| 5/1/15 | Ahsahta Chapbook Prize | Prizes: $1,000, 100 copies, and publication | Fee: $15 to Ahsahta Press |
| enter online | Judge: Kerry Webster | ||
| Notify: August | |||
| Chapbook manuscript: The Ahsahta Chapbook Prize honors a book of original poetry in English by a single author; translations are not eligible for this award. The winning poet receives a $1,000 honorarium upon publication plus 100 copies of the published book.All entries should be made on our Submission Manager system. Manuscripts should be 25 to 40 pages of poetry, submitted in PDF, RTF, or MSWord formats only. The author’s name should not appear in the manuscript. The title page should contain the title only. Author information is collected separately in Submission Manager. Do not include author name, acknowledgments, author bio, or any other identifying information in the manuscript file. Manuscripts will be read anonymously. Work must not have been previously published as part of a book or as a self-published chapbook. Manuscript revisions are not permitted during the contest. You may add acknowledgments and make revisions after the contest is judged. The entry fee of $15 is payable during entry with Mastercard, Visa, or Discover cards. All entries are eligible for publication by Ahsahta Press; separate submission of a Sawtooth entry during our open reading period is unnecessary. Poets writing in English are eligible. Previous book publication is not a consideration. Students and former students of Boise State University and of this year’s judge may not enter; close friends of the judge are also not considered eligible. Simultaneous submissions are permissable, but entrants are asked to notify Ahsahta Press immediately if a manuscript becomes committed elsewhere. | |||
| http://ahsahtapress.boisestate.edu/open-submissions/chapbook-prize/ | |||
| 5/1/14 | Crucible Writers' Competition | Prizes: $150, $100, and publication | Fee: none |
| e-mail only | crucible@barton.edu | Judge: | |
| Notify: October | |||
| Poems: Open to all writers. All entries must be completely original, must never have been published, must be in manuscript form, and must not be involved in other competitions. The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript. Writers should send with their entries a short biographical sketch. Permission to publish the material is implied by submission. Entries submitted without the above information will not be considered. Fiction 8,000 words max; poetry five poems. The first prizes for poetry and fiction are $150, and the second prizes are $100. All work submitted for publication is automatically considered for the prizes, and the same guidelines apply. All entries should be submitted electronically. | |||
| http://www.barton.edu/academics/english/crucible.htm | |||
| 5/1/16 | Hal Prize | Prizes: $150, retreat, and publication | Fee: $2.25 per poem |
| enter online | contest@ppulse.com | Judge: TBA | |
| Notify: October | |||
| Poems: One poem per submission will be accepted. Previously published pieces will not be considered. Poems submitted to the Hal Prize should not be submitted to any other publication until after the Annual Hal Prize issue of the Peninsula Pulse is published. Individual poems should be no more than one page in length in standard 12 point type. Weeklong retreat in Door County, Wisconsin, includes lodging and use of kitchen. | |||
| http://thehalprize.com/ | |||
| 5/1/16 | Sow's Ear Press Chapbook Competition | Prizes: $1,000, 25 copies, distribution to subscribers | Fee: $27 to Sow's Ear Poetry Review |
| Managing Editor: Sarah Kohrs 1748 Cave Ridge Rd Mount Jackson VA 22842 |
Judge: Sam Rasnake | ||
| Notify: | |||
| Chapbook manuscript: Open to adults. Send 22-26 pages of poetry plus a title page and a table of contents, all without your name. On a separate sheet list chapbook title, your name, address, phone number, e-mail address if available, and publication credits for submitted poems, if any. No length limit on poems, but no more than one poem on a page. Send in March or April, by May 1. Simultaneous submission is allowed, but if your chapbook is accepted elsewhere, you must withdraw promptly from our competition. Poems previously published are acceptable if you hold publication rights. Send SASE or e-mail address for notification. Entries will not be returned. Entry fee includes subscription. Enter online at website. | |||
| http://www.sowsearpoetry.org/chapbook-contest.html | |||
5/1/16 |
Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize | Prizes: $2,500 and publication | Fee: $30 to Wick Poetry Center |
| Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize 301 Satterfield Hall Kent State University P. O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242-0001 |
(330) 672-2067 |
Judge: Angie Estes | |
| Notify: late summer | |||
