November/December 2025 - Recent Winners

Action, Spectacle

Prose & Poetry Chapbook Contest

Bruce Bond of Denton, Texas, and E.J. McAdams of New York City won the 2025 Action, Spectacle Prose & Poetry Chapbook Contest for the poetry chapbooks Incursions of Light and Somehow, respectively. They each received $1,000, publication by Action, Spectacle, and 25 author copies. The annual award is given for a chapbook of poetry, prose, or hybrid-genre work. (See Deadlines.)

Action, Spectacle, Prose & Poetry Chapbook Contest, 831 Mulberry Street, Louisville, KY 40217. (502) 609-2705. Adam Day, Publisher. actionspectacle23@gmail.com action-spectacle.com

Asheville Poetry Review

William Matthews Poetry Prize

Emily W. Pease of Williamsburg, Virginia, won the 2025 William Matthews Poetry Prize for “Lone Pony on the Last Farm in the City.” She received $1,000, and her poem will be published in Volume 32, Issue 34 of Asheville Poetry Review. She also received an invitation to give a reading at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, North Carolina. Nickole Brown judged. The annual award is given for a single poem. (See Deadlines.)

Asheville Poetry Review, William Matthews Poetry Prize, P.O. Box 7086, Asheville, NC 28802. Keith Flynn, Managing Editor. kflynn62@hotmail.com ashevillepoetryreview.com

Atlanta Writers Club

Townsend Prize for Fiction

Denene Millner of Atlanta won the 2025 Townsend Prize for Fiction for her novel One Blood (Forge Books). She received $2,000. Christina Bieber Lake, Erich Nunn, and Harry Stecopoulos judged. The biennial award is given for a novel, a novella, or a short story collection written and published in the previous two years by a current or past resident of the state of Georgia (if the author is a past resident, they must have lived in Georgia at the time their book was written and published). The next deadline is November 30, 2026.

Atlanta Writers Club, Townsend Prize for Fiction, 8080 Jett Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30350. (404) 229-3060. Clayton Ramsey, Officer Emeritus and Townsend Prize Selection Chair.
clay@atlantawritersclub.org atlantawritersclub.org/writer-resources/awc-townsend-prize-for-fiction

Baton Rouge Area Foundation

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

Essie Chambers of New York City won the 2025 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence for her novel, Swift River (Simon & Schuster). She received $15,000 and was honored at an awards ceremony in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in October. Anthony Grooms, Edward P. Jones, Opal J. Moore, Francine Prose, and Patricia Towers judged. The annual award is given to an emerging African American writer for a book of fiction published in the previous year. The next deadline is October 31, 2026.

Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, 100 North Street, Suite 900, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. (225) 387-6126. Travis Hutchins, Director of Donor Services.
gainesaward@braf.org ernestjgainesaward.org

Bellingham Review

Literary Awards

Lana Reeves of Nashville won the 2025 Parallel Award for Poetry for “How to Love a Sinking Island.” Gabrielle Bates judged. Rema Ghassan Shbaita of Riverside, California, won the Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction for “Stones So Upset, They Turned Themselves Over.” Laura Chow Reeve judged. Linda Button of Brookline, Massachusetts, won the Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction for “The Wada Test.” Lilly Dancyger judged. They each received $1,000, and their winning works will be published in the Fall/Winter 2026 issue of Bellingham Review. The annual awards are given for a poem, a short story, and a work of creative nonfiction. The next deadline is March 15, 2026.

Bellingham Review, Literary Awards, Western Washington University, 516 High Street, Mail Stop 9053, Bellingham, WA 98225. Kelsey Tribble, Managing Editor.
bellingham.review@wwu.edu bhreview.org/general-submissions-guidelines

Booker Prize Foundation

International Booker Prize

Fiction writer Banu Mushtaq of Karnataka, India, and translator Deepa Bhasthi of Kodagu, India, won the 2025 International Booker Prize for Bhasthi’s translation from the Kannada of Mushtaq’s story collection Heart Lamp (And Other Stories). They each received £25,000 (approximately $33,800). The finalists were Solvej Balle of Ærø, Denmark, and Barbara J. Haveland of Copenhagen for Haveland’s translation from the Danish of Balle’s novel On the Calculation of Volume I (Faber); Vincent Delecroix of Paris and Helen Stevenson of Somerset, England, for Stevenson’s translation from the French of Delecroix’s novel Small Boat (Small Axes); Hiromi Kawakami of Tokyo and Asa Yoneda of Charlotte, North Carolina, for Yoneda’s translation from the Japanese of Kawakami’s novel Under the Eye of the Big Bird (Granta Books); Vincenzo Latronico of Milan and Sophie Hughes of Trieste, Italy, for Hughes’s translation from the Italian of Latronico’s novel Perfection (Fitzcarraldo Editions); and Anne Serre of France and Mark Hutchinson of Paris for Hutchinson’s translation from the French of Serre’s novel A Leopard-Skin Hat (Lolli Editions). The authors and translators each received £2,500 (approximately $3,380). Caleb Femi, Sana Goyal, Anton Hur, Beth Orton, and Max Porter judged. The annual award is given for a story collection or novel translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland between May 1 of the previous year and April 30 of the award year. As of this writing, the next deadline has not been set.

