Anderbo Poetry Prize
270 Lafayette Street, Suite 1412
New York, NY 10012

Ms. Jennifer Bates, contest coordinator
The Bakeless Contest
c/o Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
Middlebury College
Middlebury VT 05753

Tricia Currans-Sheehan, Editor
The Briar Cliff Review Poetry and Fiction Competition
3303 Rebecca St.
Sioux City, IA 51104-0100

Willard R. Espy Literary Foundation
PO Box 614
Oysterville, WA 98641

Poems: Residencies are available for the months of February, June, and October from the 1st through the end of the month inclusive. Writers will share accommodations in bay-view cottages in the serenely beautiful village of Oysterville and will receive a weekly stipend for food. Our goal is to provide writers with an environment in which they can pursue their work without interruption. A suitable applicant is a writer who has demonstrated talent and commitment to his or her career. Both emerging and established poets, fiction writers, creative non-fiction writers, playwrights, and screen writers are eligible for the residencies. People of some self-sufficiency are our ideal. Applicants may not be current board members, advisory board members, staff or consultants for the Espy Foundation, or their immediate family members. Residents are expected to provide their own transportation to and from Oysterville, which is 180 miles from Seattle and 120 miles from Portland, and they are encouraged to keep a car with them for the duration of the residency. Deadline for application: November 1 for the FEBRUARY Residency, March 1 for the JUNE Residency, July 1 for the OCTOBER Residency. Applications must include the enclosed application form and all required materials specified in the form. Applications and Sponsors' Letters must be postmarked on or before the deadlines. (Sponsors' Letters are acceptable by fax to (360) 665-5224 if received by the deadline. A non-refundable fee of $20, made payable to The Willard R. Espy Literary Foundation, must be included with your application form, project description, and work samples. The two sponsors’ letters should be sent directly to the Foundation at the above address by the sponsor writing the letter. You will be notified by mail of the panel’s decision approx. three to four weeks after the deadline.

Donald Justice Poetry Award
Department of English
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383

Tel: (610) 436-3235
E-mail: poetry@wcupa.edu

Book manuscript: The Justice Award welcomes unpublished, original book-length collections of poems that pay attention to form for consideration in the competition. Two winners from the competition will each receive $1,000, and have her/his manuscript published. The biennial competition is open to all American poets regardless of whether they have previously published a book-length collection. The manuscript should be between 50-100 typed pages in unbound, bound, or clipped form. No more than one-third of the manuscript may consist of permission-secured or public domain translations. The manuscript should contain two title pages: one with the collection1s title, author1s name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number; and the other with only the title. There is a $25 entry fee for each manuscript submitted. All submissions must be postmarked no later than October 1. Submitted manuscripts will not be returned. For notification of contest results, please include SASE . One winner from the competition will be designated for 2008, and one for 2009. Each winner will receive her/his award, and give a public reading at the annual West Chester University Poetry Conference in early June, 2008/2009.

Milton Kessler Poetry Contest
Harpur Palate
Dept. of English
Binghamton University
P. O. Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000

online only

reed@email.sjsu.edu

Poems: Writers are invited to submit poetry manuscripts of 3-5 original unpublished poems. All entrants will receive a complimentary copy of the 2009 issue of Reed Magazine. All submissions must abide by the following competition rules and guidelines: Submit through the online system. Submit in a common file format: *.doc and *.txt preferable. Please do not submit in the *.docx file format. A reading fee of $10 is required for every 5 submissions. These can be paid online with Paypal (from the online button, the store, or the submission system) or by check at the following address:

Reed Magazine
SJSU English Department
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0090

Writers may submit multiple entries, but remember that every five submissions (five poems) must be paid with another reading fee. The ten finalists will be sent to the judge. During that time, typically two weeks, the finalists will be required to withdraw their entries from other magazines. Employees and board members of the National Steinbeck Center, REED Magazine, or the Center for Steinbeck Studies are not eligible to participate in the competition. The work submitted must be your own—no translations allowed.

Smartish Pace
Beullah Rose Poetry Prize
P.O. Box 22161
Baltimore, MD 212036

The Lexi Rudnitsky Poetry Prize
c/o Persea Books
PO Box 1388
Columbia, MO 65201

Robert G. Lesman, Managing Editor
P.O. Box 127
Millwood, VA 22646

LUMINA
Sarah Lawrence College
Slonim House
One Mead Way
Bronxville, NY 10708-5999

Poems: 2009 contest is for fiction. All contest entries will automatically be considered for publication. Entry fee: $10. Make check or money order payable to LUMINA, and mail it. You must also e-mail your entry to lumina@gm.slc.edu. Write your e-mail address on your check so that your entry can be matched to your payment. All other contest guidelines are identical to the guidelines for regular poetry submissions. For that information, see our submissions page.

