TD CANADIAN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AWARDSkipping Stones, P.O. Box 3939, Eugene OR 97403-0939. Website: www.skippingstones.org. Open to published books, publications/magazines, educational videos, and DVDs. Annual awards. Submissions made by the author or publishers and/or producers. Send request for contest rules and entry forms or visit website. Many educational publications announce the winners of our book awards. The winning books and educational videos/DVDs are announced in the July-September issue of Skipping Stones and also on the website. In addition to announcements on social media pages, the reviews of winning titles are posted on website. Skipping Stones multicultural magazine has been published for over 25 years. Recognizes exceptional, literary and artistic contributions to juvenile/children’s literature, as well as teaching resources and educational audio/video resources in the areas of multicultural awareness, nature and ecology, social issues, peace, and nonviolence. Deadline: February 1. Prize: Winners receive gold honor award seals, attractive honor certificates and publicity via multiple outlets. Judged by a multicultural selection committee of editors, students, parents, teachers, and librarians.
P.O. Box 3939, Eugene OR 97403-0939. (541)342-4956. Fax: (541)342-4956. E-mail: editor@skippingstones.org. Website: www.skippingstones.org. Contact: Arun N. Toké. Annual awards to promote creativity as well as multicultural and nature awareness in youth. Cover letter should include name, address, phone, and e-mail. Entries must be unpublished. Length: 1,000 words maximum; 30 lines maximum for poems. Open to any writer between 7 and 17 years old. Guidelines available by SASE, e-mail, or on website. Accepts inquiries by e-mail or phone. Results announced in the October-December issue of Skipping Stones. Winners notified by mail. For contest results, visit website. Everyone who enters receives the issue which features the award winners. Deadline: June 25. Prize: Publication in the autumn issue of Skipping Stones, honor certificate, subscription to magazine, plus 5 multicultural and/or nature books.
Association of Jewish Libraries, P.O. Box 1118, Teaneck NJ 07666. (212)725-5359. E-mail: chair@sydneytaylorbookaward.org; mls4bug@sbcglobal.net. Website: www.sydneytaylorbookaward.org. Contact: Diane Rauchwerger, chair. The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. Deadline: December 31, “but we cannot guarantee that books received after November 30 will be considered.”. Prize: Gold medals are presented in 3 categories: younger readers, older readers, and teen readers. Honor books are awarded in silver medals, and notable books are named in each category.
Association of Jewish Libraries, Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award Competition, 204 Park St., Montclair NJ 07042-2903. E-mail: stmacajl@aol.com. Website: www.jewishlibraries.org/main/Awards/SydneyTaylorManuscriptAward.aspx. Contact: Aileen Grossberg. This competition is for unpublished writers of fiction. Material should be for readers ages 8-13, with universal appeal that will serve to deepen the understanding of Judaism for all children, revealing positive aspects of Jewish life. Download rules and forms from website. Must be an unpublished fiction writer or a student; also, books must range from 64-200 pages in length. “AJL assumes no responsibility for publication, but hopes this cash incentive will serve to encourage new writers of children’s stories with Jewish themes for all children.” Deadline: September 30. Prize: $1,000. Judging by qualified judges from within the Association of Jewish Libraries.
TD CANADIAN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AWARDThe Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 40 Orchard View Blvd., Suite 217, Toronto ON M4R 1B9 Canada. (416)975-0010, ext. 222. Fax: (416)975-8970. Website: www.bookcentre.ca. Contact: Meghan Howe. The TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award is for the most distinguished book of the year. All books, in any genre, written and illustrated by Canadians and for children ages 1-12 are eligible. Only books first published in Canada are eligible for submission. Books must be published between January 1 and December 31 of the previous calendar year. Open to Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents of Canada. Submission deadline: December 17. Prize: Two prizes of $30,000, 1 for English, 1 for French. $20,000 will be divided among the Honour Book English titles and Honour Book French titles, to a maximum of 4; $2,500 shall go to each of the publishers of the English and French grand-prize winning books for promotion and publicity.
TIPS “Please visit website for submission guidelines and eligibility criteria, as well as specific submission deadline.”
The Vegetarian Resource Group, P.O. Box 1463, Baltimore MD 21203. (410)366-VEGE. Fax: (410)366-8804. E-mail: vrg@vrg.org. Website: www.vrg.org. Write a 2-3 page essay on any aspect of vegetarianism. Entrants should base their paper on interviewing, research, and/or personal opinon. You need not be a vegetarian to enter. Three different entry categories: age 14-18; age 9-13; and age 8 and under. Prize: $50.
Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, The Webhallow House, 1544 Sweetwood Drive, Broadmoor Village CA 94015-2029. E-mail: SoulKeats@mail.com. Website: www.soulmakingcontest.us. Contact: Eileen Malone. For writers in grades 9-12 or equivalent age. Up to 3,000 words in prose form of choice. Complete rules and guidelines available online. Deadline: November 30 (postmarked). Prize: $100 for first place; $50 for second place; $25 for third place. Judged (and sponsored) by Rita Wiliams, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter with KTVU-TV in Oakland, California.
Paxson Elementary School, 101 Evans, Missoula MT 59801. E-mail: hbray@missoula.lib.mt.us. Website: www.pnla.org. Contact: Honore Bray, president. The Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award is the oldest children’s choice award in the U.S. and Canada. Nominations are taken only from children, teachers, parents and librarians in the Pacific Northwest: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana and Washington. Nominations will not be accepted from publishers. Nominations may include fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, animae, and manga. Nominated titles are those published 3 years prior to the award year. Deadline: February 1. Books will be judged on popularity with readers. Age appropriateness will be considered when choosing which of the three divisions a book is placed. Other considerations may include reading enjoyment; reading level; interest level; genre representation; gender representation; racial diversity; diversity of social, political, economic, or religions viewpoints; regional consideration; effectiveness of expression; and imagination. The Pacific Northwest Library Association is committed to intellectual freedom and diversity of ideas. No title will be excluded because of race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political or social view of either the author or the material.
AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDSparkLit, P.O. Box 198, Forest Hill Victoria 3131 Australia. E-mail: admin@sparklit.org. Website: www.sparklit.org. Contact: The Awards Coordinator. The Australian Christian Book of the Year Award is given annually to an original book written by an Australian citizen normally resident in Australia and published by an Australian publisher. The award recognizes and encourages excellence in Australian Christian writing. Entries must be published after April 1 of the year prior to the competition. Deadline: March 31. Prize: $2,500 (AUD) and a framed certificate.
Category in the Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, The Webhallow House, 1544 Sweetwood Dr., Broadmoor Village CA 94015-2029. E-mail: SoulKeats@mail.com. Website: www.soulmakingcontest.us. Contact: Eileen Malone. Any form, 2,500 words or less. One piece per entry. Previously published material is accepted. Open annually to any writer. Deadline: November 30. Prize: First Place: $100; Second Place: $50; Third Place: $25. Judged by Jamie Cat Callan.
J.W. DAFOE BOOK PRIZEJ.W. Dafoe Foundation, 351 University College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2M8 Canada. E-mail: james.fergusson@ad.umanitoba.ca. Website: www.dafoefoundation.ca. Contact: Dr. James Fergusson. The Dafoe Book Prize was established to honor John Dafoe, editor of the Winnipeg Free Press from 1900 to 1944, and is awarded each year for distinguished writing by Canadians or authors in resident in Canada that contributes to the understanding of Canada, Canadians, and/or Canada’s place in the world. Books must be published January-December of previous publishing year. Co-authored books are eligible, but not edited books consisting of chapters from many different authors. Submit 4 copies of book. Deadline: December 6. Prize: $10,000. Judged by board members and academics.
THE DEBUT DAGGERCrime Writers’ Association, New Writing Competition, P.O. Box 3408, Norwich NR3 3WE England. E-mail: director@thecwa.co.uk. Website: www.thecwa.co.uk. Contact: Mary Andrea Clarke. Annual competition for unpublished crime writers. Submit the opening 3,000 words of a crime novel, plus a 500-1,000 word synopsis of its continuance. Open to any writer who has not had a novel commercially published in any genre. Only accepts entries in Microsoft Word Document or PDF form. Submissions should not include entrant’s name anywhere on the documents. See website for details on guidelines and submitting. Deadline: January 31. Submission period begins November 1. Prize: 1st Prize: £700. All shortlisted entrants will receive a professional assessment of their entries. Judged by a panel of top crime editors and agents, and the shortlisted entries are sent to publishers and agents.
The Ayn Rand Institute, P.O. Box 57044, Irvine CA 92619-7044. E-mail: info@aynrandnovels.com. Website: www.aynrand.org/contests. Offered annually to encourage analytical thinking and excellence in writing, and to expose students to the philosophic ideas of Ayn Rand. “For information contact your English teacher or guidance counselor, or visit our website.” Length: 800-1,600 words. Open to 11th and 12th graders. Deadline: April 26. Prize: 1st Place: $10,000; 2nd Place (5): $2,000; 3rd Place (10): $1,000; Finalist (45): $100; Semifinalist (175): $50.
Prairie Schooner, 123 Andrews Hall, P.O. Box 880334, Lincoln NE 68588-0334. (402)472-0911. Fax: (402)472-1817. E-mail: prairieschooner@unl.edu; psbookprize@unl.edu. Website: http://prairieschooner.unl.edu/. Contact: Kwame Dawes. Annual awards for work published in Prairie Schooner in the previous year. Offers one large prize and 10 smaller awards. See website for more details. Contact Prairie Schooner for further information. Prize: One award of $1,500 and 10 awards of $250 each.
