J.M. ABRAHAM POETRY PRIZEThis section contains a wide array of poetry competitions and literary awards. These range from state poetry society contests (with a number of modest monetary prizes) to prestigious honors bestowed by private foundations, elite publishers and renowned university programs. Because these listings reflect such a variety of skill levels and degrees of competitiveness, it’s important to read each carefully and note its unique requirements. Never enter a contest without consulting the guidelines and following directions to the letter (including manuscript formatting, number of lines or pages of poetry accepted, amount of entry fee, entry forms needed and other details).
Important note: As we gathered information for this edition of Poet’s Market, we found that some competitions hadn’t yet established their 2019 fees and deadlines. In such cases, we list the most recent information available as a general guide. Always consult current guidelines for updates before entering any competition.
Most contests charge entry fees, and these are usually quite legitimate. The funds are used to cover expenses such as paying the judges, putting up prize monies, printing prize editions of magazines and journals, and promoting the contest through mailings and ads. If you’re concerned about a poetry contest or other publishing opportunity, see “Is It a ‘Con’?” for advice on some of the more questionable practices in the poetry world.
Western Washington University, Mail Stop 9053, Bellingham WA 98225. (360)650-4863. E-mail: bellingham.review@wwu.edu. Website: www.bhreview.org. Contact: Susanne Paola Antonetta, editor-in-chief; Mike Oliphant, managing editor. Annual poetry contest, supported by the Bellingham Review, given for a poem of any style or length. Deadline: March 15. Submissions period begins December 1. Prize: $1,000. Judged by Oliver de la Paz.
J.M. ABRAHAM POETRY PRIZEWriters' Federation of Nova Scotia, 1113 Marginal Rd., Halifax NS B3H 4P7, Canada. (902)423-8116. Fax: (902)422-0881. E-mail: director@writers.ns.ca. Website: www.writers.ns.ca. Contact: Marilyn Smulders, executive director. The J.M. Abraham Poetry Prize is an annual award designed to honor the best book of poetry by a resident of Atlantic Canada. Formerly known as the Atlantic Poetry Prize. Deadline: First Friday in December. Prize: Valued at $2,000 for the winning title.
E-mail: uapress@uakron.edu. Website: www.uakron.edu/uapress/akron-poetry-prize/. Contact: Mary Biddinger, editor/award director. Submissions must be unpublished. Considers simultaneous submissions (with notification of acceptance elsewhere). Submit at least 48 pages and no longer than 90 pages. See website for complete guidelines. Manuscripts will be accepted via Submittable.com between April 15 and June 15 each year. Competition receives 500+ entries. 2017 winner was Tyler Mills for Hawk Parable. Winner posted on website by September 30. Deadline: June 15. Open to submissions on April 15. Prize: $1,500, plus publication of a book-length ms.
Manuscripts must include a cover page (with author's name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and manuscript title), a title page (with no identifying information), and an acknowledgments page listing poems previously published in periodicals (if applicable). Please do not submit manuscripts that have the author's name on each page. Manuscripts will go to the final judge blind.
English Department, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock AR 72204. E-mail: editor@mariealexanderseries.com. Website: mariealexanderseries.com. Contact: Nickole Brown. Annual contest for a collection of previously unpublished prose poems or flash fiction by a U.S. writer. Deadline: July 31. Open to submissions on July 1. Prize: $1,000, plus publication.
Alligator Juniper/Prescott College, 220 Grove Ave., Prescott AZ 86301. (928)350-2012. Fax: (928)776-5102. E-mail: alligatorjuniper@prescott.edu. Website: www.prescott.edu/alligatorjuniper/national-contest/index.html. Contact: Skye Anicca, managing editor. Annual contest for unpublished fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Open to all age levels. Each entrant receives a personal letter from staff regarding the status of their submission, as well as minor feedback on the piece. Deadline: October 1. Prize: $1,000 plus publication in all three categories. Finalists in each genre are recognized as such, published, and paid in copies. Judged by the distinguished writers in each genre and Prescott College writing students enrolled in the Literary Journal Practicum course.
American Literary Review, P.O. Box 311307, University of North Texas, Denton TX 76203-1307. (940)565-2755. E-mail: americanliteraryreview@gmail.com. Website: www.americanliteraryreview.com. Contest to award excellence in short fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. Multiple entries are acceptable, but each entry must be accompanied with a reading fee. Do not put any identifying information in the file itself; include the author's name, title(s), address, e-mail address, and phone number in the boxes provided in the online submissions manager. Short fiction: Limit 8,000 words per work. Creative nonfiction: Limit 6,500 words per work. Deadline: October 1. Submission period begins June 1. Prize: $1,000 prize for each category, along with publication in the Spring online issue of the American Literary Review.
320 S. Broad St., Hamilton 313, Philadelphia PA 19102. 215 717 6800. E-mail: escanlon@aprweb.org. Website: www.aprweb.org. Contact: Elizabeth Scanlon, editor. The prize is open to poets who have not published a book-length collection of poems with a registered ISBN. Translations are not eligible nor are works written by multiple authors. 2016 guest judge is Gabrielle Calvocoressi. Reading period: August 1-October 31. Prize: $3,000, plus publication and reading at the University of the Arts Visiting Writers Series in 2018.
The American-Scandinavian Foundation, 58 Park Ave., New York NY 10016. (212)779-3587. E-mail: grants@amscan.org; info@amscan.org. Website: www.amscan.org. Contact: Carl Fritscher, Fellowships & Grants Officer. The annual ASF translation competition is awarded for the most outstanding translations of poetry, fiction, drama, or literary prose written by a Scandinavian author born after 1900. Deadline: June 15. Prize: The Nadia Christensen Prize includes a $2,500 award, publication of an excerpt in Scandinavian Review, and a commemorative bronze medallion; The Leif and Inger Sjöberg Award, given to an individual whose literature translations have not previously been published, includes a $2,000 award, publication of an excerpt in Scandinavian Review, and a commemorative bronze medallion.
Anhinga Press, P.O. Box 3665, Tallahassee FL 32315. E-mail: info@anhinga.org. Website: www.anhinga.org. Contact: Kristine Snodgrass, Co-director, Publisher. Offered annually for a book-length collection of poetry by an author writing in English. Guidelines on website. Past winners include Robin Beth Schaer, Hauntie. Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from February 15-May 30. Prize: $2,000, a reading tour of selected Florida colleges and universities, and the winning ms will be published. Past judges include Evie Shockley, Eduardo C. Corral, Jan Beatty, Richard Blanco, Denise Duhamel, Donald Hall, Joy Harjo.
E-mail: lumina@gm.slc.edu. Website: www.luminajournal.com/contest. Annual writing contest in poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction (varies by year). Please visit website in August/September for complete and updated contest rules. Deadline varies by year. Usually in the early fall. Prize: cash.