| Book manuscript: The competition is open to poets writing in English who have not yet published a full-length collection of poems (a volume of 50 or more pages published in an edition of 500 or more copies). $25 reading fee. Checks should be made payable to the Wick Poetry Center. Submissions must consist of 50 to 70 pages of poetry, typed on one side only, with no more than one poem included on a page. Only clean, legible copies are acceptable. The poet's name is not to appear on the manuscript. Two title pages should be included. The first must include the poet's name, address, e-mail, telephone number, and the title of the manuscript; the second should list the title of the manuscript only. Entries are judged anonymously. The manuscript may be submitted simultaneously to other publishers, but the poet must notify the Wick Poetry Center immediately if the manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere. All manuscripts will be recycled after judging. For notice of receipt, enclose SASP. For notice of winner, enclose SASE. Manuscripts must be postmarked between February 1 and May 1. Submit electronically or by mail. No late entries will be read. | |||
| http://www.kent.edu/wick/stan-and-tom-wick-poetry-prize | |||
| 5/1/16 | Zone 3 Press First Book Award for Poetry | Prizes: $1,000 and publication |
Fee: $25 to Zone 3 |
Andrea Spofford, Acquisitions Editor |
Susan Wallace at wallacess@apsu | Judge: Douglas Kearney | |
| Notify: | |||
| Book manuscript: Biennial. Poetry manuscripts of 48-80 pages. Two title pages: one with name, address, phone number and one with title only. Acknowledgments page may be included. $20 reading fee made payable to Zone 3 Press. Reading fee includes a one-year subscription to Zone 3 Magazine. Anyone who has not published a full-length collection of poems (48 pages or more) is eligible; those with chapbooks may participate. In order to ensure the integrity of this award, current and former students and faculty of APSU are not eligible to enter. In addition, Zone 3 Press will not accept manuscripts from contestants who have previously studied with, or have a personal relationship with the announced judge. Zone 3 Press is committed to providing an ethically responsible competition; as such, the editors reserve the right to reject manuscripts that display any form of ethical impropriety. Winner will be notified by e-mail or telephone. Please include SASP for confirmation of receipt. Please use a standard postcard—small index cards will not be accepted by the post office. For contest results, please include a SASE. All manuscripts other than the winning one will be recycled. | |||
| http://www.apsu.edu/zone3/contests#firstbook | |||
May 2 Deadlines
| 5/2/16 | Richard Peterson Poetry Prize | Prizes: $2,000, (2x)$500, and paid publication | Fee: $22.50 to Crab Orchard Review |
| online only | Queries received via e-mail will be deleted unread. | Judge: | |
| Notify: end of July | |||
| 3 poems: One winner and at least two finalists will be chosen in each category (there is no theme for the Literary Prize entries; just send your best work). The three category winners will be published and the finalists offered publication (with a payment of $500) in the next double issue. Entries must be previously unpublished, original work written in English by a United States citizen, permanent resident, or person who has DACA/TPS status (current students and employees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are not eligible). The author's name should not appear on any page.All entries must be submitted online between February 21, 2016 and the end of May 2, 2016 deadline extended (entries will be accepted online until 11:59:59 PM (Pacific Daylight Saving Time). All entrants will receive notification of the results by email by June 30, 2016. All entries will also be considered for publication. Regular CRAB ORCHARD REVIEW contributor’s payment rates ($25 (US) per magazine page. $50 minimum for poetry; $100 minimum for prose) apply to any accepted work that is not a genre winner or finalist. | |||
| https://craborchardreview.submittable.com/submit | |||
May 6 Deadlines
| 5/6/16 | Writer's Digest Writing Competitions | Prizes: $3,000 and trip, + more ($30,000 total) | Fee: $15 to Writer's Digest |
| Writer's Digest Writing Competition 4700 East Galbraith Road Cincinnati,OH 45236 |
questions:
Writer's Digest Competitions at (715) 445-4612 x13430 or writing-competition@fwmedia.com |
Judge: | |
| Notify: November | |||
| Poems, etc. see website. After May 6, add $5 per manuscript or poem to Entry Fee(s) on all entries submitted. Entry form required. Enter by mail or online. Final deadline June 3. | |||
| http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/writers-digest-annual-competition | |||
May 15 Deadlines
| 5/15/16 | Blue Lynx Prize | Prizes: $2,000 and publication | Fee: $28 to Lynx House Press |
Lynx
House Press |
Judge: TBA | ||
| Notify: July | |||
