Genre: Poetry

Fifteen fellowships are given annually to artists, academics, and creative writers, including poets, fiction writers, creative nonfiction writers, and translators, whose work will benefit directly from access to the research collections at the New York Public Library. The fellows each receive $85,000, an office at the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library’s main branch in the Midtown neighborhood of Manhattan, and full access to the library’s collections from September 2025 through May 2026. Fellows will be required to work on their projects at the Cullman Center for the duration of the fellowship. Writers currently enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program are ineligible. Using only the online submission system, submit a writing sample of up to 4,500 words, a project proposal of no more than 1,500 words, a curriculum vitae, and three reference letters by September 27. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Fordham University Press are given annually for poetry collections. The winners also receive a one-on-one publicity consultation and a virtual book launch. All writers are eligible for the Poetic Justice Institute Prize; the Poetic Justice Institute Editor’s Prize is given for a poetry collection by a BIPOC writer. Eligible writers may enter both contests. Meg Day will judge the Poetic Justice Institute Prize, and Elisabeth Frost will judge the Poetic Justice Institute Editor’s Prize. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 50 to 120 pages with a $28 entry fee (there is no entry fee for the Editor’s Prize) by October 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.