Jenkins Group/Independent Publisher Online, 1129 Woodmere Ave., Ste. B, Traverse City MI 49686. (231)933-0445. Fax: (231)933-0448. E-mail: jimb@bookpublishing.com. Website: www.independentpublisher.com. Contact: Jim Barnes. Honors the year’s best independently published titles from around the world. The IPPY Awards reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. Independent spirit and expertise comes from publishers of all areas and budgets, and they judge books with that in mind. Entries will be accepted in over 75 categories, visit website to see details. Open to any published writer. Accepts books published within the past 2 years. See website for guidelines and details. Deadline: March 16. Price of submission rises after January 25. Prize: Gold, silver and bronze medals for each category; foil seals available to all. Judged by a panel of experts representing the fields of design, writing, bookselling, library, and reviewing.
Center for Documentary Studies, 1317 W. Pettigrew St., Duke University, Durham NC 27705. (919)660-3662. Fax: (919)681-7600. E-mail: alexad@duke.edu; docstudies@duke.edu. Website: http://documentarystudies.duke.edu/awards/dorothea-lange-paul-taylor-prize. Contact: Alexa Dilworth. Award from the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, supporting documentary artists, working alone or in teams, who are involved in extended, on-going fieldwork projects that rely on and exploit the interplay of words and images. More information available on website. First announced a year after the Center for Documentary Studies’ founding at Duke University, the prize was created to encourage a collaboration between documentary writers and photographers in the tradition of the acclaimed photographer Dorothea Lange and writer and social scientist Paul Taylor. Deadline: May 7. Submissions accepted starting in February.
Modern Language Association of America, 26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10004-1789. (646)576-5141. Fax: (646)458-0030. E-mail: awards@mla.org. Website: www.mla.org. Contact: Coordinator of Book Prizes. Offered in odd-numbered years for an outstanding scholarly study in any language of United States Latina and Latino or Chicana and Chicano literature or culture. Books must have been published in the two previous years before the award. Authors must be current members of the MLA. Requires 4 copies of the book. Deadline: May 1. Prize: A cash award, and a certificate to be presented at the Modern Language Association’s annual convention in January.
Pushcart Press, P.O. Box 380, Wainscott NY 11975. (631)324-9300. Website: www.pushcartprize.com. Contact: Bill Henderson. Published every year since 1976, The Pushcart Prize - Best of the Small Presses series “is the most honored literary project in America. Hundreds of presses and thousands of writers of short stories, poetry and essays have been represented in the pages of our annual collections.” Little magazine and small book press editors (print or online) may make up to six nominations from their year’s publicatoins by the deadline. The nominations may be any combination of poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot. Editors may nominate self-contained portions of books — for instance, a chapter from a novel. Deadline: December 1.
National Writers Association, 10940 S. Parker Rd., #508, Parker CO 80134. (303)841-0246. E-mail: natlwritersassn@hotmail.com. Website: www.nationalwriters.com. Contact: Sandy Whelchel. Contest is offered annually for books published the previous year. Published works only. Open to any writer. Guidelines for SASE, by e-mail or on website. Winners will be notified by mail or phone. List of winners available for SASE or visit website. Purpose is to assist published authors in marketing their works and to reward outstanding published works. Deadline: May 15. Prize: Publicity tour, including airfare, valued at $5,000.
The Texas Institute of Letters, P.O. Box 609, Round Rock TX 78680. E-mail: tilsecretary@yahoo.com. Website: http://texasinstituteofletters.org. Offered annually for submissions published January 1-December 31 of previous year to recognize the writer of the book making the most important contribution to knowledge. Writer must have been born in Texas, have lived in the state at least 2 consecutive years at some time, or the subject matter of the book should be associated with the state. See website for guidelines. Deadline: Visit website for exact date. Prize: $2,500.
Texas Institute of Letters, P.O. Box 609, Round Rock TX 78680. E-mail: tilsecretary@yahoo.com. Website: www.texasinstituteofletters.org. Offered annually for the best design for a trade book. Open to Texas residents or those who have lived in Texas for 2 consecutive years. See website for guidelines. Deadline: early Janaury; see website for exact date. Prize: $750.
THE WRITERS' TRUST ENGEL/FINDLEY AWARDThe Writers’ Trust of Canada, 460 Richmond St. W., Suite 600, Toronto ON M5V 1Y1 Canada. (416)504-8222. Fax: (416)504-9090. E-mail: info@writerstrust.com. Website: www.writerstrust.com. Contact: Amanda Hopkins. The Writers’ Trust Engel/Findley Award is presented annually at The Writers’ Trust Awards Event, held in Toronto each fall, to a Canadian writer for a body of work in hope of continued contribution to the richness of Canadian literature. Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents only. Prize: $25,000.
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Office of News and Information, 1200 New York Ave. NW, Washington DC 20005. E-mail: sja@aaas.org. Website: www.aaas.org/SJAwards. Contact: Awards Coordinator. The AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement for professional journalists in the science writing field. The awards recognize outstanding reporting for a general audience and honor individuals (rather than institutions, publishers or employers) for their coverage of the sciences, engineering and mathematics. Entries are submitted online, only. Enter e-mail address in online contact form to be alerted when entry forms are available. See website for guidelines and details. Deadline: August 1. Prize: $3,000 and a trip to AAAS Annual Meeting (travel and hotel expenses will be reimbursed). Judged by committees of reporters and editors.
The Amy Foundation, P.O. Box 16091, Lansing MI 48901. (517)323-6233. Fax: (517)321-2572. E-mail: amyawards@wng.org. Website: www.amyfound.org; www.worldmag.com/amyawards. The Amy Foundation Writing Awards program is designed to recognize creative, skillful writing that applies in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner the biblical principles to issues affecting the world today, with an emphasis on discipling. Submitted articles must be published in a secular, non-religious publication (either printed or online) and must be reinforced with at least one passage of scripture. The article must have been published between January 1 and December 31 of the current calendar year. Deadline: January 31. Prize: 1st Prize: $10,000; 2nd Prize: $5,000; 3rd Prize: $4,000; 4th Prize: $3,000; 5th Prize: $2,000; and 10 prizes of $1,000.
University of Missouri School of Journalism, 76 Gannett Hall, Columbia MO 65211-1200. (573)882-7685. E-mail: umcjourkta@missouri.edu. Website: www.kappataualpha.org. Contact: Dr. Keith Sanders, exec. dir., Kappa Tau Alpha. Offered annually for best researched book in mass communication. Submit 6 copies; no forms required. Deadline: December 9. Prize: $1,000. Judged by a panel of university professors of journalism and mass communication and national officers of Kappa Tau Alpha.
Fund For Investigative Journalism, Fund for Investigative Journalism, 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Washington DC 20045. (202)662-7564. E-mail: fundfij@gmail.com. Website: www.fij.org. Contact: Sandy Bergo, executive director. Offered 3 times/year for original investigative print, online, radio, and TV stories and books. Guidelines online. See website for details on applying for a grant. Deadlines: Vary. Check website. Prize: Grants of $500-10,000. (TypicalGrant: $5,000.)
University of Michigan, Wallace House, 620 Oxford, Ann Arbor MI 48104. (734)998-7575. Fax: (734)998-7979. E-mail: livawards@umich.edu. Website: www.livawards.org. Contact: Charles Eisendrath. Offered annually for journalism published in the previous year to recognize and further develop the abilities of young journalists. Includes print, online, and broadcast. Guidelines available online. Open to journalists who are 34 years or younger as of December 31 of previous year and whose work appears in US-controlled media. Deadline: February 1. Prize: $10,000 each for local reporting, national reporting, and international reporting.
NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARDSNational Magazine Awards Foundation, 2300 Yonge St., Suite 1600, Toronto ON M4P 1E4 Canada. (416)939-6200. E-mail: staff@magazine-awards.com. Website: www.magazine-awards.com. Offered annually for work by Canadian citizens or landed immigrants published in a Canadian magazine during the previous calendar year. Awards presented for writers, art directors, illustrators and photographers in written and visual categories. Open to Canadian residents only. Deadline: January 19. Prize: Monetary rewards.
National Association of Science Writers, Inc., P.O. Box 7905, Berkeley CA 94707. (510)647-9500. E-mail: director@nasw.org. Website: www.nasw.org. Contact: Tinsley Davis. Offered annually for investigative or interpretive reporting about the sciences and their impact on society. Categories: books, commentary and opinions, science reporting, longform science reporting, and science reporting for a local or regional market. Material may be a single article or broadcast, or a series. Works must have been first published or broadcast in North America between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year. Deadline: February 1. Prize: $2,500, and a certificate of recognition in each category.
SOVEREIGN AWARDThe Jockey Club of Canada, P.O. Box 66, Station B, Etobicoke ON M9W 5K9 Canada. (416)675-7756. Fax: (416)675-6378. E-mail: jockeyclub@bellnet.ca. Website: www.jockeyclubcanada.com. Contact: Stacie Roberts, exec. dir. The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry and to promote improvements to Thoroughbred racing and breeding, both in Canada and internationally. Submissions for these media awards must be of Canadian Thoroughbred racing or breeding content. They must have appeared in a media outlet recognized by The Jockey Club of Canada. See website for eligibility details and guidelines. Deadline: December 31.