Booker Prize Foundation, International Booker Prize, New Wing, Somerset House, London, England WC2R 1LA. internationalsubmissions@bookerprizefoun... thebookerprizes.com/international-booker-prize

Brick Road Poetry Press

Book Contest

Christopher Shipman of Greensboro, North Carolina, won the 2024 Brick Road Poetry Book Contest for Mortar. He received $1,000, and his book will be published by Brick Road Poetry Press in 2025. The annual award is given for a poetry collection. The next deadline is February 1, 2026.

Brick Road Poetry Press, Book Contest, 36223 Dunbarton Drive, Birmingham, AL 35223. Matthew Layne, Editor. mr.matthew.layne@gmail.com brickroadpoetrypress.com

Commonwealth Club of California

California Book Awards

Sarah Ghazal Ali of St. Paul won the 94th annual California Book Awards gold medal in poetry for her collection, Theophanies (Alice James Books). Percival Everett of Los Angeles won the gold medal in fiction for his novel James (Doubleday). Sasha Vasilyuk of San Francisco won the gold medal in first fiction for her novel, Your Presence Is Mandatory (Bloomsbury Publishing). Nicola Twilley of Los Angeles won the gold medal in nonfiction for her book Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves (Penguin Press). James Tejani of San Luis Obispo, California, won the gold medal in Californiana for his book, A Machine to Move Ocean and Earth: The Making of the Port of Los Angeles and America (Norton). Cindy Juyoung Ok of Davis, California, won the silver medal in poetry for her collection, Ward Toward (Yale University Press). Rachel Kushner of Los Angeles won the silver medal in fiction for her novel Creation Lake (Scribner). Daniel Lewis of San Marino, California, won the silver medal in nonfiction for his book Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future (Avid Reader Press). The gold medal winners each received $2,500 and the silver medal winners each received $1,000. The annual awards are given to honor California writers for books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction published during the previous year. (See Deadlines.)

Commonwealth Club of California, California Book Awards, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105. bookawards@commonwealthclub.org commonwealthclub.org

Community of Literary Magazines & Presses

Firecracker Awards

Don Mee Choi of Berlin won the 11th annual Firecracker Award in poetry for her collection Mirror Nation (Wave Books). Mubanga Kalimamukwento of Mounds View, Minnesota, won in fiction for her story collection, Obligations to the Wounded (University of Pittsburgh Press). Jaydra Johnson of Portland, Ore­gon, won in creative nonfiction for her essay collection, Low: Notes on Art and Trash (Fonograf Editions). The winners received $2,000 each, to be split equally between the author and their respective press. Rob Arnold, Truong Tran, and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha judged in poetry; Luis Alberto Correa, Juliana Lamy, and Alejandro Varela judged in fiction; and Sean Enfield, Rosa Hernandez, and Alejandra Oliva judged in creative nonfiction. The annual awards are given for a book of poetry, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction published by an independent press in the previous year. (See Deadlines.)

Community of Literary Magazines & Presses, Firecracker Awards, 90 Broad Street, Suite 2100, New York, NY, 10004. (212) 741-9110, ext. 16.
info@clmp.org clmp.org/programs-opportunities/firecracker

Cutthroat

Joy Harjo Poetry Prize

Ibe Liebenberg of Chico, California, won the 2024 Joy Harjo Poetry Prize for “lord god bird.” She received $1,500 and publication in Issue 29 of Cutthroat. Elize Pasche judged. The annual award is given for a single poem. (See Deadlines.)

Cutthroat, Joy Harjo Poetry Prize, 5401 North Cresta Loma Drive, Tucson, AZ 85704. (970) 903-7914. Pamela Uschuk, Editor in Chief. cutthroatmag@gmail.com cutthroatmag.com

Fish Publishing

Flash Fiction Prize

Allegra Mullan of London won the 2025 Flash Fiction Prize for “Lover.” She received €1,000 (approximately $1,094) and publication in the 2025 Fish Anthology. Tania Hershman judged. The annual award is given for a work of flash fiction. The next deadline is February 28, 2026.