| Book manuscript: Send book-length manuscript (at least 48 pages) of poems, SASE for notification, and reading fee. All U.S. authors, regardless of publication history, are eligible. Manuscripts must contain page numbers and table contents. There is no maximum page-count and poems may have been previously published in journals, anthologies, or limited edition volumes. Judging is anonymous.No manuscripts or fees will be returned. Please do not send cash. Poems included may not have appeared in full-length, single-author collections. Submit online at site. | |||
| http://lynxhousepress.org/ | |||
| 5/15/16 | Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize | Prizes: $1,000 and publication | Fee: $15 to The American Poetry Review |
| The American Poetry Review Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize 1700 Sansom Street, Suite 800 Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
Judges: editors | ||
| Notify: July 1 | |||
| 3 poems: Poets may submit one to three poems per entry (totaling no more than three pages) with a $15 entry fee. No limit on number of entries per poet. Poets must be under 40 years of age. All entries must be previously unpublished poems. Do not include any identifying information on subsequent pages except for the title of the work. Enclose SASE for contest results. Multiple entries are acceptable; however each entry must be accompanied by a reading fee. All entrants will receive a copy of the magazine. | |||
| https://americanpoetryreview.submittable.com/submit/11755 | |||
| 5/15/16 | James Laughlin Award | Prizes: $5,000, residency, and distribution | Fee: none |
| The James Laughlin Award The Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901 New York, NY 10038 |
Judges: Ellen Bass, Jericho Brown, and Carmen Giménez Smith. | ||
| Notify: August | |||
| Second book under contract: given to recognize and support a poet's second book. It is the only second-book award for poetry in the United States. Offered since 1954, the award is named for the poet and publisher James Laughlin (1914-1997). Only manuscripts already under contract with publishers are considered for the James Laughlin Award. To be eligible, a poet must have published one book of poetry in a standard edition (40 pages or more in length and 500 or more copies). Additional books on a smaller scale, such as chapbooks and limited editions, will not disqualify a poet. The Academy awards the winning poet a cash prize of $5,000 and purchases copies of the book for distribution to its members. Submissions are accepted each year from January 1 to May 15. Publishers must send four copies of each manuscript. An entry form, signed by the publisher, is required. Guidelines and entry form at site. Winners are announced in August. | |||
| https://www.poets.org/academy-american-poets/james-laughlin-award-guidelines | |||
| 5/15/16 | Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize | Prizes: $25,000 | Fee: $25 to The Academy of American Poets |
| The
Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize The Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901 New York, NY 10038 |
Awards
Coordinator awards@poets.org (212) 274-0343 x15 |
Judges: Amy Gerstler, Reginald Gibbons, and Kimiko Hahn | |
| Notify: fall | |||
| Published book: Books must be submitted in the year after their publication. Open to any book of original poetry, in English, published in the United States during the previous year in a standard edition by a living American citizen. A standard edition is 40 pages or more in length and 500 or more copies. Self-published books are not eligible. Publishers may submit as many titles as they wish. The publisher should send four copies of each book to the Academy, postmarked between March 15 and May 15. A $25 entry fee and entry form are required for each title submitted. Finalists will be notified and announced to the press in fall. The winner will be announced in November. The Academy of American Poets will award the winning poet $25,000. Books will not be returned. | |||
| https://www.poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/lenore-marshall-poetry-prize | |||
| 5/15/16 | Janet B. McCabe Poetry Prize | Prizes: $1,500, $200, and publication | Fee: $20 to Ruminate |
| enter online only | Judge: Alice Fulton | ||
Notify: mid-July |
|||
| Poems: Up to two poems per entry, no longer than 40 lines each. Entry fee includes a copy of Ruminate. All submissions must be previously unpublished work. All entries will be read by a blind panel of readers who will select fifteen poems as finalists. The final judge will review the 15 finalist poems and select the first place and second place poems. Close friends and students (current & former) of the judge are not eligible to compete, nor are friends or family of the Ruminate staff. Past first place winners of the prize and past judges of the prize are also not eligible to compete. We will not accept mail or e-mail submissions. We do accept simultaneous submissions. Please remove your name, bio, and any contact info from the file that you submit. | |||