Howard Nemerov Sonnet Award
The Formalist
320 Hunter Drive
Evansville, IN 47711

http://measure.evansville.edu/SonnetContest.htm

Nightboat Books
P.O. Box 10
Callicoon, NY 12723

Book manuscript: Any poet writing in English is eligible who: 1. does not have a close personal or professional relationship to the judge; 2. is not a current or recent (within the past two years) student of the judge; and 3. is not affiliated with Nightboat Books. Previous book publication is not a consideration for eligibility. Poems published in print or on-line periodicals, anthologies, or chapbooks may be included, but the manuscript itself must be unpublished. Original work only; translations are ineligible. 48 to 70 pages (suggested length), single-spaced, paginated, no more than one poem per page, one side of the page only. The manuscript must be typed (clear photocopies are acceptable) and bound only by a spring clip. Include two title pages (one with book title, name, address, telephone and email; one with book title only), table of contents, and acknowledgments page. The author's name should not appear anywhere in the manuscript except on the first title page. Enclose a standard business-size SASE for winner notification. We will not return manuscripts. Please do not send your only copy. Send a self-addressed, stamped postcard for notification of manuscript receipt (optional). Nightboat Books cannot answer questions regarding submissions during the reading period. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. Please notify Nightboat Books immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere. Submission of more than one manuscript is acceptable. Each manuscript must be submitted separately, each with a separate entry fee and SASE. International submissions only may be sent via FedEx, DHL, or UPS. (Please remember to include your email address and entry fee payable in US dollars.) The winner will have the opportunity to revise the manuscript before publication. No revisions will be considered during the reading period. A $20 entry fee in the form of a check or money order payable to Nightboat Books must accompany all submissions. In the event that the judge does not find an entry suitable for publication, reading fees will be returned to all entrants. Entrants to this year’s competition may receive a complimentary copy of the winning book. Please enclose a 9x12 self-addressed, stamped envelope with $3.00 in postage if you would like to receive the book. Winning collection to be published Spring 2010. Fed Ex, UPS, or other overnight mail services are not necessary. No online or fax submissions.

http://www.nightboat.org/?page_id=18

Patricia Parnell Poetry Contest
c/o Professor Jenn Monroe
Chester College of New England
40 Chester Street
Chester, NH 03036

compass.rose@chestercollege.edu

Poems: Please submit no more than 5 poems. The contest fee is $5 for each poem ($10 for two poems, $15 for three poems and so on). Please do not put any personal information on the poems themselves; instead enclose a cover letter with your name, titles of your work, and contact information. All entries are read blind. Poems that include personal information will not be read and fees will not be refunded. No email submissions or previously published work will be accepted. Please send all submissions via postal mail.

Perugia Press Intro Award
P.O. Box 60364
Florence, MA 01062

Washington Square Contest
Creative Writing Program
New York University
Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House
58 West 10th St.
New York, NY 10011

The Walt Whitman Award
The Academy of American Poets
588 Broadway, Suite 604
New York, NY 10012-3210

The Yalobusha Review
ATTN: Yellowwood Poetry Contest
Department of English
University of Mississippi
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677-1848

Jon Tribble, Series Editor
Open Competition Awards
Southern Illinois University
1000 Faner Drive
Carbondale, Illinois 62901

NMW
Room M2
PO Box 2463
Knoxville, TN 37901

Bright Hill Press Poetry Book Competition
P.O. Box 193
Treadwell, NY 13846-0193

online only

Pauline Uchmanowicz
Codhill Poetry Chapbook Prize
P.O. Box 280
Bloomington, NY 12411-0280

Poems: open to any poet who writes in English. Previously published poems with proper acknowledgement are acceptable. Translations and previously self-published books are not eligible. Poets should submit 20-30 pages (no more than one poem per page) plus SASE for contest results and $20 reading fee. Manuscripts should be on good-quality white paper, paginated consecutively, with a table of contents and acknowledgements and bound with a clip. Include two cover pages, one with the title of the manuscript alone, and a second with your name, address, phone number, and email address, together with the title. Your name must not appear anywhere else on the manuscript. Entries must be postmarked before November 30, 2008. No UPS or FedEx. You may include a SASE postcard for confirmation. Manuscripts will not be returned. Simultaneous submissions to other publishers are permitted, but Codhill Press must be notified immediately if the manuscript is accepted elsewhere. Note that last year's winning chapbook sells for $12.

Elizabeth R. Curry Poetry Contest
Dept. of English, 314 SWC
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock, PA 16057

Five Points
James Dickey Prize for Poetry
P.O. Box 3999
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA 30302-3999

online only

Gell Prize
Writers & Books
740 University Ave.
Rochester, NY 14607

Hackney Literary Awards
Birmingham-Southern College
Box 549066
Birmingham, AL 35254

Poems: The competition awards $5,000 in annual prizes for poetry and short fiction, ($2,500 national and $2,500 state level; 1st $600, 2nd $400, and 3rd $250) plus a $5,000 prize sponsored by Morris Hackney for an unpublished novel. Poetry Guidelines: Poetry not to exceed 50 lines per entry. More than one poem may be submitted, but all poems together must not exceed the 50 line limit per entry. $10 per entry. Only original, unpublished manuscripts may be entered. Short story and novel manuscripts should be typed and doubled-spaced. Poetry entries should be typed. Each entry submitted must have two copies of the cover sheet listing the title of the work, author's name, address and telephone number, and category of the work (short story, novel or poetry). The author's name must not appear on the actual pages of the manuscript. Manuscripts cannot be returned. An SASE must be enclosed to receive a list of the winners. Refunds for withdrawn entries will only be given through December 31. Make checks payable to Hackney Literary Awards. Please do not send cash.