Short Memoir Prize

James Ellis of Lewes, England, won the 2025 Short Memoir Prize for “Last Days.” He received €1,000 (approximately $1,176) and publication in the 2025 Fish Anthology. Ted Simon judged. The annual award is given for an essay. The next deadline is January 31, 2026.

Fish Publishing, Coomkeen, Durrus, Bantry, County Cork, Ireland P75 H704. Clem Cairns, Founding Editor.
info@fishpublishing.com fishpublishing.com

Five Points

James Dickey Prize for Poetry

Sean Sutherland of New York City won the 2025 James Dickey Prize for Poetry. He received $1,000, and his poems will be published in Volume 24, No. 2 of Five Points. The annual award is given for a group of poems. (See Deadlines.)

Five Points, James Dickey Prize for Poetry, Georgia State University, P.O. Box 3999, Atlanta, GA 30302. Megan Sexton, Editor. fivepoints@gsu.edu fivepoints.gsu.edu/james-dickey-prize-poetry

Florida Review

Jeanne Leiby Memorial Chapbook Award

Mary Kate Coleman of Indianapolis won the 2024–2025 Jeanne Leiby Memorial Chapbook Award for Wednesday Trash Day. She received $1,000, and her nonfiction chapbook will be published by Florida Review in November 2025. Micah Dean Hicks judged. The annual award is given for a chapbook of short fiction, short nonfiction, or graphic narrative. (See Deadlines.)

Florida Review, Jeanne Leiby Memorial Chapbook Award, University of Central Florida, English Department, P.O. Box 161346, Orlando, FL 32816. David James Poissant, Editor.
flreview@ucf.edu cah.ucf.edu/floridareview

Gemini Magazine

Poetry Open

Matthew Edlund of Sarasota, Florida, won the 2025 Poetry Open for “Motor­cyclist.” He received $1,000, and his poem was published in the June 2025 issue of Gemini Magazine. The editors judged. The annual award is given for a single poem. (See Deadlines.)

Gemini Magazine, Poetry Open, P.O. Box 1485, Onset, MA 02558. (339) 309-9757. David A. Bright, Editor.
editor@gemini-magazine.com gemini-magazine.com

Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry

Griffin Poetry Prize

Durs Grünbein of Berlin and Rome and Karen Leeder of Oxford, England, won the 2025 Griffin Poetry Prize for Leeder’s translation from the German of Grünbein’s Psyche Running (Seagull Books). Grünbein received $52,000 Canadian (approximately $37,666), and Leeder received $78,000 Canadian (approximately $56,482). The finalists were the late Nicolás Guillén and Aaron Coleman of Ann Arbor, Michigan, for Coleman’s translation from the Spanish of Guillén’s The Great Zoo (University of Chicago Press); the late Tomaž Šalamun and Brian Henry of Richmond, Virginia, for Henry’s translation from the Slovenian of Šalamun’s Kiss the Eyes of Peace (Milkweed Editions); Carl Phillips of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for Scattered Snows, to the North (Farrar, Straus and Giroux); and Diane Seuss of Michigan for Modern Poetry (Graywolf Press). They each received $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,241). The award is given annually for a poetry collection written in or translated into English by a living poet or translator from anywhere in the world and published during the previous year. (See Deadlines.)

Canadian First Book Prize

Dawn Macdonald of Whitehorse, Canada, won the 2025 Canadian First Book Prize for Northerny (University of Alberta Press). She received $10,000 Canadian (approximately $7,241) and a six-week residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy. The award is given annually for a debut poetry collection by a living Canadian poet or permanent resident published during the previous year. (See Deadlines.)

Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, 363 Parkridge Crescent, Oakville, ON L6M 1A8, Canada. (905) 618-0420. Ruth Smith, Executive Director.
info@griffinpoetryprize.com griffinpoetryprize.com

High Desert Museum

Waterston Desert Writing Prize

Heather Quinn of St. Paul won the 2025 Waterston Desert Writing Prize for “This Is How You Disappear.” They received $3,000 and were invited to give a reading at an award ceremony given by the High Desert Museum in September in Bend, Oregon. Beth Piatote judged. The annual award is given for a nonfiction work-in-progress that reflects a “connection to the desert, recognizing the vital role [it plays] worldwide in the ecosystem and the human narrative.” The next deadline is May 1, 2026.

