Binghamton University Book Awards – $1,000 Prize – NO Entry Fee
The Binghamton University Book Awards (sponsored in part by Harpur College of the Arts & Sciences) include two acclaimed awards for poets and fiction writers. The first Award is called The Milt Kessler Poetry Award, which awards $1,000 to the winning poet. The competition requires you to submit a book of poems, with a recommended length of 45 pages or more. Judges will choose the best compilation of poems released in the previous year. In addition to the prize money, Binghamton University will publish 500 copies (minimum) of the winning book of poetry. The second Award is called the John Gardner Fiction Book Award, which offers a $1,000 cash prize to the winning fiction writer. Judges will choose the most outstanding novel or compilation of fiction stories published in the previous year. Binghamton University will publish 500 copies (minimum) of the winning book.
Deadline: March 1, 2013
Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award – $500 Prize – NO Entry Fee
Each year Lotus Press sponsors the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award, which awards a cash prize of $500 to an African American poet with the strongest collection of poetry.
Lotus Press was formed in 1972 with the publishing of Pink Ladies in the Afternoon, a book of poems written by poet Naomi Long Madgett. In 1993 Lotus Press started the yearly Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award in recognition of Madgett’s outstanding works of poetry.
The Award accepts submissions from African American poets only, published or unpublished. To be eligible, you should submit a book-size manuscript of poetry, approx. 60 to 90 pages in length. Short essays, works of fiction, or any non-related poetry are ineligible. Lotus Press will accept individual works of poetry previously published in periodicals, but they will not accept an entire collection of previously published poetry.
Deadline: March 1, 2013
To apply: http://www.lotuspress.org/
Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships – $15,000 Prize – NO Entry Fee
The Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships funded by The Poetry Foundation at the Harriet Monroe Poetry Institute awards five (5) fellowships each in the sum of $15,000 to aspiring poets via a nationwide contest. Founded in 1989 by patron Ruth Lilly, the Fellowships promote the study, research and writing of verse and poetry. The Poetry Foundation offers the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize annually to a residing U.S. poet whose life-long achievements necessitate outstanding acknowledgment. Totaling $100,000 in cash prizes, the Prize is among the country’s biggest poetry prizes. Poet Ruth Lilly created the Fellowships in 1989 in her name to help undergraduate or graduate students progress in their artistic careers and professions. The Poetry Foundation is a separate scholarly association to promote the existence of poetry in our society. Its purpose is to identify and commemorate the greatest works of poetry and to promote it in front of the largest sized readership as possible.
Deadline: March 31, 2013
To apply: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/prizes
PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry – $5,000 Cash Prize – NO Entry Fee
PEN American Center sponsors the PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry, which awards a cash prize of $5,000 to a promising poet of significant literary reputation based on current published work(s). To be eligible, new and promising American poets must have published no more than one book of poetry.
Publishers must submit letters of nomination emphasizing the literary integrity of the poet’s work, and synopsize the poet’s past and current published works. Nominations must express the level of potential that the poet’s work reveals.
Deadline is February 1, 2014.
To apply: http://www.pen.org/content/penjoyce-osterweil-award-poetry-5000
Paterson Poetry Prize – $1,000 Cash Prize – NO Entry Fee!
The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College sponsors The Paterson Poetry Prize, which awards a cash prize of $1,000 and publication to a promising poet with the best compilation of poems published in the previous year. To be eligible, a publisher must have published your book of poetry or collection of poetry, 47-plus pages in length (no less), with a publication run of 500 copies (minimum). Your publisher must submit a copy of your poetry book with an application form. The Poetry Center expects the winning poet to attend the awards event and read at the Center. The Center’s purpose is to support poets and poetry and introduce poetry to a global reading public.
Deadline: February 1, 2014
To apply: http://www.pccc.edu/uploads/cc/71/cc71721c0bc308a7ea2b460e260283ef/paterson_poetry_rules.pdf
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