Arizona Authors' Association, 6939 East Chaparral Rd., Paradise Valley AZ 85253-7000. (602)554-8101. E-mail: azauthors@gmail.com. Website: www.azauthors.com. Contact: Lisa Aquilina, president. Arizona Authors' Association sponsors annual literary competition in poetry, short story, essay, unpublished novels, and published books (fiction, nonfiction, and children's literature) and Arizona Book of the Year. Cash prizes awarded ($500 Book of the Year) from Green Pieces Press and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in seven categories ($150, $75 and $50, respectively) from Vignetta Syndicate LLC. New category in 2017, New Drama Writing, with a grand prize of $250. All category winners are published in the Arizona Literary Magazine. NEW PRIZE in 2018 for Unpublished Novel category. Winner receives a standard, traditional publishing contract through IngramElliott Book Publishers. NEW CATEGORY in 2018 - Published Cookbooks! Must have 2017 or 2018 copyright date at time of submission. Deadline: July 2. Begins accepting submissions January 1. Finalists notified by Labor Day weekend. Prizes: Grand Prize, Arizona Book of the Year Award: $500. All categories except new drama writing: 1st Prize: $150 and publication; 2nd Prize: $75 and publication; 3rd Prize: $50 and publication. New drama writing grand prize $250 and publication. Features in Arizona Literary Magazine can be taken instead of money and publication. 1st and 2nd prize winners in poetry, essay, and short story are nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Judged by nationwide published authors, editors, literary agents, and reviewers. Winners announced at an awards dinner and ceremony held the first Saturday in November.
Competition receives approximately 1,500+ entries per year. Submissions welcome from authors worldwide. All entries must be written in English.
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, 600 E Superior St., Suite 404, Duluth MN 55802. (218)722-0952 or (800)569-8134. E-mail: info@aracouncil.org. Website: www.aracouncil.org. Award is to provide financial support to regional artists wishing to take advantage of impending, concrete opportunities that will advance their work or careers. Deadline: October and April. Grant awards of up to $3,000. Candidates are reviewed by a panel of ARAC Board Members and Community Artists.
Arts & Letters Journal of Contemporary Culture, Campus Box 89, GC&SU, Milledgeville GA 31061. (478)445-1289. E-mail: al.journal@gcsu.edu. Website: al.gcsu.edu. Contact: The Editors. Offered annually for unpublished work. Deadline: March 31. Prize: $1,000 prize for each of the four major genres. Fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction winners are published in Fall or Spring issue. The prize-winning one-act play is produced at the Georgia College campus (usually in March). Judged by the editors (initial screening); see website for final judges and further details about submitting work.
The Poet's Billow, 6135 Avon, Portage MI 49024. E-mail: thepoetsbillow@gmail.com. Website: thepoetsbillow.org. Contact: Robert Evory. Annual award open to any writer to recognize one outstanding poem from its entries. Finalists with strong work will also be published. Submissions must be previously unpublished. Deadline: October 1. Submissions open July 1. Prize: $200 and winning poet will be featured in an interview on The Poet's Billow website. Poem will be published and displayed in The Poet's Billow Literary Art Gallery and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. If the poet qualifies, the poem will also be submitted to The Best New Poets anthology. Judged by the editors, and, occasionally, a guest judge.
(412)362-2665. E-mail: info@autumnhouse.org. Website: autumnhouse.org. Contact: Christine Stroud, editor-in-chief. Offers annual prize and publication of book-length ms with national promotion. Submission must be unpublished as a collection, but individual poems, stories, and essays may have been previously published elsewhere. Considers simultaneous submissions. “Autumn House is a nonprofit corporation with the mission of publishing and promoting poetry and other fine literature. We have published books by Chana Bloch, Ellery Akers, Gerald Stern, Ruth L. Schwartz, Ed Ochester, Andrea Hollander, George Bilgere, Ada Limon, and many others.” Deadline: June 30. Prize: The winner (in each of three categories) will receive book publication, $1,000 advance against royalties, and a $1,500 travel/publicity grant to promote his or her book. Judged by Kimiko Hahn (poetry), Dana Johnson (fiction), and Daisy Hernandez (nonfiction).
TIPS “Include only your best work.”
Association of Writers & Writing Programs, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MSN 1E3, Fairfax VA 22030. E-mail: supriya@awpwriter.org. Website: www.awpwriter.org. Contact: Supriya Bhatnagar, director of publications. AWP sponsors the Award Series, an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence, and is available to published and unpublished authors alike. Offered annually to foster new literary talent. Deadline: Postmarked between January 1 and February 28. Prize: AWP Prize for the Novel: $2,500 and publication by New Issues Press; Donald Hall Prize for Poetry: $5,500 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press; Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction: $5,500 and publication by the University of Massachusetts Press; and AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction: $2,500 and publication by the University of Georgia Press.
4956 St. John Dr., Syracuse NY 13215. (315)488-8077. E-mail: poetry@comstockreview.org. Website: www.comstockreview.org. Contact: Peggy Flanders, associate managing editor (poetry@comstockreview.org); Betsy Anderson, managing editor (elanders2@yahoo.com). Annual contest for best previously unpublished poem. Deadline: July 15. Prize: 1st place: $1,000; 2nd place: $250; 3rd place: $100; honorable mentions receive 1-year subscription to Comstock Review. Judged by Maggie Smith in 2018.
E-mail: editor@baltimorereview.org. Website: www.baltimorereview.org. Contact: Barbara Westwood Diehl, senior editor. Each summer and winter issue includes a contest theme (see submissions guidelines for theme). Prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place among all categories—poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction. All entries are considered for publication. Deadline: May 31 and November 30. Prize: 1st Place: $500; 2nd Place: $200; 3rd Place: $100. All entries are considered for publication. Provides a small compensation to all contributors. Judged by the editors of The Baltimore Review and a guest, final judge.
The Evansville Review, Dept. of Creative Writing, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Ave., Evansville IN 47722. (812)488-1042. E-mail: evansvillereview@evansville.edu. Website: https://www.evansville.edu/majors/creativewriting/evansvilleReviewBarnstone.cfm. The competition welcomes submissions of unpublished poetry translations from any language and time period (ancient to contemporary). The length limit for each translation is 200 lines. Deadline: December 1. Judged by Willis Barnstone.
P.O. Box 1558, Kingston RI 02881. Website: www.barrowstreet.org. The Barrow Street Press Book Contest award will be given for the best previously unpublished ms of poetry in English. Deadline: June 30. Prize: $1,000. Judged by Denise Duhamel.
descant, Texas Christian University's literary journal, TCU, Box 297270, Fort Worth TX 76129. Fax: (817)257-6239. Website: www.descant.tcu.edu. Contact: Matthew Pitt, Editor. Annual award for an outstanding poem published in the latest issue of descant. Deadline: September-April. Prize: $250 for Baskerville Award; $500 for Betsy Colquitt Award. Publication retains copyright, but will transfer it to the author upon request.
Passages North, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Ave., Marquette MI 49855. E-mail: passages@nmu.edu. Website: passagesnorth.com/contests/. Contact: Jennifer A. Howard, Editor-in-Chief. Prize given biennially for a poem or a group of poems. Deadline: April 15. Submission period begins February 15. Prize: $1,000 and publication for winner; 2 honorable mentions are also published; all entrants receive a copy of Passages North.