High Desert Museum, Waterston Desert Writing Prize, 59800 South Highway 97, Bend, OR 97702. (541) 382-4754. info@highdesertmuseum.org highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-prize

Iowa Review

Iowa Review Awards

Leila Farjami of Los Angeles won the 2025 Iowa Review Award in poetry for her poem “How Survival Is Memorized.” Maeve Barry of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, won the award in fiction for her story “Tank [A Triptych].” Sophie Fetokaki of Helsinki won the award in nonfiction for her essay “Essay on Islands.” The winners each received $1,500 and publication in the Winter 2025/2026 issue of Iowa Review. Brandon Shimoda judged in poetry, Amy Hempel judged in fiction, and Julietta Singh judged in nonfiction. The annual awards are given for short works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. The next deadline is January 31, 2026.

Iowa Review, Iowa Review Awards, University of Iowa, 308 English-Philosophy Building, Iowa City, IA 52242. (319) 335-0462. Lynne Nugent, Editor in Chief.
iowa-review@uiowa.edu iowareview.org

Journal of Experimental Fiction

Kenneth Patchen Award

Erik Belgum of Shafer, Minnesota, won the 2025 Kenneth Patchen Award for his hybrid novel, Ether Sunday: A Formula One Fairy Tale. He received $1,000, and his book will be published by JEF Books. Amy Kurman judged. The annual award is given for an innovative novel. The next deadline is August 31, 2026.

Journal of Experimental Fiction, Kenneth Patchen Award, 833 Central Avenue, P.O. Box 1271, Highland Park, IL 60035. Eckhard Gerdes, Editor and Publisher.
egerdes@experimentalfiction.com experimentalfiction.com

Leon Levy Center for Biography

Leon Levy Biography Fellowships

Peter Maass and Alex Traub, both of New York City, Deborah Solomon of Bethesda, Maryland, and Autumn Womack of Princeton, New Jersey, received the 2025–2026 Leon Levy Biography Fellowships. J. Arvid Ågren of Cleveland received the 2025–2026 Sloan Fellowship. They each received $72,000, writing space at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City, access to research facilities, and research assistance from a graduate student. The four annual Leon Levy Biography Fellowships are given to writers working on a biography. The annual Sloan Fellowship is given to a writer working on a biography of a figure in the field of science or technology. (See Deadlines.)

Leon Levy Center for Biography, Leon Levy Biography Fellowships, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue, Room 6200, New York, NY 10016. Thad Ziolkowski, Deputy Director.
tziolkowski@gc.cuny.edu llcb.ws.gc.cuny.edu/fellowships/biography-fellowships

Lit Fox Books

Poetry Award

Len Lawson of Newberry, South Carolina, won the inaugural Lit Fox Poetry Award for New Names for Stars. He received $1,500, and his collection will be published by Lit Fox Books in March 2026. Mary Biddinger judged. The annual award is given for a poetry collection. (See Deadlines.)

Lit Fox Books, Poetry Award, 7107 Foxtree Cove, Austin, TX 78750. (317) 446-2020. Joseph Lamm, Board Member. litfoxbooks@gmail.com litfoxbooks.com

Los Angeles Review

Literary Awards

Leonardo Chung of Ottawa, Illinois, won the 2024 Los Angeles Review Poetry Award for “Paper Boats” and “At Her Grave”; Kayla Chang of Irvine, California, won the Short Fiction Award for “The Falling Year”; Rikha Sharma Rani of Oakland won the Flash Fiction Award for “The Bargain”; and Rebecca Pyle of Santa Fe won the Creative Nonfiction Award for “Heuston Street and Oppenheimer’s Cottage.” They each received $1,000, and their works will be published in Los Angeles Review. Kim Dower judged in poetry, Juliana Lamy judged in fiction, C. Bain judged in flash fiction, and Alyssa Graybeal judged in nonfiction. The annual awards are given for works of poetry, short fiction, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction. The next deadline is July 31, 2026.

Los Angeles Review, Literary Awards, P.O. Box 40820, Pasadena, CA 91114. (626) 356-4760. Annalisa Zox-Weaver, Production Editor. production@losangelesreview.org losangelesreview.org/awards

Masters Review

Novel Excerpt Contest

Imogen Osborne of Ithaca, New York, won the fourth annual Novel Excerpt Contest for an excerpt of “Simmer Dim.” She received $3,000, online publication in Masters Review, and an hour-long consultation with Marin Takikawa of the Friedrich Agency. Tania James judged. The annual award is given for an excerpt of an unpublished novel or novel-in-progress by an emerging writer. The next deadline is November 8, 2026.