Motherwell Prize
Fence Magazine
University at Albany, Science Library 320
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12222

New Issues Poetry Prize
Department of English
Western Michigan University
1903 West Michigan Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5331

herbert.scott@wmich.edu

Book manuscript: Eligibility: Poets writing in English who have not previously published a full-length collection (48+ pages) of poems in an edition of 500 or more copies. Submit a manuscript at least 48 pages in length, typed on one side, single-spaced preferred. Photocopies are acceptable. Please do not bind manuscript. A manila folder or metal clasp will do. Include a brief bio and relevant publication information, cover page with name, address, phone number, and title of the manuscript. A $15 reading fee must accompany each manuscript. Checks should be made payable to New Issues Poetry & Prose. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard for notification that the manuscript has been received, or your canceled check may be used as a notification of receipt. For notification of title and author of the winning manuscript enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Manuscripts will be recycled. A manuscript may be submitted that is being considered elsewhere but New Issues should be notified upon the manuscript's acceptance elsewhere. New Issues publishes three to six first books of poems per year. Manuscripts in addition to the winner will be considered for publication in the series. New Issues does not consider manuscripts outside the context of its competitions. Manuscripts may be submitted at any time up to the deadline.

Poulin Prize
BOA Editions, Ltd.
PO Box 30971
Rochester, NY 14603

Book manuscript: For a poet's first book. Entrants must be a citizen or legal resident of the United States. Poets, who are at least 18 years of age, who have yet to publish a full-length-book collection of poetry. Translations are not eligible. Individual poems from the manuscript may have been published previously in magazines, journals, anthologies, chapbooks of 32 pages or less, or self-published books of 46 pages or less, but must be submitted in manuscript form. Published books in other genres do not disqualify contestants from entering this contest. Send one copy of the manuscript, our entry form, and the $25 entry fee, to BOA Editions, Ltd., between August 1, and November 30. Make check or money orders payable to BOA Editions. Do not pay by credit card. Minimum of 48 pages, maximum of 100 pages of poetry. At least 11 pt. font. Name, address and telephone number must appear on the title or cover page of the manuscript. Do not send artwork or photographs. Typed or word-processed on standard white paper, on one side of the page only. Paginated consecutively with a table of contents. Bound with a spring clip (no paperclips, please). Attach publications acknowledgments if any. Include a stamped, self-addressed postcard for notification of receipt of manuscript. Do not send by FedEx or UPS. Electronic and fax submissions will not be accepted. Neither late nor early manuscripts will be accepted. Contestants may submit the manuscript elsewhere simultaneously, but must notify BOA Editions immediately if a manuscript is accepted by another publisher. Once submitted, manuscripts cannot be altered. Winner will be given the opportunity to revise before publication. Contestants may submit more than one manuscript, but a separate entry fee and entry form must accompany each manuscript. Manuscripts mailed from foreign countries risk not being received before final selections have been made. Send manuscript in a plain or padded envelope. Please, no boxes. For notification of competition results, include a business-size SASE. Keep a copy of your manuscript, as manuscripts will not be returned. We advise that you send your manuscript by first class or priority mail. Honorarium will be awarded within two weeks of the announcement. Winning manuscript will be published in the A. Poulin, Jr. New Poets of America Series. The winner will retain full copyright of his or her work and will be offered a standard book contract which will include royalty rate. All manuscripts will be recycled after the winner is announced. BOA Editions assumes no responsibility for loss of manuscripts.

MARGIE
P.O.B. 250,
Chesterfield, MO 63006

Poems: Submit 3 unpublished poems & a $15 entry fee payable to MARGIE, Inc. (60 line limit per poem.) $5 each per additional poem. Enclose a single cover sheet with your name, address & phone. No names should appear on poems. Simultaneous submissions accepted. Only submit copies as poems will not be returned. Include a SASE. to receive contest results. Mail poems & entry fee POSTMARKED no later than November 30, or enter online.

online only

White Pine Press Poetry Prize
PO Box 236
Buffalo, NY 14201

716-627-4665

White Pine Press Poetry Prize
5783 Pinehurst Court
Lake View, NY 14085

Manuscripts are screened by the editorial staff, and a poet of national reputation makes the final selection. The name of the final judge is not revealed until the end of the competition. We alternate between a male and a female poet each year as final judge. Due to the large number of entries received, manuscripts cannot be returned. NB: not at all punctual with notification, and site no longer includes year of contest.