Phillips Exeter Academy, 20 Main Street, Exeter NH 03833. E-mail: teaching_opportunities@exeter.edu. Website: www.exeter.edu/bennettfellowship. Annual award for fellow and family to provide time and freedom from material considerations to a person seriously contemplating or pursuing a career as a writer. Applicants should have a ms in progress which they intend to complete during the fellowship period. Ms should be fiction, nonfiction, novel, short stories, or poetry. Duties: To be in residency at the Academy for the academic year; to make oneself available informally to students interested in writing. Committee favors writers who have not yet published a book with a major publisher. Deadline: November 30. A choice will be made, and all entrants notified in mid-April. Prize: Cash stipend (currently $15,260), room and board. Judged by committee of the English department.
The Poet's Billow, 6135 Avon St., Portage MI 49024. E-mail: thepoetsbillow@gmail.com. Website: http://thepoetsbillow.org. Contact: Robert Evory. Annual award open to any writer to recognize three poems that address a theme set by the editors. Finalists with strong work will also be published. Submissions must be previously unpublished. Please submit online. Deadline: March 15. Submission period begins November 15. Prize: $50 each to three poems. The winning poems will be published and displayed in The Poet's Billow Literary Art Gallery and nominated for a Pushcart Prize. If the poet qualifies, the poem will also be submitted to The Best New Poets anthology. Judged by the editors, and, occasionally, a guest judge.
Patricia Bibby Award, Tebot Bach, P.O. Box 7887, Huntington Beach CA 92615-7887. E-mail: mifanwy@tebotbach.org; info@tebotbach.org. Website: www.tebotbach.org. Contact: Mifanwy Kaiser. Annual competition open to all poets writing in English who have not committed to publishing collections of poetry of 36 poems or more in editions of over 400 copies. Offers award and publication of a book-length poetry ms by Tebot Bach. Deadline: November 1. Prize: $500 and book publication. Judges for each year's competition announced online.
Binghamton University Creative Writing Program, Department of English, General Literature, and Rhetoric, Library North Room 1149, Vestal Parkway East, P.O. Box 6000, Binghamton NY 13902-6000. (607)777-2713. Fax: (607)777-2408. E-mail: cwpro@binghamton.edu. Website: www2.binghamton.edu/english/creative-writing/binghamton-center-for-writers. Contact: Maria Mazziotti Gillan, creative writing program director. Annual award for a book of poems written in English, 48 pages or more in length, selected by judges as the strongest collection of poems published in that year. Deadline: February 1. Prize: $1,000.
BOPLOPA, The Bitter Oleander Press, 4983 Tall Oaks Dr., Fayetteville NY 13066-9776. (315)637-3047. E-mail: info@bitteroleander.com. Website: www.bitteroleander.com. Contact: Paul B. Roth. The Bitter Oleander Press Library of Poetry Award (BOPLOPA) is now in its 7th year after replacing the 15-year long run of the Frances Locke Memorial Poetry Award. Guidelines available on website. Deadline: June 15 (postmarked). Open to submissions on May 1. Early or late entries will be disqualified. Prize: $1,000, plus book publication of the winning ms. the following spring.
E-mail: editors@blacklawrencepress.com. Website: www.blacklawrence.com. Contact: Kit Frick, senior editor. Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or short fiction between 16-36 pages in length. Spring deadline: May 31. Fall deadline: October 31. Prize: $500, publication, and 10 copies. Judged by a revolving panel of judges, in addition to the Chapbook Editor and other members of the BLP editorial staff.
1563 - 45th Avenue, San Francisco CA 94122. E-mail: bluelightpress@aol.com. E-mail: bluelightpress@aol.com. Website: www.bluelightpress.com. Contact: Diane Frank, Chief Editor. The Blue Light Poetry Prize and Chapbook Contest offers a cash prize and publication by Blue Light Press (see separate listing in Book/Chapbook Publishers). Deadline: June 15. The winner will be published by Blue Light Press, with 20 copies the author's book. We have a group of poets who read manuscripts. Some years, we publish more than one winner.
TIPS “Our new anthology, River of Earth and Sky: Poems for the Twenty-First Century, has more than 100 poets whose work we deeply admire. It will show you the kind of poetry we love to publish.”
SPS Studios, Inc., Blue Mountain Arts, Inc., P.O. Box 1007, Boulder CO 80306. (303)449-0536. Fax: (303)447-0939. E-mail: editorial@sps.com. Website: www.sps.com. Contact: Becky Milanski. Family owned and operated independent greeting card company thriving since its founding in 1971. Specializes in expressing feelings that may be difficult for buyer to express. With its own fine art department creating watercolor paintings and multimedia cards, hand-lettered, Blue Mountain Arts is sold worldwide and is unique with our poetry, artwork, handmade papers that make lifelong buyers. To put your best writing out there! No deadlines for every day poetry. Write editorial@sps.com for seasonal deadlines. If your poetry is accepted and tests well, you will get $300 and 24 copies of your card. Judged by the Blue Mountain Arts editorial staff.
What we are looking for: Contemporary prose or poetry written from personal experience that reflects the thoughts and feelings people today want to communicate to one another, but don’t always know how to put into words. Because our cards capture genuine emotions on topics such as love, friendship, family, missing you, and other real-life subjects, we suggest that you have a friend, relative, or someone else in your life in mind as you write. Writings on special occasions (birthday, anniversary, congratulations, etc.) as well as the challenges, difficulties, and aspirations of life are also considered. We are looking for new, original, and creative writings that do not sound like anything we have already published. The poem length does not matter, so long as it can fit on a card. We publish both long and short pieces anywhere from 50 to 300 words.
TIPS “We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write.”
THE BOARDMAN TASKER PRIZE FOR MOUNTAIN LITERATUREThe Boardman Tasker Charitable Trust, 8 Bank View Rd., Darley Abbey Derby DE22 1EJ, UK. 01332 342246. E-mail: steve@people-matter.co.uk. Website: www.boardmantasker.com. Contact: Steve Dean. Offered annually to reward a work with a mountain theme, whether fiction, nonfiction, drama, or poetry, written in the English language (initially or in translation). Subject must be concerned with a mountain environment. Previous winners have been books on expeditions, climbing experiences, a biography of a mountaineer, novels. Guidelines available in January by e-mail or on website. Entries must be previously published. Open to any writer. The award is to honor Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker, who disappeared on Everest in 1982. Deadline: August 1. Prize: £3,000 Judged by a panel of 3 judges elected by trustees.
Poetry, 61 W. Superior St., Chicago IL 60654. (312)787-7070. Fax: (312)787-6650. E-mail: editors@poetrymagazine.org. Website: www.poetryfoundation.org. Several prizes are awarded annually for the best work printed in Poetry during the preceding year. Only poems already published in the magazine are eligible for consideration, and no formal application is necessary. The winners are announced in the November issue. Upon acceptance, Poetry licenses exclusive worldwide first serial rights, including electronic rights, for publication, as well as non-exclusive rights to reprint, reuse, and archive the work, in any format, in perpetuity. Copyright reverts to author upon first publication. Any writer may submit poems to Poetry. Prize: $500.
