book awards

A prize of $1,500 and publication by University of Akron Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Philip Metres will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 90 pages with a $25 entry fee by June 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Bitter Oleander Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $28 entry fee between May 1 and June 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 100 to 200 pages with a $25 entry fee between May 1 and June 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $15,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a collection of short fiction. Writers who have published at least one previous book of fiction or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in nationally distributed magazines or literary journals are eligible. Submit a manuscript of 150 to 300 pages between May 1 and June 30. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,500 and publication by Barrow Street Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Dorianne Laux will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 80 pages with a $25 entry fee ($28 for electronic submissions) by June 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $2,000, publication by Elixir Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a short story collection or a novel. Christy Stillwell will judge. Submit a manuscript of 120 to 500 pages with a $40 entry fee by May 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Four prizes of $10,000 each are given annually to honor books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and young people’s literature written by U.S. writers and published in the United States during the previous year. A $10,000 prize is also given to honor a translated book of fiction or nonfiction by a living writer published in the United States during the previous year. Finalists in each category receive $1,000 each. Using only the online submission system, publishers may submit an entry form with a $135 entry fee per title by May 13. Six copies of books (or bound galleys) published or scheduled for publication between December 1, 2019, and November 30, 2020, must be submitted to the judges and to the National Book Foundation by June 26. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction by a current resident of Maryland who has lived in the state for at least three years. Books published within the past three years or scheduled for publication in 2020 are eligible. Publishers, institutions, or individuals may submit three copies of a book or manuscript by June 15. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Four prizes of $15,000 each are given annually to U.S. writers for books of poetry, fiction, general nonfiction, and biography or autobiography (including memoir) published in the United States during the award year. For books published between January 1 and June 14, submit four copies of a poetry collection, biography, or autobiography, or six copies of a book of fiction or general nonfiction with a $75 entry fee by June 15. The deadline for books published during the second half of the year is October 1. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a collection of poems or short stories. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a poetry manuscript of 45 to 95 pages or a fiction manuscript of 120 to 280 pages with a $25 entry fee by April 10. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.