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: Matthew Walters, director of fellowships & grants. 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 1800. Accepts inquiries by e-mail, or through online application. Instructions an application available online. Entries must be unpublished. Length: No more than 50 pages for drama and fiction; no more than 25 pages for poetry. Open to any writer. Results announced in November. Winners notified by e-mail. Results available on the ASF website. Guidelines available online. Deadline: June 1. 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.
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. Contest open to members and nonmembers. Poems should be typed and submitted in duplicate with author’s name, address, phone, and e-mail address of writer on only 1 copy. Label poems with contest name. Entries should be sent by regular mail only. Entries should be original, unpublished poems in English. No poem should be entered in more than 1 contest, nor have won a previous contest. Deadline: May 31. Prize: $200. Judges are well-known poets and sometimes winners of previous NEPC contests.
P.O. Box 609, Round Rock TX 78680. E-mail: tilsecretary@yahoo.com. Website: http://texasinstituteofletters.org. Offered every 2 years to recognize the best translation of a literary book into English. Translator must have been born in Texas or have lived in the state for at least 2 consecutive years at some time. Check website for guidelines and instructions on submitting. Deadline: January 10. Prize: $1,000.
28 W. 44th St., Suite 1420, New York NY 10036. (646)588-6781. E-mail: tchareton@frenchamerican.org. Website: www.frenchamerican.org. Contact: Thibault Chareton. Annual contest to promote French literature in the United States by extending its reach beyond the first language and giving translators and their craft greater visibility among publishers and readers alike. The prize also seeks to increase the visibility of the publishers who bring these important French works of literature, in translation of exceptional quality, to the American market by publicizing the titles and giving more visibility to the books they publish. Entries must have been published for the first time in the United States between January 1 and December 31, of the previous year. Submissions must be completed online and are usually submitted by the publisher. Deadline: January 15. Prize: $10,000 award.
JOHN GLASSCO TRANSLATION PRIZELiterary Translators’ Association of Canada, 615-01 Concordia University, 1455 boul. de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal QC H3G 1M8 Canada. (514)848-2424, ext. 8702. E-mail: info@attlc-ltac.org. Website: http://attlc-ltac.org/john-glassco-translation-prize. Contact: Glassco Prize Committee. Offered annually for a translator’s first book-length literary translation into French or English, published in Canada during the previous calendar year. The translator must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Eligible genres include fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and children’s books. Deadline: July 31. Prize: $1,000.
Academy of American Poets, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York NY 10038. (212)274-0343. Fax: (212)274-9427. E-mail: awards@poets.org. Website: www.poets.org. Contact: Awards Coordinator. Offered annually to recognize a published translation of poetry from any language into English. Open to living US citizens. Deadline: February 15. Prize: $1,000.
Modern Language Association of America, 26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10004-1789. (646)576-5141. Fax: (646)458-0030. E-mail: awards@mla.org. Website: www.mla.org. Contact: Coordinator of book prizes. Offered in even-numbered years for an outstanding English translation of a Yiddish literary work or the publication of a scholarly work. Cultural studies, critical biographies, or edited works in the field of Yiddish folklore or linguistic studies are eligible to compete. See website for details on which they are accepting. Books must have been published within the past 4 years. Authors need not be members of the MLA. Requires 4 copies of the book. Deadline: May 1. Prize: A cash prize, and a certificate, to be presented at the Modern Language Association’s annual convention in January.
MARSH AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN TRANSLATIONThe English-Speaking Union, Dartmouth House, 37 Charles St., London En W1J 5ED United Kingdom. 020 7529 1591. E-mail: melanie.aplin@esu.org. Website: www.marshcristiantrust.org; www.esu.org. Contact: Melanie Aplin, senior education officer. The Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation, awarded biennially, was founded to celebrate the best translation of a children’s book from a foreign language into English and published in the UK. It aims to spotlight the high quality and diversity of translated fiction for young readers. The Award is administered by the ESU on behalf of the Marsh Christian Trust. Submissions will be accepted from publishers for books produced for readers from 5 to 16 years of age. Guidelines and eligibility criteria available online.
PEN American Center, 588 Broadway, Suite 303, New York NY 10012. (212)334-1660, ext. 108. E-mail: awards@pen.org. Website: www.pen.org. Contact: Arielle Anema. This award recognizes book-length translations of poetry from any language into English, published during the current calendar year. All books must have been published in the US. Translators may be of any nationality. US residency/citizenship not required. Submissions must be made publishers or literary agents. Self-published books are not eligible. Books with more than 2 translators are not eligible. Re-translations are ineligible, unless the work can be said to provide a significant revision of the original translation. Deadline: November 15. Prize: $3,000. Judged by a single translator of poetry appointed by the PEN Translation Committee.
PEN American Center, 588 Broadway, Suite 303, New York NY 10012. (212)334-1660, ext. 108. Fax: (212)334-2181. E-mail: awards@pen.org. Contact: Arielle Anema. Offered for book-length translations from any language into English, published during the current calendar year. No technical, scientific, or bibliographic translations. PEN will only accept submissions from publishers or literary agents. Self-published books are not eligible. Although all eligible books must have been published in the United States, translators may be of any nationality; US residency or citizenship is not required. Deadline: November 15. Prize: $3,000.
Modern Language Association, 26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10004. (646)576-5141. Fax: (646)458-0030. E-mail: awards@mla.org. Website: www.mla.org. Offered in odd-numbered years for an outstanding translation into English of a book-length literary work. Translators need not be members of the MLA. Translations must have been published in the previous calendar year. Requires 6 copies, plus 12-15 pages of text in the original language. Deadline: April 1. Prize: A cash award and a certificate to be presented at the Modern Language Association’s annual convention in January.
Modern Language Association, 26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10004-1789. (646)576-5141. Fax: (646)458-0030. E-mail: awards@mla.org. Website: www.mla.org. Contact: Coordinator of Book Prizes. Offered in even-numbered years for an outstanding translation into English of a book-length literary work. Translations must have been published in the previous calendar year. Translators need not be members of the MLA. Requires 6 copies of the book, plus 12-15 pages of text in the original language. Deadline: April 1. Prize: A cash award and a certificate to be presented at the Modern Language Association’s annual convention in January.
Modern Language Association of America, 26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10004-1789. (646)576-5141. Fax: (646)458-0030. E-mail: awards@mla.org. Website: www.mla.org. Contact: Coordinator of Book Prizes. Offered in odd-numbered years for an outstanding translation into English of a book-length work of literary history, literary criticism, philology, or literary theory. Translators need not be members of the MLA. Books must have been published in the previous 2 years. Requires 4 copies of the book. Deadline: May 1. Prize: A cash award and a certificate to be presented at the Modern Language Association’s annual convention in January.
Modern Language Association of America, 26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10004-1789. (646)576-5141. Fax: (646)458-0030. E-mail: awards@mla.org. Website: www.mla.org. Contact: Coordinator of Book Prizes. Offered in odd-numbered years for an outstanding work on the linguistics or literatures of the Slavic languages. Books must have been published in the previous 2 years. Requires 4 copies of the book. Authors need not be members of the MLA. Deadline: May 1. Prize: A cash award and a certificate to be presented at the Modern Language Association’s annual convention in January.
Western Washington University, Mail Stop 9053, Bellingham WA 98225. (360)650-4863. E-mail: bellingham.review@wwu.edu. Website: www.bhreview.org. Contact: Brenda Miller, editor-in-chief; Kaitlyn Teer, managing editor. Annual poetry contest, supported by the Bellingham Review, given for a poem or group of poems of any style or length. Upload entries via Submittable online. Up to 3 poems per entry. Deadline: March 15. Submissions period begins December 1. Prize: $1,000.
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. 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. Detailed guidelines and eligibility criteria available online. Deadline: First Friday in December. Prize: Valued at $2,000 for the winning title.
ACORN-PLANTOS AWARD FOR PEOPLES POETRYAcorn-Plantos Award Committee, 36 Sunset Ave., Hamilton ON L8R 1V6 Canada. E-mail: jeffhamiltonjeff@gmail.com. Contact: Jeff Seffinga. Annual contest for work that appeared in print in the previous calender year. This award is given to the Canadian poet who best (through the publication of a book of poems) exemplifies populist or peoples poetry in the tradition of Milton Acorn, Ted Plantos, et al. Work may be entered by the poet or the publisher; the award goes to the poet. Entrants must submit 5 copies of each title. Poet must be a citizen of Canada or a landed immigrant. Publisher need not be Canadian. Deadline: June 30. Prize: $500 (CDN) and a medal. Judged by a panel of poets in the tradition who are not entered in the current year.
The University of Akron Press, 120 E. Mill St., Suite 415, Akron OH 44308. 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 48 or more pages, typed, single-spaced; optional self-addressed postcard for confirmation. Mss will not be returned. Do not send mss bound or enclosed in covers. See website for complete guidelines. Competition receives 500+ entries. 2014 winner was John Repp for Pictures at an Exhibition. Winner posted on website by September 30. Intimate friends, relatives, current and former students of the final judge (students in an academic, degree-conferring program or its equivalent) and current faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the University of Akron or the Northeast Ohio MFA Program (NEOMFA) are not eligible to enter the Akron Poetry Prize competition. Deadline: April 15-June 15. Prize: $1,500, plus publication of a book-length ms.
P.O. Box 2080, Aptos CA 95001-2080. E-mail: dreamhorsepress@yahoo.com. Website: www.dreamhorsepress.com. Both free and formal verse styles are welcome. Multiple submissions are acceptable. Submit 50-65 paginated pages of poetry, table of contents, acknowledgments, bio, and e-mail address (for results). No SASE required; mss will be recycled. Guidelines available on website. Deadline: February 28 for snail mail postmarks, five days later for electronic submissions. Prize: $1,000, publication and 20 copies. All entries will be considered for publication.