The Boston Globe, Horn Book, Inc., 300 The Fenway, Palace Road Building, Suite P-311, Boston MA 02115. (617)278-0225. Fax: (617)278-6062. E-mail: bghb@hbook.com; info@hbook.com. Website: www.hbook.com/bghb/. Offered annually for excellence in literature for children and young adults (published June 1-May 31). Categories: picture book, fiction and poetry, nonfiction. Judges may also name up to 2 honor books in each category. Books must be published in the US, but may be written or illustrated by citizens of any country. The Horn Book Magazine publishes speeches given at awards ceremonies. Guidelines for submitting books online. Deadline: May 15. Prize: $500 and an engraved silver bowl; honor book recipients receive an engraved silver plate. Judged by a panel of 3 judges selected each year.
Poetry Contest, Boston Review, P.O. Box 425786, Cambridge MA 02142. (617)324-1360. Fax: (617)452-3356. E-mail: review@bostonreview.net. Website: www.bostonreview.net. Offers $1,500 and publication in Boston Review (see separate listing in Magazines/Journals). Deadline: June 1. Winner announced in early November on website. Prize: $1,500 and publication.
PMB 325, 6614 Clayton Rd., Richmond Heights MO 63117. E-mail: editors@boulevardmagazine.org. Website: www.boulevardmagazine.org. Contact: Jessica Rogen, editor. Annual Emerging Poets Contest offers $1,000 and publication in Boulevard (see separate listing in Magazines/Journals) for the best group of 3 poems by a poet who has not yet published a book of poetry with a nationally distributed press. All entries will be considered for publication and payment at regular rates. Deadline: June 1. Prize: $1,000 and publication.
New England Poetry Club, 376 School St., Watertown MA 02472. E-mail: contests@nepoetryclub.org. Website: www.nepoetryclub.org. Contact: Audrey Kalajin. For a lyric poem under 20 lines, written by a woman. Deadline: May 31. Prize: $200. Judged by well-known poets and sometimes winners of previous NEPC contests.
The Briar Cliff Review, Briar Cliff University, 3303 Rebecca St., Sioux City IA 51104-0100. E-mail: tricia.currans-sheehan@briarcliff.edu (editor); jeanne.emmons@briarcliff.edu (poetry). Website: www.bcreview.org. Contact: Tricia Currans-Sheehan, editor. The Briar Cliff Review sponsors an annual contest offering $1,000 and publication to each 1st Prize winner in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Previous year's winner and former students of editors ineligible. Winning pieces accepted for publication on the basis of first-time rights. Considers simultaneous submissions, “but notify us immediately upon acceptance elsewhere. We guarantee a considerate reading.” No mss returned. To reward good writers and showcase quality writing. Deadline: November 1. Prize: $1,000 and publication to each prize winner in fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Judged by Briar Cliff Review editors.
Brick Road Poetry Press, Inc., 513 Broadway, Columbus GA 31901. (706)649-3080. Fax: (706)649-3094. E-mail: kbadowski@brickroadpoetrypress.com. Website: www.brickroadpoetrypress.com. Contact: Ron Self and Keith Badowski, co-editors/founders. Annual competition for an original collection of 50-100 pages of poetery. Deadline: November 1st (Submission period begins August 1st) Prize: $1,000, publication in both print and e-book formats, and 25 copies of the book. May also offer publication contracts to the top finalists. Judged by Keith Badowski & Ron Self, Brick Road poetry editors.
TIPS “The best way to discover all that poetry can be and to expand the limits of your own craft is to expansively read poetry, both classic and contemporary.”
THE BRIDPORT PRIZEP.O. Box 6910, Dorset DT6 9QB, United Kingdom. E-mail: info@bridportprize.org.uk; kate@bridportprize.org.uk. Website: www.bridportprize.org.uk. Contact: Kate Wilson, Bridport Prize administrator. Award to promote literary excellence, discover new talent. Categories: Short stories, poetry, flash fiction, first novel. Deadline: May 31. Prize: £5,000; £1,000; £500; various runners-up prizes and publication of approximately 13 best stories and 13 best poems in anthology; plus 6 best flash fiction stories. 1st Prize of £1,000 for the best short, short story of under 250 words. £1,000 plus up to a year's mentoring for winner of Peggy Chapman-Andrews Award for a first novel. Judged by 1 judge for short stories (in 2018, Monica Ali), 1 judge for poetry (in 2018, Daljit Nagra) and 1 judge for flash fiction (in 2018 Monica Ali). The Novel award is judged by a group comprising representatives from The Literary Consultancy, A.M. Heath Literary Agents, and (in 2018) judge Kamila Shamsie.
Bright Hill Press, Bright Hill Press Inc., 94 Church St., Treadwell NY 13846. Phone/Fax: (607)829-5055. Fax: (607)829-5054. E-mail: wordthur@stny.rr.com. Website: www.brighthillpress.org. Contact: Bertha Rogers, editor; Beatrice Georgalidis, executive director. Bright Hill Press Annual Full-length Poetry Book Competition: Send 48-64 pages, bio, TOC, acknowledgments page, and 2 title pages (1 with name, address, etc.; 1 with title only). Poems can be published in journals or anthologies, but ms. must not be published elsewhere, including self-published. Guidelines online, for SASE, or via e-mail. Simultaneous submissions welcome, but BHP must be notified if ms. taken elsewhere. See website for deadline and other guidelines. Bright Hill Press Annual Poetry Chapbook Competition: Send 16-24 pages, bio, TOC, acknowledgments page, and 2 title pages (1 with name, address, etc.; 1 with title only). Poems can be published in journals or anthologies, but ms. must not be published elsewhere, including self-published. Guidelines online, for SASE, or via e-mail. Simultaneous submissions welcome, but BHP must be notified if ms. taken elsewhere. See website for deadline and other guidelines. Bright Hill's purpose is to publish superior poetry. Deadline: November 30 (book competition); July 31 (poetry competition). Book competition: $1,000, publication, and 30 copies of the winning book. Chapbook competition: $350, publication, and 30 copies of the winning chapbook.
Read the guidelines. Follow the guidelines.
Bright Press Hill & Literary Center, 94 Church St., Treadwell NY 13846. (607)829-5055. E-mail: brighthillpress@stny.rr.com; wordthur@stny.rr.com. Website: www.brighthillpress.org. The annual Bright Hill Press Chapbook Award recognizes an outstanding collection of poetry. Guidelines available for SASE, by e-mail, or on website. Deadline: December 31. Prize: A publication contract with Bright Hill Press and $1,000, publication in print format, and 30 copies of the printed book. Judged by a nationally-known poet.
TIPS “Publish your poems in literary magazines before trying to get a whole ms published. Publishing individual poems is the best way to hone your complete ms.”
