotans, the Council makes quality arts accessible throughout the state by providing grants, services and information to artists, arts organizations, schools and the public.

The Vermillion Literary Project
The Vermillion Literary Project (VLP) is a student organization at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion that publishes an annual magazine, hosts poetry readings and other events, and runs a campus radio show.

Prairie Winds
Prairie Winds is a South Dakota project working to improve student and teacher writing. The project brings students and teachers into one-on-one contact with professional writers. An online magazine publishes original student writing and art, as well as works by teachers. The South Dakota Arts Council has supported Prairie Winds for more than twenty-five years.

South Dakota Center for the Book
The South Dakota Center for the Book was founded in 2002 and houses the SD Humanities Council’s literary arts programs. The signature event for the Center for the Book is the annual South Dakota Festival of Books. In the spirit of a shared community experience across the state, the Center for the Book annually coordinates the One Book South Dakota program. The Center has also played an integral role in publishing the South Dakota Stories series, written by and about the people of South Dakota. And the Center sponsors literary arts events throughout the state.

South Dakota State Poetry Society
SDSPS welcomes readers and writers of poetry. The organization has existed since 1927 and continues to be a resource for exceptional poetry in South Dakota. Through contests and activities, members of SDSPS actively create and promote many forms of poetry.

Dakota: Five Times Six
by Joseph Hansen
Nobody painted Mrs. Aherne's store...

The University of South Dakota
The USD English Department offers courses in literary theory and linguistics as well as in creative writing and all the traditional areas of the discipline. The MA in English has been offered since 1923, the PhD since 1994. USD is home to The Vermillion Literary Project.

South Dakota State University
The English department offers both the B.A. and the M.A. in English. Students can also minor in English. The department has approximately 100 English majors and 20 graduate students. Oakwood, a small literary magazine, is annually written and edited by students. The English Department also sponsors many activities on campus, such as the Great Plains Writers' Conference and the Consider the Century Conference.

Augustana College
Augustana is a small liberal arts college located in Sioux Falls, SD. The English Department offers two major tracks, one which concentrates on literature and one on writing. Students publish the literary magazine Expression.

Black Hills State University
The English Department at Black Hills State University provides professional courses for majors and minors as well as general education courses in writing and literature. The English Club holds an annual short story writing competition, runs a film festival, and publishes The Greenbowl Review, a journal of literature and art. Additionally, English majors can compete in essay competitions, including the Stewart Bellman awards, and are eligible to apply for a number of Humanities Department scholarships.

Dakota Wesleyan University
The department of English offers programs and courses in language, literature and writing. The program includes majors and minors in secondary education, creative writing, journalism and English. Majors and minors in creative writing and English often go on to graduate school, though many find employment in a wide range of fields. Student volunteers publish the annual literary magazine Prairie Winds.

The Vermillion Literary Project Poetry Festival
A day-long festival that features writing workshops, an open mic and poetry slam.

South Dakota Festival of Books
Each year thousands of people converge on the annual South Dakota Festival of Books, a weekend-long event that features more than 40 well-known authors participating in book signings, presentations, panel discussions and readings. Author presentations are separated into six tracks: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s/young adult, history/tribal, and writer’s support.

Western Literature Conference
The three-day conference includes plenaries on topics such as South Dakota writers and the state of environmental writing. Awards are presented for creative writing, humor, and cultural diversity. Members are invited to submit proposals for presentation.

Pasque Petals
Pasque Petals began publication in May 1926 in Aberdeen, SD. It has been continuously published monthly by the South Dakota State Poetry Society. Presently four issues a year are published—summer, autumn, winter, and spring.