2 South New St., Bradford MA 01835. (978)469-7085. E-mail: rsmyth@anabiosispress.org. Website: www.anabiosispress.org. Contact: Richard Smyth, editor. Submit 16-20 pages of poetry on any subject. Include separate pages with a biography, table of contents, and acknowledgments for any previous publications. Include SASE with correct postage for return of ms or notification of winner. All entrants receive a copy of the winning chapbook). Winners announced by September 30. The 2014 winner was Danielle Beazer Dubrasky’s Ruin and Light. Deadline: June 30 (postmarked). Prize: $100, plus publication of the winning chapbook, and 100 copies of the first run.
Anhinga Press, P.O. Box 3665, Tallahassee FL 32315. E-mail: info@anhinga.org. Website: www.anhinga.org. Contact: Kristine Snodgrass, poetry editor. Offered annually for a book-length collection of poetry by an author writing in English. Guidelines on website. Past winners include Frank X. Gaspar, Earl S. Braggs, Julia Levine, Keith Ratzlaff, Lynn Aarti Chandhok, and Rhett Iseman Trull. Mss must be 48-80 pages, excluding front matter. Deadline: Submissions will be accepted from February 15-May 15. Prize: $2,000, a reading tour of selected Florida colleges and universities, and the winning ms will be published. Past judges include Jan Beatty, Richard Blaco, Denise Duhamel, Donald Hall, Joy Harjo, Robert Dana, Mark Jarman, and Tony Hoagland.
Gival Press, LLC, P.O. Box 3812, Arlington VA 22203. (703)351-0079. E-mail: givalpress@yahoo.com. Website: www.givalpress.com. Contact: Robert L. Giron. Award given to the best previously unpublished original poem—written in English of any length, in any style, typed, double-spaced on 1 side only—which best relates gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered life, by a poet who is 18 years or older. Entrants are asked to submit their poems without any kind of identification (with the exception of titles) and with a separate cover page with the following information: name, address (street, city, and state with zip code), telephone number, e-mail address (if available), and a list of poems by title. Checks drawn on American banks should be made out to Gival Press, LLC. Deadline: June 27 (postmarked). Prize: $100 and the poem, along with information about the poet, will be published on the Gival Press website.
ANNUAL VENTURA COUNTY WRITERS CLUB POETRY CONTEST IN HONOR OF JOYCE LA MERSVentura County Writers Club Poetry Contest, P.O. Box 3373, Thousand Oaks CA 91362. E-mail: poetrycontest@venturacountywriters.com. Website: www.venturacountywriters.com. Contact: Poetry Contest Chair. Annual poetry contest for youth and adult poets. Youth division for poets under 18: Division A is open to entrants ages 13-18; and, Division B is open to poets ages 12 and under. Adult division for poets 18 and older. Club mebership not required to enter and entries accepted worldwide as long as fees are paid and the poem is in English. Enter through website. Deadline: February 15. Entries accepted beginning January 1. Prize: The adult winners will be awarded $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third place. The two youth categories will receive $50 for first place, $35 for second and $25 for third place.
ANNUAL WORLD HAIKU COMPETITION & ANNUAL WORLD TANKA CONTESTP.O. Box 17331, Arlington VA 22216. E-mail: LPEzineSubmissions@gmail.com. Website: http://lyricalpassionpoetry.yolasite.com. Contact: Raquel D. Bailey. Contest is open to all writers. Requires first rights for all previously unpublished works. Only e-mail entries accepted for contests. Promotes Japanese short form poetry. Deadline: See website for details. Prize: Monetary compensation and publication. Judged by experienced editors and award-winning writers from the contemporary writing community.
P.O. Box 54302, Oklahoma City OK 73154. E-mail: okpoets@aol.com. Website: www.shadetreecreations.com. Contact: Barbara Shepherd, contest chair. The annual Art Affair Poetry Contest is open to any poet. Multiple entries accepted with entry fee for each and may be mailed in the same packet. Guidelines available on website. Winners’ list will be published on the Art Affair website in December. Poems must be unpublished. Submit original poems on any subject, in any style, no more than 60 lines (put line count in the upper right-hand corner of first page). Include cover page with poet’s name, address, phone number, and title of poem. Do not include SASE; poems will not be returned. Deadline: October 1. Prize: 1st Prize: $40 and certificate; 2nd Prize: $25 and certificate; and 3rd Prize: $15 and certificate. Honorable Mention certificates will be awarded at the discretion of the judges.
The Poet’s Billow, 245 N. Collingwood, Syracuse NY 13206. E-mail: thepoetsbillow@gmail.com. Website: http://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: $100 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.
P.O. Box 1558, Kingston RI 02881. E-mail: submissions@barrowstreet.org. Website: www.barrowstreet.org. The Barrow Street Press Book Contest award will be given for the best previously unpublished ms of poetry in English. Submit a 50-70 page unpublished ms of original poetry in English. Please number the pages of your ms and include a table of contents and an acknowledgments page for any previously published poems. Include two title pages. The author’s name, address, and telephone number should appear on the first title page only and should not appear anywhere else in the ms. The second title page should contain only the ms title. Deadline: June 30. Prize: $1,000. Judged by Denise Duhamel.
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. Check website to see if award is currently being offered this year. Deadline: March 22. Submission period begins January 15. Prize: $1,000 and publication for winner; 2 honorable mentions are also published; all entrants receive a copy of Passages North.
The Poet’s Billow, 245 N. Collingwood, Syracuse NY 13206. 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. Complete guidelines available by e-mail or on website. Deadline: October 31. 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. Print on demand is acceptable but no self-published or vanity press work will be considered. Each book submitted must be accompanied by an application form available online. Poet or publisher may submit more than 1 book for prize consideration. Send 2 copies of each book. Deadline: March 1. Prize: $1,000.
The Bitter Oleander Press, 4983 Tall Oaks Dr., Fayetteville NY 13066-9776. (315)637-3047. Fax: (315)637-5056. E-mail: info@bitteroleander.com. Website: www.bitteroleander.com. Contact: Paul B. Roth. The Bitter Oleander Press Library of Poetry Book Award replaces the 15-year long run of the Frances Locke Memorial Poetry Award. Guidelines available on website. Entrants must have had at least 1 standard edition of poetry published previously, not self-published, not a chapbook. Mss must be 48-80 pages of poetry in length, legibly typed or computer generated, with 2 cover sheets: 1 with title and author’s contact information; the other having the title only. No e-mail submissions will be allowed. Winning ms to be published the following year. 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.
P.O. Box 1007, Boulder CO 80306. (303)449-0536. Fax: (303)447-0939. E-mail: poetrycontest@sps.com; editorial@sps.com. Website: www.sps.com. Biannual poetry card contest. All entries must be the original creation of the submitting author. Looking for original poetry that is rhyming or non-rhyming, although non-rhyming poetry reads better. Poems may also be considered for possible publication on greeting cards or in book anthologies. Guidelines available online. Deadline: December 31 and June 30. Prize: 1st Place: $300; 2nd Place: $150; 3rd Place: $50. Judged by the Blue Mountain Arts editorial staff.
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.”
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.
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). Any poet writing in English is eligible, unless he or she is a current student, former student, or close personal friend of the judge. Submissions must be unpublished. Submit up to 5 poems, no more than 10 pages total, via online contest entry manager. Include cover sheet with poet’s name, address, and phone number; no identifying information on the poems themselves. No cover note is necessary for online submissions. No mss will be returned. Guidelines available for SASE or on website. 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: richardburgin@att.net; jessicarogen@boulevardmagazine.org. Website: www.boulevardmagazine.org. Contact: Jessica Rogen, managing 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. Submissions must be unpublished. Considers simultaneous submissions. Submit 3 poems, typed; may be a sequence or unrelated. On page one of first poem type poet’s name, address, phone number, and titles of the 3 poems. Deadline: June 1. Prize: $1,000 and publication.
BP NICHOL CHAPBOOK AWARD113 Bond St., St. John’s NL A1C 1T6 Canada. (416)964-7919. Fax: (416)964-6941. E-mail: meetthepresses@gmail.com. Website: meetthepresses.wordpress.com. Contact: Beth Follett. Offered annually to a chapbook (10-48 pages) of poetry in English, published in Canada in the previous year. Open to any Canadian writer. Author or publisher may make submissions. Send 3 copies (non-returnable), plus a short author CV. Deadline: April 30. Prize: $4,000 (Canadian) to author and $500 (Canadian) to publisher.
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. Contest open to members and nonmembers. Poems should be typed and submitted in duplicate with author’s name, address, phone, and e-mail address of writer on only 1 copy. (Judges receive copies without names.) Copy only. Label poems with contest name. Entries should be sent by regular mail only. Special delivery or signature required mail will be returned by the post office. Entries should be original, unpublished poems in English. No poem should be entered in more than 1 contest, nor have won a previous contest. No entries will be returned. NEPC will not engage in correspondence regarding poems or contest decisions. Deadline: May 31. Prize: $200. Judged by well-known poets and sometimes winners of previous NEPC contests.
Brick Road Poetry Press, Inc., P.O. Box 751, Columbus GA 31902. (706)649-3080. Fax: (706)649-3094. E-mail: editor@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. Book-length poetry mss only. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Single sideded, single spaced only. No more than one poem per page. Electronic submissions are accepted, see website for details. Include a cover letter with poetry publication/recognition highlights. Deadline: November 1. Submission period begins August 1. 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.