Winter Short Story Award for New Writers

Gabriella Navas of Columbus, Ohio, won the 2024–2025 Winter Short Story Award for New Writers for “Tell Me Who You Walk With.” She received $3,000, publication in Masters Review, and an agency review. Bret Anthony Johnston judged. The annual award is given for a short story or work of creative nonfiction. The next deadline is February 1, 2026.

Masters Review, 70 SW Century Drive, Suite 100442, Bend, OR 97702. Chelsea D’Errico, Chief Operations Officer. contact@mastersreview.com mastersreview.com

Munster Literature Centre

Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition

Lani O’Hanlon of Waterford, Ireland, won the 2025 Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition for “Dancing with Thierry Thieu Niang.” She received €2,000 (approximately $2,353) and publication of her poem in Issue 48 of Southword. She also gave a featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival in Cork, Ireland, in May. Mary O’Malley judged. The annual award is given for a single poem. (See Deadlines.)

Munster Literature Centre, Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition, Frank O’Connor House, 84 Douglas Street, Cork, Ireland T12 X802.
info@munsterlit.ie munsterlit.ie/odonoghue-competition

Narrative

Winter Story Contest

Emily Bales of New York City, Kate Cayley of Toronto, and Debra Marquart of Ames, Iowa, won the 2025 Winter Story Contest for the short stories “Greetings from the Desert” and “Wives” and the nonfiction excerpt “How Fish Learned to Sing,” respectively. They each received $1,333. The annual award is given for a short story, a short short story, an essay, a memoir, a photo essay, a short graphic narrative, or an excerpt from a longer work of prose. As of this writing, the next deadline has not been set.

Narrative, Winter Story Contest. Tom Jenks, Editor.
contact@narrativemagazine.com narrativemagazine.com

Narratively

Memoir Prize

Lisa Williamson Rosenberg of Montclair, New Jersey, won the 2024 Narratively Memoir Prize for “Black Girl, Blue Leotard: How My Ticket to Belonging Broke My Heart.” She received $3,000, and her story was published on Narratively’s storytelling platform. Jami Attenberg judged. The annual award is given for a short work of memoir written in the first person. (See Deadlines.)

Narratively, Memoir Prize. Jesse Sposato, Executive Editor.
jsposato@narratively.com narratively.com

New Millennium Writings

New Millennium Writing Awards

kerry rawlinson of Peachland, Canada, won the 58th New Millennium Poetry Award for “Tomorrow, a Different Universe.” Caitlin A. Quinn of Pacifica, California, won the Fiction Award for “In Enemy Territory.” Jaime Gill of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, won the Flash Fiction Award for “Diablo.” Pamela Dillon of Ontario, Canada, won the Nonfiction Award for “The Visitation.” They each received $1,000, and their winning works will be published in New Millennium Writings and on the journal’s website. The awards are given biannually for a single poem, a short story, a work of flash fiction, and an essay. (See Deadlines.)

New Millennium Writings, New Millennium Writing Awards, 3410 Compton Street, Knoxville, TN 37920. Alexis Williams, Editor in Chief.
alexis@newmillenniumwritings.com newmillenniumwritings.org

Nimrod International Journal

Neruda and Porter Prizes

Michael Lavers of Provo, Utah, won the 47th annual Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry for “What Is” and “Darkness and Rain.” He received $2,000. Anna Lena Phillips Bell of New Hanover County, North Carolina, won the $1,000 second-place prize for “Undoing” and “Golden.” Talia Neffson of New York City won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction for “Cenacolo.” She received $2,000. Mays Kuhail of Ramallah, Palestine, won the $1,000 second-place prize for “Between the Seas.” The winning works will appear in the Winter 2026 issue of Nimrod International Journal. Randall Mann judged in poetry, and Nancy Jooyoun Kim judged in fiction. The annual awards are given for a single long poem or group of poems and a story or a self-contained excerpt of a novel. The next deadline is January 31, 2026.

Nimrod International Journal, Neruda and Porter Prizes, University of Tulsa, 800 S. Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104. (918) 631-3080. Boris Dralyuk, Editor in Chief.
nimrod@utulsa.edu nimrod.utulsa.edu

Omnidawn Publishing

Poetry Open Book Contest

Nica Giromini of Davis, California, won the 2024 Omnidawn Poetry Open Book Contest for Hostile Architectures. He will receive $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing in fall 2027, and 20 author copies. Katie Peterson judged. The annual award is given for a poetry collection. The next deadline is February 16, 2026.