| http://www.ruminatemagazine.com/submit/contests/poetry-prize/ | |||
| 5/15/16 | Ploughshares Emerging Writer's Contest | Prizes: $1,000 | Fee: $24 |
| Online only | Judge: | ||
| Notify: | |||
| Poems: open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish a book. The winner in each genre will be awarded $1,000. Poetry entries should contain 3-5 pages of poetry. For poetry, we will be reading both for the strongest individual poem and the general level of work, and may choose to publish only some of the winner's submitted poems. Writers are allowed to submit only one entry to the contest, per year. Includes a 1-year subscription. | |||
| https://www.pshares.org/submit/emerging-writers-contest/guidelines | |||
| 5/15/16 | Slapering Hol Press Chapbook Competition | Prizes: $1,000, reading, publication, 10 books | Fee: $15 to The Hudson Valley Writers' Center |
Slapering
Hol Press Chapbook Competition |
Judge: | ||
| Notify: September | |||
| Chapbook manuscript: This competition is open to poets who have not published a book or chapbook, though individual poems may have already appeared in magazines or anthologies. Entrants should submit a collection of poems, or one long poem, limited to 16-20 pages, single-spaced in standard typeface. Manuscripts should include a title page (title only), and a separate cover sheet with the title of the work, the author's name, address, phone number, a bio, and acknowledgements. Manuscripts will not be returned. Enclose SASE for results only.Online submissions encouraged. | |||
| http://www.writerscenter.org/shp-sanger-stewart-chapbook-competition | |||
| 5/15/16 | The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize at The Georgia Review | Prizes: $1,000, publication | Fee: $15 to The Georgia Review |
The Loraine Williams Poetry Prize |
(706) 542-3481 | Judges: Georgia Review editors | |
| Notify: August 15 | |||
| Poems: The competition is for a single poem, originally written in English and never before published either in print or online. Submissions for the Loraine Williams Poetry Prize must be sent either electronically or by regular mail postmarked within the submission period (see details below). Late entries will not be considered, nor will simultaneously submitted work. All submitted poems will be considered for publication in The Georgia Review; any selected will be paid our regular poetry honorarium of $4 per line. An entry may include one, two, or three poems, but no more than a total of ten standard pages in 12-point or larger font. Each writer may submit only one entry per year (but may send other non-competition entries during our regular submission period of August 15–May 15). Current subscribers to The Georgia Review may enter the competition free of charge; nonsubscribers may begin a subscription at the time of entry—$35 for four issues, which is $5 off the regular price—or pay an entry fee of $15. A shipping fee of $15 will be added for international subscribers.To submit by post, include (1) a cover letter that confirms the poem or poems will not be under consideration elsewhere during the judging period, (2) a self-addressed and stamped envelope for announcement of contest winner and notice of whether your work has been selected for publication, and (3) if you are not a current subscriber, a check for either $35 to begin your subscription or $15 to cover your entry fee. Checks should be made payable to The Georgia Review. | |||
| http://garev.uga.edu/submanager | |||
May 18 Deadlines
| 5/18/16 | New Letters Poetry Prize | Prizes: $1,500 and publication | Fee: $15 to New Letters |
New
Letters Literary Awards |
Judge: | ||
| Notify: mid-August | |||
| 6 poems: Submit by regular post or online. Simultaneous submissions of unpublished entries are accepted with notification upon acceptance elsewhere. $15 for first entry; $10 for every entry after. Entry fee includes a one-year subscription. Make checks payable to New Letters. Two cover sheets: the first with complete name, address, e-mail address, phone number, category, and title(s); and the second with category and title only. Your personal information should not appear anywhere else on the entry. Include SASP for notification of receipt and entry number. Optional SASE for list of winners. All entries considered for publication. Poetry entries may contain up to six poems. They need not be related. Manuscripts will not be returned. No substitutions. No refunds for withdrawn material. Enter online at site. | |||
| http://www.newletters.org/writers-wanted/writing-contests | |||
May 20 Deadlines
| 5/20/16 | Robert Dana Prize | Prizes: $2,000, publication, and reading tour of Florida | Fee: $25/$28 to Anhinga Press |
| Robert Dana Anhinga Prize for Poetry P.O. Box 10595 Tallahassee, FL 32302 |
(850) 442-1408 info@anhinga.org |
Judge: Evie Shockley | |
| Notify: November | |||