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. Collection of original poetry, 48-64 pages, single spaced, one poem to a page (no name) with table of contents. Ms must be submitted in Times New Roman, 12 pt. type only. No illustrations, no cover suggestions. Bio and acknowledgments of poems that have been previously published should be included in a separate document, or in comments box if submitting online. See website for more details, and information on submitting a hard copy. Deadline: December 15. Submission period begins October 25. 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.
University of Wisconsin Press, 1930 Monroe St., 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, contest director. 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). Submissions must be unpublished as a collection, but individual poems may have been published elsewhere (publication must be acknowledged). Considers simultaneous submissions if notified of selection elsewhere. Submit 60-90 unbound ms pages, typed single-spaced (with double spaces between stanzas). Clean photocopies are acceptable. Include 1 title page with poet’s name, address, and telephone number and 1 with title only. No translations. Strongly encourages electronic submissions via web page. SASE required for postal submissions. Will return results only; mss will not be returned. Guidelines online. The Brittingham Prize in Poetry awarded annually to best book-length ms 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.
Texas Institute of Letters, P.O. Box 609, Round Rock TX 78680. 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.
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. Mss should be at least 48 pages in length. Clean photo copies are acceptable. The poet’s name should not appear on the ms. Include a separate title page with name, address, and phone number. Poems may have appeared in periodicals, chapbooks, or anthologies, but should not be acknowledged. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Accepts e-mail submissions. See website for more details and guidelines. Deadline: October 15. Prize: $1,000, publication, and 25 copies of the book. The winner will be announced in March.
P.O. Box 82588, Pittsburgh PA 15218. E-mail: editors@caketrain.org. Website: www.caketrain.org. Contact: Amanda Raczkowski, editor; Joseph Reed, editor. Annual contest for full length works of fiction and poetry chapbooks sponsored by Caketrain literary journal. Can submit by mail with SASE or by e-mail. See website for guidelines. Deadline: October 1. Prize: $250 cash and 25 copies of their book.
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 15. Prize: $2,000 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: Ravi Shankar, founding 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. Submit a copy of a 48-72 page manuscript. Manuscript should be single-spaced and paginated. Please include a table of contents. Title page should not include author information–no name, or address etc. Within the manuscript, do include a page acknowledging individual poems that have been previously published. Open only to poets who have had no more than one full-lenth book published. Deadline: March 31. Prize: $1,000 and publication.
The Center for Book Arts, 28 W. 27th St., 3rd Floor, New York NY 10001. (212)481-0295. Fax: (866)708-8994. E-mail: info@centerforbookarts.org. Website: www.centerforbookarts.org. Annual competition for unpublished collections of poetry. Individual poems may have been previously published. Collection must not exceed 500 lines or 24 pages (does not include cover page, title pages, table of contents, or acknowledgements pages). Copies of winning chapbooks available through website. The cover page should contain, on a single detachable page, the ms title and author’s name, along with address, phone number, and e-mail. The author’s name should not appear anywhere else. A second title page should be provided without the author’s name or other identification. Please provide a table of contents and a separate acknowledgements page containing prior magazine or anthology publication of individual poems. Mss should be bound with a simple spring clip. Poems may have appeared in journals or anthologies but not as part of a book-length collection. Competition is open to all poets writing in English who have published no more than 2 full-length books. Poets may not have studied with either judge in a degree-granting program for the last 5 years. Deadline: December 15. Prize: $500 award, $500 honorarium for a reading, publication, and 10 copies of chapbook.
Wick Poetry Center, Kent State University, 301 Satterfield Hall, Kent State University, P.O. Box 5190, Kent OH 44242-0001. (330)672-2067. Fax: (330)672-3333. Website: www2.kent.edu/wick/competitions. Contact: David Hassler, director. The Chapbook Competition for Ohio Poets is open to all current residents of Ohio, including students in an Ohio college or university. Does not accept postal submissions. Mss should be 16-30 pages of poetry, with no more than one poem per page. Deadline: October 31. Submissions period begins August 31. Prize: Publication and a reading at Kent State University.
BkMk Press, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City MO 02903-1803. (816)235-2558. E-mail: bkmk@umkc.edu. Website: www.newletters.org. 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. Poetry mss should be approximately 50-110 pages, single-spaced. 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. Submissions must be unpublished as a collection, but individual poems may have been previously published elsewhere. Submit book-length ms of 48-80 pages. Submissions can be made online using the submission form on the website or by mail. If sending by mail, include 2 cover sheets—1 with title, author’s name, and complete contact information; and 1 with title only, all bound with a spring clip. Does not require SASE; notification via e-mail and on the website, only. Mss cannot be returned. Online submissions must be in Word for PC or PDF format, and should not include title page with author’s name. The editors strongly urge contestants to use online delivery if possible. Review the complete submission guidelines and learn more online at website. 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. Judged by Jeffrey Harrison in 2014. Previous judge was Charles Harper Webb.
Cleveland State University Poetry Center, Cleveland State University Poetry Center, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Rhodes Tower, Room 1841, Cleveland OH 44115-2214. (216)687-3986. Fax: (216)687-6943. E-mail: poetrycenter@csuohio.edu. Website: www.csuohio.edu/poetrycenter. Contact: Frank Giampietro. Manuscript should contain a minimum of 48 and a maximum of 100 pages of poetry. See website for specific details and rules. Offered annually to identify, reward, and publish the best unpublished book-length poetry ms (minimum 48 pages) in 2 categories: First Book Award and Open Competition (for poets who have published at least one collection with a press run of 500). Deadline: March 31. Submissions open on January 1. Prize: First Book and Open Book Competitions awards publication and a $1,000 advance against royalties for an original manuscript of poetry in each category
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. Must be previously unpublished poetry for the full collection; individual poems may have been published. Full guidelines, including submission info, available online. Deadline: April 15. Prize: $500 and a book publication in Perfect Bound Editions. Winner announced in September with publication the following April. Judged by Gail Wronsky.
P.O. Box 610, Corvallis OR 97339. E-mail: michael@cloudbankbooks.com. Website: www.cloudbankbooks.com. Contact: Michael Malan. For contest submissions, the writer’s name, address, e-mail, and the titles of the poems/flash fiction pieces being submitted should be typed on a cover sheet only, not on the pages of poems or flash fiction. No electronic submissions. Send no more than 5 poems or flash fiction pieces (500 words or less) for the contest or for regular submissions. 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. Judged by Michael Malan and Peter Sears.
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. See website for details, guidelines, and entry form. Deadline: December 15. Submission period begins September 1. Prize: 1st Place: $1,000; 2nd Place; $400; 4 Highly Commended: $150 each.
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: http://coloradoprize.colostate.edu. Contact: Stephanie G’Schwind, editor; Donald Revell, poetry 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 SASP for notification of receipt and SASE for results; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available for SASE or by e-mail. Guidelines available for SASE or online at website. Poets can also submit online via our online submission manager through our website. Deadline: Early January. Check website for exact deadline. Prize: $2,000 and publication of a book-length ms.
P.O. Box 1808, Kingston WA 98346. E-mail: concretewolf@yahoo.com. Website: http://concretewolf.com. Prefers chapbooks 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. Submit up to 26 pages of poetry, paginated. Include table of contents and acknowledgments page. Include 2 cover sheets: 1 with ms title, poet’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail; 1 without poet’s identification. Include SASE for results; mss will not be returned. Send 10x12 envelope stamped with $3.50 for copy of winning chapbook. Guidelines available on website. Deadline: November 30. Prize: Publication and 100 author copies of a perfectly-bound chapbook.
P.O. Box 270554, W. Hartford CT 06127. Website: ctpoetry.net. Send up to 3 unpublished poems, any form, 80-line limit. Include 2 copies of each poem: 1 with complete contact informatoin and 1 with no contact information. Include a SASE. Deadline: September 30. Prize: 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. Submissions must be unpublished as a collection, but individual poems may have been previously published elsewhere. Submit book-length ms of 48-80 pages of original poetry. Submissions can be made online using the submission form on the website or by mail. If sending by mail, include 2 cover sheets—1 with title, author’s name, and complete contact information; and 1 with title only, all bound with a spring clip. Check website for change of address coming in the future. Include SASE for results only if no email address included; notification via email and on the website; manuscripts cannot be returned. Online submissions must be in Word for PC or PDF format, and should not include title page with author’s name. The editors strongly urge contestants to use online delivery if possible. Review the complete submission guidelines and learn more online at website. 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. 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 or permanent resident 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). See website for complete formatting instructions. Guidelines available for SASE or on website. Accepts submissions only through Submittable, online. Mss are recommended to be a minimum of 50 pages to a recommended maximum of 75 pages of original poetry. Deadline: July 8. Submission period begins May 15. Prize: Offers $4,000 and a publication contract.
Department of English, Mail Code 4503, Faner Hall 2380, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale IL 62901. 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 and permanent residents (individual poems may have been previously published). Two volumes of poems will be selected from the open competition of mss. Considers simultaneous submissions, but series editor must be informed immediately upon acceptance. Mss should be typewritten or computer-generated (letter quality only; no dot matrix), single-spaced; clean photocopy is recommended as mss are not returned. See guidelines for complete formatting instructions. Guidelines available for SASE or on website. Deadline: December 5. Submission period begins October 1. Prize: Both winners will be awarded a $2500 prize and $1500 as an honorarium for a reading at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Both readings will follow the publication of the poets’ collections by Southern Illinois University Press.