Omnidawn Publishing, Poetry Open Book Contest, 1632 Elm Avenue, Richmond, CA 94805. (510) 439-6285. Laura Joakimson and Rusty Morrison, Copublishers.
rusty@omnidawn.com omnidawn.com

PEN America

Emerging Voices Fellowship

Nine writers received 2025 Emerging Voices Fellowships. They are poets Danielle Shandiin Emerson of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Leila Farjami of Los Angeles, and Varun U. Shetty of Shaker Heights, Ohio; fiction writers Trini Bui of Fort Worth, Texas, Ava Pauline Emilione of Montclair, New Jersey, Pegah Ouji of Albany, Oregon, Emily del Carmen Ramirez of New York City, and Solomon Tesfaye of Washington, D.C.; and creative nonfiction writer Elisabeth Vasquez Hein of Seattle. They will each receive $1,500, a professional headshot, a one-year PEN America membership, a five-month professional mentorship with an established writer, and introductions to writers, editors, agents, and publishers. They will also participate in workshops on editing, public performance, and building a professional platform. The annual awards are given to emerging poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. The next deadline is January 31, 2026.

PEN America, Emerging Voices Fellowship, 120 Broadway, 26th Floor North, New York, NY 10271.
ev@pen.org pen.org/emerging-voices-fellowship

PEN/Faulkner Foundation

PEN/Bernard and Ann Malamud Award

David Means of Nyack, New York, won the 2025 PEN/Bernard and Ann Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story. Means, whose most recent story collection is Two Nurses, Smoking (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022), received $5,000 and will be honored at a ceremony in partnership with American University in Washington, D.C., in December. The annual award “recognizes writers who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in the short story form.” There is no application process.

PEN/Faulkner Foundation, 6218 Georgia Avenue NW, Unit #1062, Washington, D.C. 20011. Sarah Silberman, Awards and Literary Programs Director.
sarah@penfaulkner.org penfaulkner.org

Plentitudes

Plentitudes Prizes in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Flash

Em Palughi of Nashville won the 2025 Plentitudes Prize in poetry for “Zugunruhe.” Chidima Anekwe of New York City won in fiction for “Chioma at the Store.” Josina Manu Maltzman of Minneapolis won in nonfiction for “Protective Presence in the West Bank.” Stacey Balkun of New Orleans won in flash for “Open Up.” The winners each received $1,000 and publication in the Plentitudes. Dana Isokawa judged in poetry, Annell López judged in fiction, Melody Nixon judged in nonfiction, and Celine Aenlle-Rocha judged in flash. The annual awards are given for a single poem, a short story, an essay, and a work of flash fiction or nonfiction. (See Deadlines.)

Plentitudes, Plentitudes Prizes in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Flash, 27 West 94th Street, New York, NY 10025. Wally Suphap, Editor in Chief.
editors@theplentitudes.com theplentitudes.com

Poetry Foundation

Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships

Five poets each received a $27,000 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation. The 2025 fellows are Jada Renée Allen of Phoenix; DeeSoul Carson of New York City; Andres Cordoba of Providence; Maryhilda Obasiota Ibe of Madison, Wisconsin; and Aris Kian of Houston. The applications were reviewed by a combination of external readers and judges. The annual awards are given to poets between the ages of 21 and 31 to support their continued study and practice of writing poetry. The next deadline is March 2, 2026.

Poetry Foundation, Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships, 61 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60654. grants@poetryfoundation.org poetryfoundation.org/awards/prizes-fellowship

Poetry Society of America

Four Quartets Prize

Dobby Gibson of St. Paul won the 2025 Four Quartets Prize for his poem “Hold Everything” from the book Hold Everything (Graywolf). He will receive $20,000. The finalists were CAConrad of Greenfield, Massachusetts, for Listen to the Golden Boomerang Return (Wave Books) and Morgan Võ of New York City for their poem “To Market” from the book The Selkie (Song Cave). They each received $1,000. Timothy Donnelly, Kimiko Hahn, and Patricia Smith judged. The annual award is given for “a unified and complete sequence of poems published in the United States” in the previous year. (See Deadlines.)

Poetry Society of America, Four Quartets Prize, 119 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. (212) 254-9628.
info@poetrysociety.org poetrysociety.org

Poets & Writers, Inc.

Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award

Poet Courtney Huse Wika of Black Hills, South Dakota, and fiction writer Kristine Knapp of Black Hills, South Dakota, won the 2025 Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award. They each received $750; a monthlong residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Banner, Wyoming; and an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to meet with agents, editors, and prominent writers. Chet’la Sebree judged in poetry, and Kali Fajardo-Anstine judged in fiction. The annual award is given to a poet and a fiction writer from a select state; in 2025, the award invited North and South Dakota residents to apply. As of this writing, the next deadline has not been set.

