first book awards

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Persea Books is given annually for a first poetry collection by a woman who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The winner also receives a six-week, all-expenses-paid residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of at least 40 pages with a $30 entry fee by October 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Five prizes of $1,000 each and publication by University of Massachusetts Press are given annually for a first poetry collection, a poetry collection, a short story collection, a novella or novel, and an essay collection. The creative writing faculty at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst will judge. Submit a poetry manuscript of 50 to 70 pages, a story collection, novel, or novella of 150 to 350 pages, or an essay collection of 150 to 300 pages with a $30 entry fee by September 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $3,000 and publication by American Poetry Review is given annually for a first poetry collection. The winning book is distributed by Copper Canyon Press through Consortium. Sharon Olds will judge. Submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a $25 entry fee by October 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A prize of $5,000, publication by Graywolf Press, and a six-week residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy, is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who has not published a book of poems in a standard edition. The winning book will also be distributed to 5,000 members of the Academy of American Poets. Using the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $35 entry fee by November 1. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Perugia Press is given annually for a first or second poetry collection by a woman. Submit a manuscript of 45 to 85 pages with a $27 entry fee by November 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

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.