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. Submit online or by mail up to 3 original poems (no more than 10 pages). Include cover page (placed on top of ms) with poet’s name, address, e-mail, and telephone number; no identifying information on mss (blind judging). Accepts multiple submissions with separate fee for each. Include SASP for notification of receipt of ms and SASE for results only; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available for SASE or on website. 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.
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. Line Limit: 40 lines maximum each poem. No limit on number of entries. Send 2 typed, clear copies of each entry. Show name, address, telephone number, e-mail and how you heard about the contest on one copy only. Poems must be in English or include English translation Deadline: May 15. Prize: 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.
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.”
P.O. Box 2080, Aptos CA 95001-2080. E-mail: dreamhorsepress@yahoo.com. Website: www.dreamhorsepress.com. Contact: J.P. Dancing Bear, Editor/Publisher. All entries will be considered for publication. Submissions may be previously published in magazines/journals but not in books or chapbooks. Considers simultaneous submissions with notification. Submit 20-28 pages of poetry in a readable font with table of contents, acknowledgments, bio, e-mail address for results, and entry fee. Poet’s name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript. Accepts multiple submissions (with separate fee for each entry). Manuscripts will be recycled after judging. Guidelines available on website. Make checks/money orders made payable to Dream Horse Press. Recent previous winners include M.R.B. Chelko, Cynthia Arrieu-King, and Ariana-Sophia Kartsonis. Deadline: June 30. Prize: $500, publication, and 25 copies of a handsomely printed chapbook. Judged by C.J. Sage.
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. The ms may include individual poems previously published in journals or anthologies, but may not include a significant number of poems from a published chapbook or self-published book. Submit 60-100 pages. Include 2 title pages: 1 with poet’s name, address, e-mail address, phone number, and ms title; the other with ms title only. Include SASE for acknowledgment of ms receipt only; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available for SASE or on website. Deadline: October 31. Prize: $2,000 and publication. Judge announced after close of competition.
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: John Barton, editor. The biennial Far Horizons Award for Poetry offers $1,000 CAD and publication in The Malahat Review. 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. Submissions must be unpublished. No simultaneous submissions. Submit up to 3 poems per entry, each poem not to exceed 60 lines; no restrictions on subject matter or aesthetic approach. Include separate page with poet’s name, address, e-mail, and poem title(s); no identifying information on mss pages. E-mail submissions are acceptable: please send to horizons@uvic.ca. Do not include SASE for results; mss will not be returned. Full guidelines available on website. 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 of 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. Previously published okay. Poetry may be double- or single-spaced. One-page poems only, and only 1 poem/page. All poems must be titled. Three poems/entry. Identify with 3x5 card only. Open to all writers. Deadline: November 30. Prize: Cash prizes. Judged by a local San Francisco successfully published poet.
Washington Writers’ Publishing House, P.O. Box 15271, Washington DC 20003. E-mail: wwphpress@gmail.com. Website: www.washingtonwriters.org. 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. Author’s name should not appear on the manuscript. The title page of each copy should contain the title only. Provide name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and title on a separate cover sheet accompanying the submission. A separate page for acknowledgments may be included for stories or excerpts previously published in journals and anthologies. E-mail electronic copies to wwphpress@gmail.com or mail paper copies and/or reading fee (check to WWPH) with SASE to: The Jean Feldman Poetry Prize, WWPH, c/o Holly Karapetkova, 4640 23rd Rd. N., Arlington, VA 22207 Deadline: November 1. 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: Submit in May only. Prize: $1,000 and a standard royalty contract.
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: spofforda@aspu.edu; wallacess@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). Accepts entries via postal mail or online. Separate instructions for both, see website for guidelines and details. Deadline: April 1. Prize: $1,000 and publication.
FISH POETRY PRIZEDurrus, Bantry Co. Cork Ireland. E-mail: info@fishpublishing.com. Website: www.fishpublishing.com. 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. Do not put your name or address or any other details on the poem, use a separate sheet. Receipt of entry will be acknowleged by e-mail. Poems will not be returned. Word count: 200 max for each poem. You may enter as many as you wish, provided there is an entry fee for each one. Full details and rules are online. Entry is deemed to be acceptance of these rules. Publishing rights of the 10 winning poems are held by Fish Publishing for one year after the publication of the Anthology. The aim of the competition is to discover and publish new writers. Deadline: March 30. Prize: $1,200. Results announced April 30.
Five Points, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3999, Atlanta GA 30302-3999. (404)413-5812. Website: www.fivepoints.gsu.edu. Offered annually for unpublished poetry. Enter on website or send 3 unpublished poems, no longer than 50 lines each, name and address on each poem, SASE for receipt and notification of winner. Winner announced in Spring issue. Deadline: December 1. Prize: $1,000, plus publication.
Literal Latte, 200 East 10th St., Suite 240, New York NY 10003. (212)260-5532. E-mail: litlatte@aol.com. Website: www.literal-latte.com. Contact: Jenine Gordon Bockman, editor. Open to any writer. Poems should have food as an ingredient. Submissions required to be unpublished. Guidelines online at website. Literal Latté acquires first rights. Annual contest to give support and exposure to great writing. Deadline: March 15. Prize: $500. Judged by the editors.
Four Way Books, Box 535, Village Station, New York NY 10014. (212)334-5430. Fax: (212)334-5435. E-mail: editors@fourwaybooks.com. Website: www.fourwaybooks.com. Contact: Martha Rhodes, director. The Levis Poetry Prize, offered biennially in odd-numbered years, offers publication by Four Way Books (see separate listing in Book Publishers), honorarium, and a reading at one or more participating series. Open to any poet writing in English. Entry form and guidelines available on website. Deadline: March 31 (postmark or online submission). Winner announced by e-mail and on website. Prize: Publication and $1,000. Copies of winning books available through Four Way Books online and at bookstores (to the trade through University Press of New England).
P.O. Box 28281, Portland OR 97228. E-mail: editor@gertrudepress.org; poetry@gertrudepress.org. Website: www.gertrudepress.org. Annual chapbook contest for 25-30 pages of poetry. Individual poems may have been previously published; unpublished poems are welcome. Poetry may be of any subject matter, and writers from all backgrounds are encouraged to submit. Include list of acknowledgments and cover letter indicating how poet learned of the contest. Include 1 title page with identifying information and 1 without. Guidelines available in Gertrude (see separate listing in Magazines/Journals), for SASE, by e-mail, or on website. Deadline: May 15. Submission period begins September 15. Prize: $250, publication, 50 complimentary copies of the chapbook, and 2 e-book files.
The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, One College Blvd., Paterson NJ 07505. (973)684-6555. Fax: (973)523-6085. E-mail: mgillan@pccc.edu. Website: www.pccc.edu/poetry. Contact: Maria Mazziotti Gillan, executive director. All winning poems, honorable mentions, and editor’s choice poems will be published in The Paterson Literary Review. Winners will be asked to participate in a reading that will be held in the Paterson Historic District. Submissions must be unpublished. Submit up to 5 poems (no poem more than 2 pages long). Send 4 copies of each poem entered. Include cover sheet with poet’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address and poem titles. Poet’s name should not appear on poems. Include SASE for results only; poems will not be returned. Guidelines available for SASE or on website. Deadline: April 1 (postmark). Prize: 1st Prize: $1,000; 2nd Prize: $200; 3rd Prize: $100.
Gival Press, LLC, P.O. Box 3812, Arlington VA 22203. (703)351-0079. E-mail: givalpress@yahoo.com. Website: www.givalpress.com. Contact: Robert L. Giron, editor. Offered annually for a previously unpublished poetry collection as a complete ms, which may include previously published poems; previously published poems must be acknowledged, and poet must hold rights. Guidelines for SASE, by e-mail, or online. Open to any writer, as long as the work is original, not a translation, and is written in English. The copyright remains in the author’s name; certain rights fall to the publisher per the contract. Must be at least 45 typed pages of poetry, on one side only. Entrants are asked to submit their poems without any kind of identification (with the exception of the titles) and with a separate cover page with the following information: Name, address (street, city, state, and zip code), telephone number, e-mail address (if available), short bio, and a list of the poems by title. Checks drawn on American banks should be made out to Gival Press, LLC. The competition seeks to award well-written, origional poetry in English on any topic, in any style. Deadline: December 15 (postmarked). Prize: $1,000, publication, and 20 copies of the publication. The editor narrows entries to the top 10; previous winner selects top 5 and chooses the winner—all done anonymously.
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: Allison Linville, editor-in-chief. The Patricia Goedicke Prize in Poetry seeks to highlight work that showcases an authentic voice, a boldness of form, and a rejection of functional fixedness. Accepts online submissions only. Submit up to 5 poems. Guidelines available online. Deadline: January 15. Submissions period begins November 1. Prize: $500 and featured in the magazine. Judged by a guest judge each year.
New England Poetry Club, 654 Green St., No. 2, Cambridge MA 02139. Website: www.nepoetryclub.org. Contact: NEPC contest coordinator. Given annually to the poet, who by their poetry and inspiration to and encouragement of other writers, has made a significant mark on American poetry. Traditionally given to a poet with some ties to New England so that a public reading may take place. Contest open to members and nonmembers. Poems should be typed and submitted in duplicate with author’s name, address, phone, and e-mail address of writer on only 1 copy. (Judges receive copies without names.) Copy only. Label poems with contest name. Entries should be sent by regular mail only. Special delivery or signature required mail will be returned by the post office. Entries should be original, unpublished poems in English. No poem should be entered in more than 1 contest, nor have won a previous contest. No entries will be returned. NEPC will not engage in correspondence regarding poems or contest decisions. Deadline: May 31. Judged by well-known poets and sometimes winners of previous NEPC contests.