| Book manuscript: Open to all poets. Entries must be original poetry in English; however, a few translations in a manuscript are acceptable. Poems previously published in journals and anthologies should be accompanied by an acknowledgments page. Authors may submit multiple manuscripts if each one is accompanied by a separate reading fee. Previously submitted manuscripts and manuscripts under consideration by other publishers are also eligible. Should your manuscript be accepted by another press, please notify us as soon as possible. Once we have received a manuscript, we cannot accept alterations or additions to it. Please check your manuscript carefully before you mail it. Each submission must be accompanied by a $25 reading fee, checks payable to Anhinga Press. Do not put your name on your manuscript. Instead, make two title pages—one with the manuscript title, your name, address and phone number, and a second title page with only the manuscript's title. Manuscripts must be 48-80 pages, excluding front matter. They may be single- or double-spaced, and all pages must be numbered. Please do not staple or bind your manuscript. Include a #10 SASE for contest results. Manuscripts will not be returned. $28 fee for online entries. | |||
| http://www.anhingapress.org/anhinga-robert-dana-prize/ | |||
May 31 Deadlines
| 5/31/16 | Black River Chapbook Competition | Prizes: $500 and 10 copies | Fee: $15 to Dzanc Books, |
| online only | editors@blacklawrencepress.com | Judge: revolving panel | |
| Notify: July 31 | |||
| Chapbook manuscript: for an unpublished chapbook of poems or short stories, 16–36 pages. Black Lawrence Press now accepts electronic submissions rather than hard copies for our contests. Please include the following in your electronic submission: cover letter with brief bio and contact information including e-mail address(es); .rtf, .doc, or .pdf attachment including title page,acknowledgments page, table of contents, and manuscript with numbered pages. Please submit your $15 entry fee via PayPal. | |||
| http://www.blacklawrencepress.com/ | |||
| 5/31/16 | The Bridport Prize | Prizes: £15,000+ in prizes & publication | Fee: £9 to Bridport Arts Centre |
| The Bridport Prize PO Box 6910 DORSET DT6 9BQ United Kingdom |
Judge: Patience Agbabi | ||
| Notify: November 8 | |||
| Poems: Max 42 lines. The Bridport Prize is one of the top open writing competitions. Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant and must never have been published. The top 26 stories and poems will be published in the Bridport Prize anthology. Prizes for poems: 1st £5000, 2nd £1000, 3rd £500; 10 supplementary prizes of £50. Top 5 poems submitted to the Forward Prize. The 10 winning poems will also be submitted to the Editor of Poetry Review. Postal entries from overseas can only be paid by credit/debit card. Overseas cheques, money orders or drafts will not be accepted. Enter online at website—entries must be received by deadline. | |||
| http://www.bridportprize.org.uk/ | |||
| 5/31/16 | The Field Poetry Prize | Prizes: $1,000 and publication | Fee: $28 to Oberlin College Press |
| submit online | Judge: David Young and David Walker, editors | ||
| Notify: August | |||
| Book Manuscript: The winning manuscript, a book-length collection of poems, is published by Oberlin College Press in the FIELD Poetry Series. The winning author also receives an award of $1000. The contest is open to all poets—those who have published in book form as well as those who have not. Previously unpublished manuscripts of poetry in English between 50 and 80 pages in length will be considered. Entries must be postmarked during May only. The reading fee is $28, which includes a year's subscription to FIELD. Checks should be payable to Oberlin College Press. | |||
| http://www.oberlin.edu/ocpress/prize.htm | |||
| 5/31/16 | New England Poetry Club Contests | Prizes: $1,000 and less | Fee: $10 to New England Poetry Club |
NEPC
Contest Coordinator |
contests@nepoetryclub.org | Judge: | |
| Notify: September–October | |||
| Poems: Non-members may enter by paying $10 for up to 3 entries and $3 per additional entry. Only one poem per contest. Lots of contests; see site. Judges are well-known poets and sometimes are winners of previous NEPC contests. Mark the name or names of the contest(s) entered on the envelope before mailing; check addres for specific contests. Submit online at site. | |||
| http://www.nepoetryclub.org/contests/ | |||
| 5/31/16 | River Styx Poetry Contest | Prizes: $1,500 and publication | Fee: $20 to River Styx |
| River
Styx Poetry Contest 3547 Olive Street, Suite 107 St. Louis, MO 63103 |
Judge: Heather McHugh | ||
| Notify: September | |||
| 3 poems: Send up to three poems, not more than 14 pages. All entrants will be notified by SASE. $20 reading fee incudes a one-year subscription (3 issues) Include name and address on cover letter only. Winner published in Fall issue. All poems considered for publication. Enter online at site. | |||
| http://www.riverstyx.org/contests/index.php | |||