book awards

A prize of $1,000, publication by 42 Miles Press, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Current and former students of Indiana University in South Bend are ineligible. David Dodd Lee will judge. Submit a manuscript of 45 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee by March 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Two prizes of $5,500 each and publication by a participating press are given annually for a poetry collection and a short story collection. In addition, two prizes of $2,500 each and publication by a participating press are given annually for a novel and a book of creative nonfiction. For the Donald Hall Prize for Poetry, submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages; University of Pittsburgh Press will publish the winning collection. For the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction, submit a manuscript of 150 to 300 pages; University of Massachusetts Press will publish the winning collection. For the AWP Prize for the Novel, submit a manuscript of at least 60,000 words; New Issues Press will publish the winning novel. For the AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction, submit an essay collection or memoir of 150 to 300 pages; University of Georgia Press will publish the winning book. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript with a $30 entry fee ($20 for AWP members) by February 29. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Two prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for books of poetry and fiction published during the previous year. The Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award is given for a poetry collection of at least 48 pages. The John Gardner Fiction Book Award is given for a novel or a short story collection. Publishers or authors may submit two copies of books published in 2019 by February 1. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Three prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction published in the previous year. Each winner will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to give a reading at the Devil’s Kitchen Fall Literary Festival at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Authors or publishers may submit a poetry collection, novel, novella, short story or essay collection, or memoir published in 2019 along with a brief author bio, including publication history, and a $30 entry fee by February 8. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $4,000 and publication by Southern Indiana Review Press is given annually for a poetry collection. Michael Waters will judge. Submit up to 80 pages of poetry (no more than one poem per page) with a $35 entry fee by February 3. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Five prizes of $10,000 each and publication by participating trade, university, or small press publishers are given annually for poetry collections. Publishers include Beacon Press, Ecco, Milkweed Editions, Penguin Books, and University of Georgia Press. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 64 pages with a $35 entry fee by February 28. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Two prizes of $2,000 each and publication by Sarabande Books are given annually for collections of poetry and fiction. For the Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, submit a poetry collection of at least 48 pages with a $29 entry fee by February 15. For the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction, submit a collection of stories or novellas or a short novel of 150 to 250 pages with a $29 entry fee by February 15. Alberto Ríos will judge in poetry and Alice Sebold will judge in fiction. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a book of poetry published in the previous year. The winning poet is expected to participate in an awards ceremony and give a reading at the Poetry Center in Paterson, New Jersey. Books of at least 48 pages are eligible. Publishers may submit two copies of books published in 2019 by February 1. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,200, publication by Main Street Rag, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors and previous winners will judge. Submit a manuscript of 52 to 88 pages with a $25 entry fee ($27 for electronic submissions) by February 1. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.