New Issues Poetry & Prose, Deptartment of English, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo MI 49008-5331. (269)387-8185. Fax: (269)387-2562. Website: www.wmich.edu/newissues. Offered annually for unpublished poetry. The university will publish a book of poems by a poet writing in English who has published 1 or more full-length collections of poetry. New Issues may publish as many as 3 additional mss from this competition. Guidelines for SASE or online. New Issues Poetry & Prose obtains rights for first publication. Book is copyrighted in the author’s name. Considers simultaneous submissions, but New Issues must be notified of acceptance elsewhere. Submit a ms of at least 48 pages, typed; single-spaced preferred. Clean photocopies acceptable. Do not bind; use manila folder or metal clasp. Include cover page with poet’s name, address, phone number, and title of the ms. Also include brief bio, table of contents, and acknowledgments page. Submissions are also welcome through the online submission manager www.newissuespoetryprose.submittable.com. For hardcopy manuscripts only, you may include SASP for notification of receipt of ms and SASE for results only; mss will be recycled. Guidelines available for SASE, by fax, e-mail, or on website. Winner is announced in January or February on website. The winning manuscript will be published in spring of following year. 2014 winner was Kathleen Halme (My Multiverse). Deadline: Submit May 1-September 30. Winner is announced in January or February on website. Prize: $2,000 and publication of a book of poems.
THE GRIFFIN POETRY PRIZEThe Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, 363 Parkridge Crescent, Oakville ON L6M 1A8 Canada. (905)618-0420. E-mail: info@griffinpoetryprize.com. Website: www.griffinpoetryprize.com. Contact: Ruth Smith. The Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the world’s most generous poetry awards. The awards go to one Canadian and one international poet for a first collection written in, or translated into, English. Submissions must come from publishers. A book of poetry must be a first-edition collection. Books should have been published in the previous calendar year. Deadline: December 31. Prize: Two $65,000 (CAD) prizes. An additional $10,000 (CAD) goes to each shortlisted poet for their participation in the Shortlist Readings.
Phoebe, MSN 2C5, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax VA 22030. E-mail: phoebeliterature@gmail.com. Website: www.phoebejournal.com. Contact: Elizabeth Deanna Morris Lakes, poetry editor. Offered annually for unpublished work. Submit up to 4 poems, no more than 10 pages total. Guidelines online. Requests first serial rights, if work is to be published. The purpose of the award is to recognize new and exciting poetry. Deadline: February 15. Prize: $800 and publication in the Phoebe.
Poetry, 61 W. Superior St., Chicago IL 60654. (312)787-7070. Fax: (312)787-6650. E-mail: editors@poetrymagazine.org. Website: www.poetrymagazine.org. Offered annually for poems published in Poetry during the preceding year (October-September). 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. “Established in 1947 through the generosity of our late friend and guarantor, Mrs. David Hokin, and is given annually in her memory.” Prize: $1,000.
New England Poetry Club, 376 School St., Watertown MA 02472. E-mail: contests@nepoetryclug.org. Website: www.nepoetryclub.org. Contact: Audrey Kalajin. For a lyric poem in honor of the former president of NEPC. Contest guidelines available on website. Deadline: May 31. Prize: $250. Judged by well-known poets and sometimes winners of previous NEPC contests.
Sponsored by Winning Writers, Winning Writers, 351 Pleasant St., PMB 222, Northampton MA 01060-3961. E-mail: adam@winningwriters.com. Website: www.winningwriters.com. Contact: Adam Cohen. Offers annual awards of Tom Howard Prize, for a poem in any style or genre, and Margaret Reid Prize, for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style. See website for guidelines and to submit your poem. Nonexclusive right to publish submissions online, in e-mail newsletters, in e-books, and in press releases. All entries that win cash prizes will be published on the Winning Writers website. Submissions maybe published or unpublished, may have won prizes elsewhere, and may be entered in other contests. Length limit: 250 lines per poem. Deadline: September 30. Submission period begins April 15. Prize: Each prize is $1,500, with 10 Honorable Mentions of $100 each (any style).
ILLINOIS STATE POETRY SOCIETY ANNUAL CONTESTIllinois State Poetry Society, 543 E. Squirrel Trail Dr., Tucson AZ 85704. Website: www.illinoispoets.org. Contact: Alan Harris. Annual contest to encourage the crafting of excellent poetry. Guidelines and entry forms available for SASE. Deadline: September 30. Prize: Cash prizes of $50, $30, and $10. Three Honorable Mentions. Poet retains all rights. Judged by out-of-state professionals.
Indiana Review, Poetry Prize, Indiana Review, Ballantine Hall 465, 1020 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington IN 47405-7103. (812)855-3439. Fax: (812)855-9535. E-mail: inreview@indiana.edu. Website: www.indianareview.org. Contact: Michael Mlekoday, Poetry Editor. Offered annually for unpublished work. Open to any writer. Guidelines available on website. All entries are considered for publication. Send no more than 3 poems per entry, 8 pages maximum. Each fee entitles entrant to a 1-year subscription. Does not accept postal submissions. Deadline: March 15. Submission period begins February 1. Prize: $1,000 and publication. Judged by Edward C. Corral in 2015. Different judge every year.
University of Iowa Press, 119 West Park Rd., 100 Kuhl House, Iowa City IA 52242. (319)335-2000. Fax: (319)335-2055. E-mail: uipress@uiowa.edu. Website: www.uiowapress.org. Offered annually to encourage poets and their work. Submissions must be postmarked during the month of April; put name on title page only. This page will be removed before ms is judged. Open to writers of English (US citizens or not). Mss will not be returned. Previous winners are not eligible. Mss should be 50-150 pages in length. Poems included in the collection may have appeared in journals or anthologies; poems from a poet’s previous collections may be included only in manuscripts of new and selected poems. Deadline: April 30. Prize: Publication under standard royalty agreement.
Alice James Books, University of Maine at Farmington, 114 Prescott St., Farmington ME 04938. (207)778-7071. Fax: (207)778-7766. E-mail: ajb@alicejamesbooks.org; info@alicejamesbooks.org. Website: www.alicejamesbooks.org. Contact: Alyssa Neptune, managing editor. Offered annually for unpublished, full-length poetry collections. Emerging and established poets are welcome. Submit 48-80 pages of poetry. Guidelines for submissions available online. Deadline: November 1. Prize: $2,000, publication, and distribution through Consortium.
North Carolina Writers’ Network, Terry L. Kennedy, MFA Writing Program, 3302 MHRA Building, UNC Greensboro, Greensboro NC 27402-6170. E-mail: tlkenned@uncg.edu. Website: www.ncwriters.org. Contact: Terry L. Kennedy, associate director. Offered annually for unpublished work to honor Randall Jarrell and his life at UNC Greensboro, by recognizing the best poetry submitted. The competition is open to any writer who is a legal resident of North Carolina or a member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network. Submissions should be one poem only (40-line limit). Poem must be typed (single-spaced) and stapled in the left-hand corner. Author’s name should not appear on the poem. Instead, include a separate cover sheet with author’s name, address, e-mail address, phone number, and poem title. Poem will not be returned. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a list of winner and finalists. The winner and finalists will be announced in May. Deadline: March 1. Prize: $200 and publication at storySouth (www.storysouth.com).
University of Massachusetts Press, East Experiment Station, 671 North Pleasant St., Amherst MA 01003. (413)545-2217. Fax: (413)545-1226. E-mail: info@umpress.umass.edu; kfisk@umpress.umass.edu; poetry@umpress.umass.edu. Website: www.umass.edu/umpress. Contact: Karen Fisk, competition coordinator. The University of Massachusetts Press offers the annual Juniper Prize for Poetry, awarded in alternate years for the first and subsequent books. Considers simultaneous submissions. Mss by more than 1 author, entries of more than 1 mss simultaneously or within the same year, and translations are not eligible. Submit paginated ms of 50-70 pages of poetry, with paginated contents page, credits page, and information on previously published books. Include 2 cover sheets: 1 with contract information, 1 without. Mss will not be returned. Guidelilnes online. Deadline: September 30. Submissions period begins August 1. Winners announced online in April on the press website. Prize: Publication and $1,500 in addition to royalties.
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, PMB 121, 1187 Coast Village Rd., Suite 1, Santa Barbara CA 93108-2794. (805)965-3443. Fax: (805)568-0466. E-mail: wagingpeace@napf.org; cwarner@napf.org. Website: www.wagingpeace.org; www.peacecontests.org. Contact: Carol Warner, poetry award coordinator. The Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Contest was created to encourage poets to explore and illuminate positive visions of peace and the human spirit. The annual contest honors the late Barbara Kelly, a Santa Barbara poet and longtime supporter of peace issues. Awards are given in 3 categories: adult (over 18 years), youth between 12 and 18 years, and youth under 12. All submitted poems should be unpublished. Deadline: July 1 (postmarked). Prize: Adult: $1,000; Youth (13-18): $200; Youth (12 and under): $200. Honorable Mentions may also be awarded. Judged by a committee of poets selected by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. The foundation reserves the right to publish and distribute the award-winning poems, including honorable mentions.