University of Wisconsin Press, 1930 Monroe Street, 3rd Floor, Madison WI 5311-2059. (608)263-1110. Fax: (608)263-1132. E-mail: rwallace@wisc.edu. E-mail: uwiscpress@uwpress.wisc.edu. Website: www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/poetryguide.html. Contact: Ronald Wallace, series editor. The annual Brittingham Prize in Poetry is 1 of 2 prizes awarded by The University of Wisconsin Press (see separate listing for the Felix Pollak Prize in Poetry in this section). Beginning in 2017 the Press will publish two or three additional books annually, drawn from the contest submissions. The Brittingham Prize in Poetry is awarded annually to the best book-length manuscript of original poetry submitted in an open competition. The award is administered by the University of Wisconsin–Madison English Department, and the winner is chosen by a nationally recognized poet. The resulting book is published by the University of Wisconsin Press. Deadline: Submit August 15-September 15. Prize: Offers $1,000, plus publication. Judged by a distinguished poet who will remain anonymous until the winners are announced in mid-February.
P.O. Box 4658, Santa Rosa CA 95402. Website: www.bbbooks.com. Purpose of contest to reward a poet whose writing inspires others to value human life and natural world instead of values based on short-term economic advantage; speaks for community-centered values, democratic processes, especially those whose voices are seldom heard; demonstrates poetic excellence; and educates readers of the relevance of the past to the present and future. Deadline: June 1.
E-mail: tilsecretary@yahoo.com. Website: www.texasinstituteofletters.org. Offered annually for best first book of poetry published in previous year. Writer must have been born in Texas, have lived in the state at least 2 consecutive years at some time, or the subject matter should be associated with the state. Deadline: See website for exact date. Prize: $1,000.
CAA POETRY AWARDCanadian Authors Association, 74 Mississaga Street E., Orillia ON L3V 1V5, Canada. Website: canadianauthors.org/national. Contest for full-length English-language book of poems for adults by a Canadian writer. Deadline: January.
Silverfish Review Press, P.O. Box 3541, Eugene OR 97403. (541)344-5060. E-mail: sfrpress@earthlink.net. Website: www.silverfishreviewpress.com. Contact: Rodger Moody, editor. Awarded annually to a book-length ms of original poetry by an author who has not yet published a full-length collection. There are no restrictions on the kind of poetry or subject matter; translations are not acceptable. Deadline: October 15. Prize: $1,000, publication, and 25 copies of the book. The winner will be announced in March.
Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94105. (415)597-6700. Fax: (415)597-6729. E-mail: bookawards@commonwealthclub.org. Website: www.commonwealthclub.org/. Contact: Renee Miguel. Offered annually to recognize California's best writers and illuminate the wealth and diversity of California-based literature. Award is for published submissions appearing in print during the previous calendar year. Can be nominated by publisher or author. Open to California residents (or residents at time of publication). Deadline: December 22. Prize: Medals and cash prizes to be awarded at publicized event. Judged by 12-15 California professionals with a diverse range of views, backgrounds, and literary experience.
CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR POETRY6 West St. N, Suite 203, Orillia ON L3V 5B8, Canada. (705)325-3926. E-mail: admin@canadianauthors.org. Website: www.canadianauthors.org. Contact: Anita Purcell, executive director. Offered annually for a full-length English-language book of poems for adults, by a Canadian writer. Deadline: January 31. Prize: $1,000 and a silver medal. Judging: Each year a trustee for each award appointed by the Canadian Authors Association selects up to 3 judges. Identities of the trustee and judges are confidential.
120 Morris St., Durham NC 27701. (919)560-2738. Fax: (919)560-2759. E-mail: carolinawrenpress@earthlink.net. Website: www.carolinawrenpress.org. Contact: Andrea Selch, Poetry Editor. Carolina Wren Press is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to publish quality writing, especially by writers historically neglected by mainstream publishing, and to develop diverse and vital audiences through publishing, outreach, and educational programs. Deadline: June 15 of odd-numbered years. Prize: $1,000 and publication.
Cave Canem Foundation, Inc., 20 Jay St., Suite 310-A, Brooklyn NY 11201. (718)858-0000. Website: www.cavecanempoets.org. This 1st book award is dedicated to the discovery of exceptional mss by black poets of African descent. Deadline: March 17. 1st place: $1,000, plus publication by University of Pittsburgh Press, 15 copies of the book, and a featured reading.
BkMk Press, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5101 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City MO 64110. (816)235-2558. E-mail: bkmk@umkc.edu. Website: www.newletters.org. Contact: Ben Furnish. Offered annually for the best book-length collection (unpublished) of poetry in English by a living author. Translations are not eligible. Guidelines for SASE, by e-mail, or on website. Deadline: January 15. Prize: $1,000, plus book publication by BkMk Press. Judged by a network of published writers. Final judging is done by a writer of national reputation.
P.O. Box 33384, San Diego CA 92163. E-mail: editor@ciderpressreview.com. Website: http://ciderpressreview.com/. Annual award from Cider Press Review. Deadline: November 30. Open to submissions on September 1. Prize: $1,500, publication, and 25 author's copies of a book length collection of poetry. Author receives a standard publishing contract. Initial print run is not less than 1,000 copies. CPR acquires first publication rights.
THE CITY OF VANCOUVER BOOK AWARDCultural Services Dept., Woodward's Heritage Building, 111 W. Hastings St., Suite 501, Vancouver BC V6B 1H4, Canada. (604)871-6634. Fax: (604)871-6005. E-mail: marnie.rice@vancouver.ca; culture@vancouver.ca. Website: https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/city-of-vancouver-book-award.aspx. The annual City of Vancouver Book Award recognizes authors of excellence of any genre who contribute to the appreciation and understanding of Vancouver's history, unique character, or the achievements of its residents. The book must exhibit excellence in one or more of the following areas: content, illustration, design, format. Deadline: May 18. Prize: $3,000. Judged by an independent jury.
Cleveland State University Poetry Center, Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Rhodes Tower, Room 1841, Cleveland OH 44115-2214. (216)687-3986. E-mail: poetrycenter@csuohio.edu. Website: www.csupoetrycenter.com. Contact: Caryl Pagel. The Cleveland State University Poetry Center was established in 1962 at the former Fenn College of Engineering to promote poetry through readings and community outreach. In 1971, it expanded its mission to become a national non-profit independent press under the auspices of the Cleveland State University Department of English, and has since published nearly 200 rangy, joyful, profound, astonishing, complicated, surprising, and aesthetically diverse collections of contemporary poetry and prose by established and emerging authors. The Cleveland State University Poetry Center publishes between three and five collections of contemporary poetry and prose a year, with a national distribution and reach. The Poetry Center currently acquires manuscripts through three annual contests (one dedicated to publishing and promoting first books of poetry, one to supporting an established poet’s career, and one to publishing collections of literary essays). In addition to publishing, the Poetry Center actively promotes contemporary poetry and prose through an annual reading series, collaborative art events, participation in national writing conferences, and as an educational resource for Cleveland State University’s undergraduate, M.A., and N.E.O.M.F.A. students by providing assistantship and internship opportunities as well as involving students in the editorial and production aspects of literary publishing. Deadline: March 31. Prize: First Book and Open Book Competitions awards publication and a $1,000 prize for an original manuscript of poetry in each category. 2018 Judges: CAConrad (First Book); Samuel Amadon, Leora Fridman, & Jane Lewty (Open Book); Brian Blanchfield (Essay).
