first book awards

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a group of poems by a poet who has not published a poetry collection with a nationally distributed press. The editors will judge. Using the online submission system, submit three poems of any length with a $16 entry fee, which includes a subscription to Boulevard, by June 1. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Graywolf Press is given annually for a first book of poetry by a black poet of African descent. Chris Abani will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 75 pages with a $20 entry fee by March 16. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $2,500 and publication by Kent State University Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection. The winner is also invited to teach a weeklong graduate/undergraduate writing workshop at Kent State University and give a reading with the judge, who this year is Ellen Bass. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 50 to 70 pages with a $25 entry fee by May 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Zone 3 Press is given biennially for a debut poetry collection. Jennifer Givhan will judge. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $20 entry fee by April 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Elixir Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection. Jennifer Franklin will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a $30 entry fee by March 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $5,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Poets who have not published a full-length poetry collection may submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee between March 1 and April 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $10,000, publication by &NOW Books, an imprint of Lake Forest College Press (with distribution by Northwestern University Press), and a three-week residency at Lake Forest College in Illinois is given in alternating years to an emerging poet or fiction writer to complete an innovative work-in-progress. This year the residency will be offered to a fiction writer. Lidia Yuknavitch will judge. Writers under the age of 40 who have not published a book are eligible. Using the online submission system, submit up to 30 pages of a novel, story collection, novella collection, or hybrid prose collection, a project statement, and a curriculum vitae by March 1. Only the first 200 entries will be considered. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to give a reading at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is given annually for a first or second book of poetry published during the previous year. Students and faculty of the MFA program in creative writing at Virginia Commonwealth University will judge. Publishers and writers may submit three copies of a book of at least 48 pages published in 2017 by February 1. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions is given annually for a first book of poetry by a U.S. resident. D. A. Powell will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee by November 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by New Issues Poetry & Prose is given annually for a first poetry collection. The winner will also receive an honorarium of $500 and travel expenses to give a reading at Western Michigan University in Spring 2018. Poets who have not published a poetry collection of more than 48 pages are eligible. Cathy Park Hong will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 40 pages with a $25 entry fee by December 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.