Poets & Writers, Inc., Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award, 90 Broad Street, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10004. (212) 226-3586, ext. 222. Jared Jackson, Director of Programs and Partnerships.
wex@pw.org at.pw.org/wexaward

Press 53

Prime Number Magazine Awards

Jennifer Louvet of Hanoi won the 2025 Prime Number Magazine Award in poetry for “Flowers From the Mouth.” Theresa Boyar of Missoula, Montana, won in short fiction for “Ghost Weather.” They both received $1,000 and publication in Issue 277 of Prime Number Magazine. Molly Rice judged in poetry, and Dennis McFadden judged in fiction. The annual awards are given for a single poem and a short story. The next deadline is March 31, 2026.

Press 53, Prime Number Magazine Awards, 560 N. Trade Street, Suite 103, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. (336) 770-5353. Kevin Morgan Watson, Publisher.
kevin@press53.com press53.com

Red Hen Press

Cai Emmons Fiction Award

Kyoko Uchida of New York City won the 2025 Cai Emmons Fiction Award for her story collection, Notes for an Ending. She received $5,000, and her book will be published by Red Hen Press in spring 2028. E.P. Tuazon judged. The annual award is given for a story collection, a novel, or a novella. (See Deadlines.)

Quill Prose Award

Jax Connelly of Chicago won the 2024 Quill Prose Award for their book, We Have Attempted to Contact You and Have Failed on Several Occasions. They received $1,000, and their book will be published by Red Hen Press in 2027. Raymond Luczak judged. The annual award is given for a story or essay collection, a novel, a memoir, or a hybrid work of prose by a queer writer. (See Deadlines.)

Red Hen Press, P.O. Box 40820, Pasadena, CA 91114. (626) 406-1203. Annalisa Zox-Weaver, Editorial Associate.
editorial@redhen.org redhen.org

River Teeth

Literary Nonfiction Book Prize

Hannah Hindley of Berkeley, California, won the 2024 Literary Nonfiction Book Prize for Love and Other Fish. She received $1,000, and her book will be published by University of New Mexico Press in spring 2026. Beth Nguyen judged. The annual award is given for a book of nonfiction. The next deadline is October 31, 2026.

River Teeth, Literary Nonfiction Book Prize, Ball State University, English Department, 2000 W. University Avenue, Muncie, IN 47306. riverteeth@bsu.edu riverteethjournal.com

Silverfish Review Press

Gerald Cable Book Award

Harry Newman of New York City won the 2024 Gerald Cable Book Award for Cliff Dwellers. He received $1,000, publication of his book by Silverfish Review Press, and 25 author copies. Rodger Moody judged. The annual award is given for a debut poetry collection. As of this writing, the next deadline has not been set.

Silverfish Review Press, Gerald Cable Book Award, P.O. Box 3541, Eugene, OR 97403. Rodger Moody, Series Editor. sfrpress@gmail.com silverfishreviewpress.com

Slipstream Press

Poetry Chapbook Contest

Lenny DellaRocca of Delray Beach, Florida, won the 2025 Poetry Chapbook Contest for Pandemonium. He received $1,000, and his chapbook was published by Slipstream Press in September. He also received 50 author copies. The editors judged. The annual award is given for a poetry chapbook. (See Deadlines.)

Slipstream Press, Poetry Chapbook Contest, P.O. Box 2071, Niagara Falls, NY 14301.
editors@slipstreampress.org slipstreampress.org

Southern Poetry Review

Guy Owen Prize

Kelly Rowe of Flagstaff, Arizona, won the 2025 Guy Owen Prize for “Forcing Bulbs.” She received $1,000, and her poem was published in Volume 63, Issue 1 of Southern Poetry Review. Rachel Hadas judged. The annual award is given for a single poem. The next deadline is May 31, 2026.

Southern Poetry Review, Guy Owen Prize, English Department, Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus, 11935 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31419. (912) 344-3196. James Smith, Editor.
editor@southernpoetryreview.org southernpoetryreview.org

swamp pink

Writing Prizes

Samuel Piccone of Ames, Iowa, won the 2025 Swamp Pink Poetry Prize for “Spaceship Earth.” Paul Tran judged. Mary Jean Babic of New York City won the Fiction Prize for “Your One-Year-Old, Your Two-Year-Old.” Afabwaje Kurian judged. Brandon Toh of Singapore won the Nonfiction Prize for “The Difference Between Ghost and Ghost and Ghost.” Grace Talusan judged. They will each receive $2,000 and publication in swamp pink. The annual awards are given for a single poem, a short story, and an essay. The next deadline is January 31, 2026.

swamp pink, Writing Prizes, College of Charleston, English Department, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424. Jonathan Bohr Heinen, Managing Editor.
swamp-pink@cofc.edu swamp-pink.charleston.edu

Tadpole Press

100-Word Writing Contest

M Pettersen of Springfield, Missouri, won the April 2025 Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest for “Tyrannosaur Elegy.” She received $2,000 and publication on the Tadpole Press website and in Tadpole Press Literary Magazine. Finn O’Sullivan judged. The biannual award is given for a work of flash poetry or prose no more than 100 words in length. (See Deadlines.)