Tebot Bach, Tebot Bach, Clockwise, P.O. Box 7887, Huntington Beach CA 92615. (714)968-0905. Fax: (714)968-4677. E-mail: mifanwy@tebotbach.org. Website: www.tebotbach.org/clockwise.html. Annual competition for a collection of poetry. Submit 24-32 pages of original poetry in English. Deadline: July 30. Prize: $500 and a book publication in Perfect Bound Editions. Winner announced in September with publication January. Judged by Gail Wronsky.
P.O. Box 610, Corvallis OR 97339. (541)752-0075. E-mail: michael@cloudbankbooks.com. Website: www.cloudbankbooks.com. Contact: Michael Malan. Cloudbank is a 96-page print journal published annually. Included are poems, flash fiction and book reviews. Regular submissions and contest submissions are accepted. An annual book contest, entitled the Vern Rutsala Book Prize, results in a published book of poetry and/or flash fiction. Deadline: Cloudbank contest due date is the last day in February. The Vern Rutslala Book contest due date is the last day in October. Prize: $200 and publication, plus an extra copy of the issue in which the winning poem appears. Two contributors' copies will be sent to writers whose work appears in the magazine. The book contest winner receives $1,000 and publication of the manuscript. The Cloudbank contest is judged by Michael Malan and editorial staff. The Vern Rutsala Book contest is judged by an outside author.
Submissions for the journal are accepted via Submittable and by mail. Complete guidelines are available at the website. We accept both poetry and flash fiction. We hold two contests—one for Cloudbank (the journal) and one entitled the Vern Rutsala Book Prize
TOM COLLINS POETRY PRIZEFellowship of Australian Writers (WA), P.O. Box 6180, Swanbourne WA 6910, Australia. (61)(8)9384-4771. Fax: (61)(8)9384-4854. E-mail: fellowshipaustralianwriterswa@gmail.com. Website: www.fawwa.org. Annual contest for unpublished poems, maximum 60 lines. Reserves the right to publish entries in a FAWWA publication or on its website. Guidelines online or for SASE. Deadline: No Closed. Prize: 1st Place: $1,000; 2nd Place: $200; 43rd Place: $100 each.
Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, 7935 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 450, Greenwood Village CO 80111. (303)894-7951. Fax: (303)864-9361. E-mail: bess@coloradohumanities.org. Website: www.coloradohumanities.org. Contact: Bess Maher. An annual program that celebrates the accomplishments of Colorado's outstanding authors, editors, illustrators, and photographers. Awards are presented in at least ten categories including anthology/collection, biography, children's, creative nonfiction, fiction, history, nonfiction, pictorial, poetry, and young adult. Deadline: January 9.
Colorado Review,/ Center for Literary Publishing, Department of English, Colorado State University, 9105 Campus Delivery, Ft. Collins CO 80523. (970)491-5449. E-mail: creview@colostate.edu. Website: coloradoprize.colostate.edu. Contact: Stephanie G'Schwind, editor. Submission must be unpublished as a collection, but individual poems may have been published elsewhere. Submit mss of 48-100 pages of poetry on any subject, in any form, double- or single-spaced. Include 2 titles pages: 1 with ms title only, the other with ms title and poet's name, address, and phone number. Enclose SASE for notification of receipt and SASE for results; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available by SASE, e-mail, or online at website. Poets can also submit online via online submission manager through website. Deadline: January 14. Prize: $2,000 and publication of a book-length ms. Judged by John Yau.
P.O. Box 445, Tillamook OR 97141. E-mail: concretewolfpress@gmail.com. Website: http://concretewolf.com. Prefers collections that have a theme, either obvious (i.e., chapbook about a divorce) or understated (i.e., all the poems mention the color blue). Likes a collection that feels more like a whole than a sampling of work. No preference as to formal or free verse. Slightly favors lyric and narrative poetry to language and concrete, but excellent examples of any style will grab their attention. Considers simultaneous submissions if notified of acceptance elsewhere. Deadline: November 30 and March 31. Prize: Publication and author copies of a perfectly-bound collection.
P.O. Box 270554, W. Hartford CT 06127. E-mail: connpoetry@comcast.net. Website: ctpoetry.net. Deadline: September 30. Open to submissions on August 1. 1st Place: $400; 2nd Place: $100; 3rd Place: $50.
P.O. Box 33384, San Diego CA 92163. E-mail: editor@ciderpressreview.com. Website: http://ciderpressreview.com/bookaward. Annual award from Cider Press Review. Deadline: submit between April 1-June 30. Prize: $1,000, publication, and 25 author's copies of a book length collection of poetry. Author receives a standard publishing contract. Initial print run is not less than 1,000 copies. CPR acquires first publication rights. Judged by Cider Press Review editors.
First Book Award, Dept. of English, Mail Code 4503, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1000 Faner Drive, Carbondale IL 62901. (618)453-6833. Fax: (618)453-8224. E-mail: jtribble@siu.edu. Website: www.craborchardreview.siu.edu. Contact: Jon Tribble, series editor. Annual award that selects a first book of poems for publication from an open competition of manuscripts, in English, by a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or person who has DACA/TPS status who has neither published, who has neither published, nor committed to publish, a volume of poetry 48 pages or more in length in an edition of over 500 copies (individual poems may have been previously published; for the purposes of the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry, a ms which was in whole or in part submitted as a thesis or dissertation as a requirement for the completion of a degree is considered unpublished and is eligible). Current or former students, colleagues, and close friends of the final judge, and current and former students and employees of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and authors who have published a book with Southern Illinois University Press or have a book under contract with Southern Illinois University Press are not eligible. Deadline: July 8. Submission period begins May 15. Prize: $4,000 and publication. Judged by a published poet. Check website for current judge.
TIPS “Carefully read directions for entering and follow them exactly. Note that simultaneous submissions are accepted for this book prize, but the winning entry must NOT be accepted elsewhere. All submissions should be made through Submittable: https://craborchardseriesinpoetry.submittable.com/submit.”
Department of English, Mail Code 4503, Faner Hall 2380, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale IL 62901. (618)453-6833. Fax: (618)453-8224. E-mail: jtribble@siu.edu. Website: www.craborchardreview.siu.edu. Contact: Jon Tribble, series editor. Annual competition to award unpublished, original collections of poems written in English by United States citizens, permanent residents, or persons who have DACA/TPS status (individual poems may have been previously published; for the purposes of the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry, a ms which was in whole or in part submitted as a thesis or dissertation as a requirement for the completion of a degree is considered unpublished and is eligible). Two volumes of poems will be selected from the open competition of mss. Current or former students, colleagues, and close friends of the final judge, and current and former students and employees of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and authors who have published a book with Southern Illinois University Press or have a book under contract with Southern Illinois University Press are not eligible. Deadline: November 19. Submission period begins October 1. Prize: Both winners will be awarded a publication contract with Southern Illinois University Press, a $2,500 prize, and a $1,500 as an honorarium for a reading at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Both readings will follow the publication of the poets’ collections. Judged by a published poet. Check website for current judge.