2029 103rd Ave. NW, Coon Rapids MN 55433. E-mail: pwilliamstein@yahoo.com; schambersmediator@yahoo.com. Website: www.mnpoets.com. Contact: Peter Stein; Sue Chambers. Annual contest offers 22 different categories, with 3 prizes in each category. See guidelines for poem lengths, forms, and subjects. Guidelines available for #10 SASE, by e-mail, or on website. Additional information regarding LOMP membership available on website. Must be original work of the contestant. Entrant must not have won a money award in any contest. Deadline: July 31. Submissions period begins May 1. Prize: See specific categories. Prize amounts vary from $10 up to $125, depending on category and place. Judged by nationally known, non-Minnesota judges. Winners will be announced at the October LOMP Conference and by mail.
Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of English, Levis Reading Prize, VCU Department of English, 900 Park Avenue, Hibbs Hall, Room 306, P.O. Box 842005, Richmond VA 23284-2005. (804)828-1329. Fax: (804)828-8684. E-mail: detischc@mymail.vcu.edu. Website: www.english.vcu.edu/mfa/levis. Contact: Christian Detisch, Levis Fellow. Offered annually for books of poetry published in the previous year to encourage poets early in their careers. The entry must be the writer’s first or second published book of poetry. Previously published books in other genres, or previously published chapbooks or self-published material, do not count as books for this purpose. Entries may be submitted by either author or publisher, and must include three copies of the book (48 pages or more), a cover letter, and a brief biography of the author including previous publications. (Entries from vanity presses are not eligible.) The book must have been published in the previous calendar year. Entrants wishing acknowledgment of receipt must include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Deadline: February 1. Prize: $2,000 and an expense-paid trip to Richmond to present a public reading.
Poetry, 61 W. Superior St., Chicago IL 60654. (312)787-7070. Fax: (312)787-6650. E-mail: editors@poetrymagazine.org. Website: www.poetrymagazine.org. Awarded annually, the $100,000 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize honors a living U.S. poet whose lifetime accomplishments warrant extraordinary recognition. Established in 1986 by Ruth Lilly, the Prize is one of the most prestigious awards given to American poets and is one of the largest literary honors for work in the English language. Deadline: No submissions or nominations considered. Prize: $100,000.
Literal Latté, 200 E. 10th St., Suite 240, New York NY 10003. (212)260-5532. E-mail: LitLatte@aol.com. Website: www.literal-latte.com. Contact: Jenine Gordon Bockman, editor. Offered annually to any writer for unpublished poetry (maximum 2,000 words per poem). All styles welcome. Winners published in Literal Latté. Acquires first rights. Deadline: Postmark by July 15. Prize: 1st Place: $1,000; 2nd Place: $300; 3rd Place: $200. Judged by the editors.
Sarah Lawrence College, 1 Mead Way, Bronxville NY 10708. E-mail: lumina@gm.slc.edu. Website: www.luminajournal.com/contests. Lumina is the literary magazine of the graduate writing program of Sarah Lawrence College. This contest provides a place for the publication of some of the best original poetry written in English. Include a 100-word bio at the bottom of cover letter. Submit up to 3 poems, 60 lines maximum per poem. Submit work in a single document. Do not include name or personal information in the body of submission. Previously published works will not be considered. Submit online. Deadline: October 15. Prize: 1st Place: $500 and publication; 2nd Place: $250 and publication: 3rd Place: $100 and publication online. Judged by Patricia Lockwood in 2014.
The MacGuffin, The MacGuffin, Schoolcraft College, 18600 Haggerty Rd., Livonia MI 48152. (734)462-4400, ext. 5327. Fax: (734)462-4679. E-mail: macguffin@schoolcraft.edu. Website: www.schoolcraft.edu/a-z-index/the-macguffin. Contact: Gordon Krupsky, managing editor. The MacGuffin is a national literary magazine from Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan. An entry consists of three poems. Poems must not be previously published, and must be the original work of the contestant. See website for additional details. The mission of The MacGuffin is to encourage, support, and enhance the literary arts in the Schoolcraft College community, the region, the state, and the nation. Deadline: June 3. Submissions period begins April 1. Prize: $500. Judged by Carl Dennis.
Lotus Press, Inc., 8300 East Jefferson Ave., #504, Detroit MI 48214. (313)736-5338. E-mail: broadsidelotus@gmail.com. Website: www.lotuspress.org. Contact: Gloria House. Offered annually to recognize an unpublished book-length poetry ms by an African American. Guidelines available online. Poems in the ms should total approximately 60-90 pages, exclusive of a table of contents or other optional introductory material. Poems that have been published individually in periodicals or anthologies are acceptable. Will not consider an entire collection that has been previously published. Deadline: March 1. Submission period begins January 2. Prize: $500 and publication by Lotus Press.
P.O. Box 690100, Charlotte NC 28227. (704)573-2516. E-mail: editor@mainstreetrag.com. Website: www.MainStreetRag.com. Contact: M. Scott Douglass, editor/publisher. Submit 48-84 pages of poetry, no more than 1 poem/page (individual poems may be longer than 1 page). Guidelines available on website. Deadline: January 31. Prize: 1st Place: $1,200 and 50 copies of book; runners-up are also be offered publication.
THE MALAHAT REVIEW LONG POEM PRIZEThe Malahat Review, Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 Canada. E-mail: malahat@uvic.ca. Website: www.malahatreview.ca. Contact: John Barton, editor. Long Poem Prize offered in alternate years with the Novella Contest. Open to any writer. Offers 2 awards of $1,000 CAD each for a long poem or cycle (10-20 printed pages). Includes publication in The Malahat Review and a 1-year subscription. Open to entries from Canadian, American, and overseas authors. Obtains first world rights. Publication rights after revert to the author. Submissions must be unpublished. No simultaneous submissions. Submit a single poem or cycle of poems, 10-20 published pages (a published page equals 32 lines or less, including breaks between stanzas); no restrictions on subject matter or aesthetic approach. Include separate page with poet’s name, address, e-mail, and title; no identifying information on mss pages. Do not include SASE for results; mss will not be returned. Guidelines available on website. Deadline: February 1 (odd-numbered years). Prize: Two $1,000 prizes. Winners published in the summer issue of The Malahat Review, announced in summer on website, Facebook page, and in quarterly e-newsletter Malahat lite. Judged by 3 recognized poets. Preliminary readings by editorial board.
Southwest Review, Southern Methodist University, P.O. Box 750374, Dallas TX 75275. (214)768-1037. Fax: (214)768-1408. E-mail: swr@mail.smu.edu. Website: www.smu.edu/southwestreview. Contact: Prize coordinator. Annual award for poem(s) by a writer who has not yet published a book of poetry. Submit no more than 6 poems in a “traditional” form (e.g., sonnet, sestine, villanelle, rhymed stanzas, blank verse, et al.). Submissions will not be returned. All entrants will receive a copy of the issue in which the winning poems appear. Deadline: September 30. Prize: $1,000 for 1st place; $500 for 2nd place; plus publication in the Southwest Review.
P.O. Box 206, East Rockaway NY 11518-0206. E-mail: marshhawkpress1@aol.com. Website: www.MarshHawkPress.org. Contact: prize director. The Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize offers $1,000, plus publication of a book-length ms. Additionally, The Robert Creeley Poetry Prize and The Rochelle Ratner Poetry Award go to the runners-up. Submissions must be unpublished as a collection, but individual poems may have been previously published elsewhere. Submit 48-70 pages of original poetry in any style in English, typed single-spaced, and paginated. (Longer mss will be considered if the press is queried before submission.) Contest mss may be submitted by electronic upload. See website for more information. If submitting via Post Office mail, the ms must be bound with a spring clip. Include 2 title pages: 1 with ms title, poet’s name, and contact information only; 1 with ms title only (poet’s name must not appear anywhere in the ms). Also include table of contents and acknowledgments page. Include SASE for results only; ms will not be returned. Guidelines available on website. Deadline: April 30.
Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, The Webhallow House, 1544 Sweetwood Dr., Broadmoor Village CA 94015-2029. E-mail: soulkeats@mail.com. Website: www.soulmakingcontest.us. Contact: Eileen Malone. Call for Shakespearean and Petrarchan sonnets on the theme of the “beloved.” Previously published material is accepted. Indicate category on cover page and on identifying 3x5 card. Open annually to any writer. Deadline: November 30. Prize: Prize:1st Place: $100; 2nd Place: $50; 3rd Place: $25.
University of North Texas Press, 1155 Union Circle, #311336, Denton TX 76203. (940)565-2142. Fax: (940)565-4590. Website: http://untpress.unt.edu. Contact: John Poch. Annual prize awarded to a collection of poetry. No limitations to entrants. In years when the judge is announced, it is asked that students of the judge not enter to avoid a perceived conflict. All entries should contain identifying material only on the one cover sheet. Entries are read anonymously. Deadline: Mss may be submitted between 9 A.M. on September 1 and 5 P.M. on October 31, through online submissions manager only. Prize: $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press. Judged by a different eminent writer selected each year. Some prefer to remain anonymous until the end of the contest.
Sarabande Books, Inc., 2234 Dundee Rd., Suite 200, Louisville KY 40205. (502)458-4028. E-mail: info@sarabandebooks.org. Website: www.sarabandebooks.org. Contact: Sarah Gorham, editor-in-chief. The Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry is awarded annually to a book-length ms (at least 48 pages). All finalists are considered for publication. Competition receives approximately 1,400 entries. Guidelines available online. Mss can be submitted online or via postal mail. Deadline: February 15. Submissions period begins January 1. Prize: $2,000, publication, and a standard royalty contract.