Tadpole Press, 100-Word Writing Contest. (303) 668-8812.
info@tadpolepress.com tadpolepress.com/100-word-writing-contest

Tampa Review

Danahy Fiction Prize

Jay McKenzie of Australia won the 2024 Danahy Fiction Prize for “Milk Bottle Churches.” She received $1,000, and her story will be published in Issue 70 of Tampa Review. Ayana Mathis judged. The annual award is given for a short story. (See Deadlines.)

Tampa Review, Danahy Fiction Prize, University of Tampa Press, 401 West Kennedy Boulevard, Box 19F, Tampa, FL 33606. (813) 257-6266.
utpress@ut.edu tampareview.org

University of Arkansas Press

Miller Williams Poetry Prize

Samuel Piccone of Ames, Iowa, won the 2026 Miller Williams Poetry Prize for Domestica. He received $5,000, and his book will be published by University of Arkansas Press in March 2026. Patricia Smith judged. The annual award is given for a poetry collection. The next deadline is September 30, 2026.

University of Arkansas Press, Miller Williams Poetry Prize, Poetry Series, 105 North McIlroy Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701. (479) 575-7258.
uapress@uark.edu uapress.com

University of Massachusetts Press

Juniper Prizes

Jason Bredle of Cary, Illinois, and Christian Wessels of Rochester, New York, and Black Forest, Germany, won the 2025 Juniper Prizes for poetry. Bredle won for his collection I Love You But I Don’t Speak Your Language, and Wessels won for his debut collection, Who Follow the Gleam. Josh Bell of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Kirsten Kaschock of Baltimore won the prizes in fiction. Bell won for his story collection, The Gods in Small Doses, and Kaschock won for her novel, An Impossibility of Crows. Lauren W. Westerfield of Spokane won the prize in creative nonfiction for her memoir, Woman House: Essays and Assemblages. They each received $1,000, and their books will be published by University of Massachusetts Press in spring 2026. Bianca Stone judged in poetry, Jordy Rosenberg judged in fiction, and Laura M. Furlan judged in creative nonfiction. The annual awards are given for two poetry collections (one by a debut author), two books of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction. The next deadline is September 30, 2026.

University of Massachusetts Press, Juniper Prizes, East Experiment Station, 671 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003. juniperprize@umpress.umass.edu umasspress.com/juniper-prizes

University of North Texas

Rilke Prize

Ishion Hutchinson of Ithaca, New York, won the 2025 Rilke Prize for School of Instructions (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). He received $10,000. The annual award is given for a poetry collection by a midcareer poet published in the previous year. (See Deadlines.)

University of North Texas, Rilke Prize, English Department, 1155 Union Circle #311307, Denton, TX 76203.
untrilkeprize@unt.edu english.unt.edu/creative-writing/unt-rilke-prize

Virginia Commonwealth University

Cabell First Novelist Award

Anne de Marcken of Olympia, Washington, won the 24th annual Cabell First Novelist Award for It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over (New Directions). She received $5,000 and will participate in an award event in November. A committee of VCU faculty and MFA candidates judged. The annual award is given for a debut novel published during the previous year. (See Deadlines.)

Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell First Novelist Award, c/o VCU English Department, Hibbs Building, Box 842005, Richmond, VA 23284. Hana Rehman, Award Fellow.
cabellfn@vcu.edu firstnovelist.vcu.edu

Winning Writers

Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest

Jeff Carter of Evere, Belgium, won the 2025 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest for his poem “There Was an Old Woman.” He received $2,000, a gift certificate for two years of literary information services from Duotrope, and publication on the Winning Writers website. Julia Lichtblau of New York City won the second-place prize for “The Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 1939 (Revised).” She received $500 and publication on the Winning Writers website. Jendi Reiter and Lauren Singer judged. The annual award is given for a humorous poem. The next deadline is April 1, 2026.

Winning Writers, Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, Suite B PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. (413) 320-1847. Adam Cohen, President.
info@winningwriters.com winningwriters.com