TIPS “Carefully read directions for entering and follow them exactly. Note that simultaneous submissions are accepted for this book prize, but the winning entry must NOT be accepted elsewhere. All submissions should be made through Submittable: https://craborchardseriesinpoetry.submittable.com/submit.”
Crazyhorse, Department of English, College of Charleston, 66 George St., Charleston SC 29424. (843)953-4470. E-mail: crazyhorse@cofc.edu. Website: http://crazyhorse.cofc.edu. Contact: Prize Director. The Crazyhorse Prize in Poetry is for a single poem. All entries will be considered for publication. Submissions must be unpublished. Deadline: January 31. Submissions period begins January 1. Prize: $2,000 and publication in Crazyhorse. Judged by genre judges for first round, guest judge for second round. Judges change on a yearly basis.
CutBank Literary Magazine, CutBank, University of Montana, English Dept., LA 133, Missoula MT 59812. E-mail: editor.cutbank@gmail.com. Website: www.cutbankonline.org. Contact: Kate Barrett, editor-in-chief. This competition is open to original English language mss in the genres of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. While previously published stand-alone pieces or excerpts may be included in a ms, the ms as a whole must be an unpublished work. Looking for startling, compelling, and beautiful original work. “We’re looking for a fresh, powerful manuscript. Maybe it will overtake us quietly; gracefully defy genres; satisfyingly subvert our expectations; punch us in the mouth page in and page out. We’re interested in both prose and poetry—and particularly work that straddles the lines between genres.” Deadline: March 31. Submissions period begins January1. Prize: $1,000 and 25 contributor copies. Judged by a guest judge each year.
Council for Wisconsin Writers, 4964 Gilkeson Rd, Waunakee WI 53597. E-mail: karlahuston@gmail.com. Website: www.wiswriters.org. Contact: Geoff Gilpin, president and annual awards co-chair; Karla Huston, secretary and annual awards co-chair; Sylvia Cavanaugh, annual awards co-chair; Edward Schultz, annual awards co-chair, Erik Richardson, annual awards co-chair. Offered annually for work published by Wisconsin writers during the previous calendar year. Nine awards: Major Achievement (presented in alternate years); short fiction; short nonfiction; nonfiction book; poetry book; fiction book; children's literature; Lorine Niedecker Poetry Award; Christopher Latham Sholes Award for Outstanding Service to Wisconsin Writers (presented in alternate years); Essay Award for Young Writers. Open to Wisconsin residents. Deadline: January 31. Submissions open on November 1. Prizes: First place prizes: $500. Honorable mentions: $50. List of judges available on website.
200 Fosseway Dr., Greensboro NC 27445. (336)644-8028. E-mail: danaawards@gmail.com. Website: www.danaawards.com. Contact: Mary Elizabeth Parker, chair. Three awards offered annually for unpublished work written in English. Works previously published online are not eligible. The Dana Awards are re-vamping. The Novel Award is now increased to $2,000, based on a new partnership with Blue Mary Books: Blue Mary has agreed to consider for possible publication not only the Novel Award winning manuscript, but the top 9 other Novel finalists, as well as the 30 top Novel semifinalists. The Short Fiction and Poetry Awards offer the traditional $1,000 awards each and do not offer a publishing option (currently, Blue Mary publishes only novels). See website for further updates. Purpose is monetary award for work that has not been previously published or received monetary award, but will accept work published simply for friends and family. Deadline: October 31 (postmarked). Prizes: $2,000 for the Novel Award; $1,000 each for the Short Fiction and Poetry awards awards.
The Dana Awards and Blue Mary Books are separate entities. Blue Mary has no part in the reading and judging of manuscripts to determine the Novel Award and the Dana Awards does not advise Blue Mary on publishing. The Dana Awards gives its monetary award only; then, as a further courtesy, will put winner, finalists and semifinalists in touch with Blue Mary. All further agreements and contracts are solely between the authors and Blue Mary.
Artists Embassy International, AEI Contest Chair, Judy Cheung, 704 Brigham Ave., Santa Rosa CA 95404-5245. (707)528-0912. E-mail: jhcheung@comcast.net. Website: www.dancingpoetry.com. Contact: Judy Cheung, contest chair. Deadline: April 15. Prizes: Three Grand Prizes will receive $100 each plus the poems will be danced and videotaped at this year's Dancing Poetry Festival; six First Prizes will receive $50 each; twelve Second Prizes will receive $25 each; and thirty Third Prizes will receive $10 each. Judged by members and associates of Artists Embassy International and the Poetic Dance Theater Company.
TIPS “We always look for something new and different including new twists to old themes, different looks at common situations, inovative concepts for dynamic, thought provoking entertainment.”
820 N. French St., Wilmington DE 19801. (302)577-8278. Fax: (302)577-6561. E-mail: Roxanne.stanulis@state.de.us. Website: www.artsdel.org. Contact: Roxanne Stanulis. Award to help further careers of emerging and established professional artists. For Delaware residents only. Guidelines available after May 1 on website. Accepts inquiries by e-mail, phone. Results announced in December. Winners notified by mail. Results available on website. Deadline: August 1. Prize: $10,000 for masters; $6,000 for established professionals; $3,000 for emerging professionals. Judged by out-of-state, nationally recognized professionals in each artistic discipline.
Expects to receive 25 fiction entries.
TIPS “Follow all instructions and choose your best work sample.”
New England Poetry Club, 376 School St., Watertown MA 02472. E-mail: contests@nepoetryclub.org. Website: www.nepoetryclub.org. Contact: Audrey Kalajin. For a translation from any language into English. Send a copy of the original. Funded by John Mahtesian. Deadline: May 31 Prize: $200. Judges are well-known poets and sometimes winners of previous NEPC contests.
Department of English, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210067, Tucson AZ 85721-0067. E-mail: nmp@thediagram.com; editor@thediagram.com. Website: www.thediagram.com/contest.html. Contact: Ander Monson, editor. Contest for prose, poetry, or hybrid manuscript between 18-44 pages. Deadline: April 28. Check website for more details. Prize: $1,000 and publication. Finalist essay also published. Judged by editor Ander Monson.
New Michigan Press, P.O. Box 210067, English, ML 424, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721. E-mail: nmp@thediagram.com. Website: www.thediagram.com. Contact: Ander Monson, editor. The annual DIAGRAM/New Michigan Press Chapbook Contest offers $1,000, plus publication and author's copies, with discount on additional copies. Deadline: April 28. Prize: $1,000, plus publication. Finalist chapbooks also considered for publication. Judged by editor Ander Monson.
Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3999, Atlanta GA 30302-3999. Website: fivepoints.gsu.edu. The James Dickey Prize for Poetry is for the best previously unpublished poem. Deadline: December 1. Open to submissions on September 1.
The Graduate School, The University of Texas at Austin, Attn: Dobie Paisano Program, 110 Inner Campus Drive Stop G0400, Austin TX 78712-0531. (512)232-3609. Fax: (512)471-7620. E-mail: gbarton@austin.utexas.edu. Website: www.utexas.edu/ogs/Paisano. Contact: Gwen Barton. Sponsored by the Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Institute of Letters, the Dobie Paisano Fellowship Program provides solitude, time, and a comfortable place for Texas writers or writers who have written significantly about Texas through fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays, or other mediums. The Dobie Paisano Ranch is a very rural and rustic setting, and applicants should read the guidelines closely to insure their ability to reside in this secluded environment. Deadline: January 15. Applications are accepted beginning December 1 and must be post-marked no later than January 15. The Ralph A. Johnston memorial Fellowship is for a period of 4 months with a stipend of $6,250 per month. It is aimed at writers who have already demonstrated some publishing and critical success. The Jesse H. Jones Writing Fellowship is for a period of approximately 6 months with a stipend of $3,000 per month. It is aimed at, but not limited to, writers who are early in their careers.
TIPS “Three sets of each complete application must be submitted. Electronic submissions are not allowed. Guidelines and application forms are on the website (http://www.utexas.edu/ogs/Paisano/info.html) or may be requested by sending a SASE (3-ounce postage) to the above address, attention of 'Dobie Paisano Fellowship Project.'"
P.O. Box 2080, Aptos CA 95001-2080. E-mail: dreamhorsepress@yahoo.com. Website: www.dreamhorsepress.com. Contact: J.P. Dancing Bear, Editor/Publisher. Deadline: June 30. Prize: $500, publication, and 25 copies of a handsomely printed chapbook. Judged is anonymous.
Truman State University Press, 100 E. Normal Ave., Kirksville MO 63501. (660)785-7336. Fax: (660)785-4480. E-mail: tsup@truman.edu. Website: tsup.truman.edu. Contact: Barbara Smith-Mandell, Editor-in-Chief. The ms may include individual poems previously published in journals or anthologies, but may not include more than 1/3 of the total poems from a published chapbook or self-published book. Deadline: October 31. Prize: $2,000 and publication. Judge announced after close of competition.
Competition receives about 400 entries/year.
FAR HORIZONS AWARD FOR POETRYThe Malahat Review, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 1700, Stn CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2, Canada. (250)721-8524. Fax: (250)472-5051. E-mail: malahat@uvic.ca. Website: www.malahatreview.ca. Contact: L'Amour Lisik, Marketing and Circulation Manager. The biennial Far Horizons Award for Poetry offers $1,000 CAD and publication in The Malahat Review (see separate listing in Magazines/Journals). Winner and finalists contacted by e-mail. Winner published in fall in The Malahat Review and announced on website, Facebook page, and in quarterly e-newsletter, Malahat lite. Open to “emerging poets from Canada, the United States, and elsewhere" who have not yet published a full-length book (48 pages or more). Deadline: May 1 (even numbered years). Prize: $1,000.
Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, The Webhallow House, 1544 Sweetwood Dr., Broadmoor Village CA 94015. E-mail: SoulKeats@mail.com. Website: www.soulmakingcontest.us. Contact: Eileen Malone. Deadline: November 30. Prizes: First: $100, Second: $50, Third: $25. Judged by a local San Francisco Bay Area successfully published poet.
Faulkner - Wisdom Competition, Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society, Inc., The Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society, Inc., 624 Pirate's Alley, New Orleans LA 70116-3233. (504)586-1609. E-mail: faulkhouse@aol.com. Website: www.wordsandmusic.org. Contact: Rosemary James, award director. general craft See guidelines posted at www.wordsandmusic.org. Deadline: May 15. Prizes: $750-7,500 depending on category. Judged by established authors, literary agents, and acquiring editors.
E-mail: wwphpress@gmail.com. Website: www.washingtonwriters.org. Contact: Holly Karapetkova. Poets living within 75 miles of the Capitol are invited to submit a ms of either a novel or a collection of short stories. Ms should be 50-70 pages, single spaced. Deadline: November 15. Submission period begins July 1. Prize: $1,000 and 50 copies of the book.
Oberlin College Press/FIELD, 50 N. Professor St., Oberlin OH 44074-1095. (440)775-8408. Fax: (440)775-8124. E-mail: oc.press@oberlin.edu. Website: www.oberlin.edu/ocpress/prize.htm. Contact: Marco Wilkinson, managing editor. Offered annually for an unpublished book-length collection of poetry (mss of 50-80 pages). Contest seeks to encourage the finest in contemporary poetry writing. Open to any writer. Deadline: May 31. Opens to submissions on May 1. Prize: $1,000 and a standard royalty contract.
Mid-American Review, Dept. of English, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green OH 43403. (419)372-2725. E-mail: mar@bgsu.edu. Website: www.bgsu.edu/midamericanreview. Contact: Abigail Cloud, editor-in-chief. Offered annually for previously unpublished submissions. Contest open to all writers not associated with current judge or Mid-American Review. Deadline: June 1. Prize: $1,000, plus publication in fall issue of Mid-American Review; 10 finalists receive notation plus possible publication. Judge will be a contemporary writer of note.
P.O. Box 1626, Georgetown KY 40324. E-mail: finishingbooks@aol.com. Website: www.finishinglinepress.com. Contact: Christen Kincaid, director. Annual competition for poetry chapbook. $1,000
Zone 3, Austin Peay State University, Austin Peay State University, PO Box 4565, Clarksville TN 37044. (931)221-7031. Fax: (931)221-7149. E-mail: zone3@apsu.edu. Website: www.apsu.edu/zone3/. Contact: Andrea Spofford, poetry editor; Susan Wallace, managing editor. Annual poetry award for anyone who has not published a full-length collection of poems (48 pages or more). Deadline: May 1. Prize: $1,000 and publication.
FISH POETRY PRIZEFish Poetry Contest, Fish Publishing, Dunbeacon, Durrus, Bantry Co. Cork, Ireland. E-mail: info@fishpublishing.com. Website: www.fishpublishing.com. Contact: Clem Cairns. For poems up to 300 words. Age Range: Adult. The best 10 will be published in the Fish Anthology, launched in July at the West Cork Literary Festival. Entries must not have been published before. Enter online or by post. See website for full details of competitions, and information on the Fish Editorial and Critique Services, and the Fish Online Writing Courses. The aim of the competition is to discover and publish new writers. Deadline: March 31. Prize: $1,000. 2nd Prize: a week at Anam Cara Writers" Retreat in West Cork. Results announced May 15. Judged by Jo Shapcott in 2017.
106 W. 56th St., New York NY 10019. (212)581-4640. Fax: (212)399-3596. Website: www.americamagazine.org. America, the national Catholic weekly by the Jesuits of North America, sponsors the annual Foley Poetry Contest. Offers $1,000 and 2 contributor's copies for the winning poem. Winner will be announced in the mid-June issue of America and on the website. Runners-up will have their poems printed in subsequent issues of America. Submissions must be unpublished and may not be entered in other contests. “Submit 1 poem per person, not to exceed 30 lines of verse, in any form. Name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if applicable) should be appended to the bottom of the page. Poems will not be returned, and e-mailed submissions are not accepted.” Guidelines available in magazine, for SASE, or on website. Competition receives more than 1,000 entries/year. Deadline: March 31. Open to submissions on January 1.