Poetry Contests

Caveat for all poets entering contests: I try to keep my list thin with good contests from reliable presses that foster the work of their winning poets. That’s my due diligence. But you also have to do your due diligence before entering any contest: investigate the press. Decide if that’s really where you want to see your work. Don’t send manuscripts out willy-nilly. If you are sending out 20 manuscripts per year to any tom, dick or harry press, it seems to me you don’t really care where it falls. This is the wrong attitude and perpetuates an abusive contest system. Be mindful of your choices. You wouldn’t put an offer on twenty random houses around the country just to have a house. You carefully choose your city, your neighborhood, your street, and the house itself. Be kind to yourself, and offer your poetry the same respectful search for home.

ABZ Poetry Prize
Submit during the month of May

A. Poulin Jr. Poetry Prize, BOA Editions, Ltd.
Submit August 1 – November 30

The Akron Series in Poetry
Submit may 15 – June 30

Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry
Submit during March

Agnes Lynch Starrett Prize for Poetry
Submit March 1 – April 30

American Poetry Journal Book Prize, Dream Horse Press
Deadline February 28

The Andres Montoya First Book Award for Latino/a Poets
Deadline January 15

Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Submit February 15 – May 1

Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize
Deadline December 1

Astounding Beauty Ruffian Press Chapbook Award
Deadline September 30.

Astraea Lesbian Writers Fund – cash award for poetry
Received by June 30, 2007 (deadline changes yearly)

Autumn House Open Poetry Contest
Deadline June 30

Bakeless Prize, Middlebury College
Submit September 15 – November 1

Barbara Deming Memorial Fund/Money for Women
Send during month of June; SASE for guidelines:
Susan Pliner, Executive Director
Money for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fund
Individual Artist Grants for Women
P.O. Box 309
Wilton, NH 03086

Barnard College Barnard Women Poets Prize (for a second book)
Deadline October 15

Barrow Street Press Open Book Prize
Deadline June 30, 2007 (deadline changes yearly)

Beatrice Hawley Award, Alice James Books
Deadline December 1

Bedbug Press Poetry Competition for full-length manuscripts.
Deadline in August

The 2009 Bellday Poetry Prize for full-length manuscripts
Deadline March 16

Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award, Red Hen Press
Deadline October 31

Black River Chapbook Competition from Black Lawrence Press
Winner chosen twice yearly: deadlines November 30 and May 31

Blue Light Press Chapbook Competition
Deadline June 30, 2007 – email for guidelines: Bluelightpress@aol.com

Blue Light Press Blue Light Book Award
submit Sept. 1 – Jan. 15

Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry
Deadline May 15

BOOM poetry chapbook contest
Deadline December 15

Bordighera Poetry Prize - Sonia Raiziss-Giop Foundation (for a bilingual English/Italian original manuscript)
Deadline May 31

Bright Hill Press (chapbook and full-length manuscript poetry prizes)
Deadlines: July 30, chapbook; November 30, full-length

Brittingham and Pollak Poetry Prizes
Deadline September 30

Caketrain Journal and Press Chapbook Competition
Deadline October 1

Camber Press Poetry Chapbook Award
Deadline July 15

Carolina Wren Press
Deadline December 1

Cave Canem Poetry Prize
Deadline May 15

The Center for Book Arts Poetry Chapbook Competition
Deadline December 1

Cleveland State University Open Book and First Manuscript Competitions
Deadline February 15

Codhill Press Chapbook Award
Deadline November 14

Colorado Prize for Poetry
Submit October 1 – January 12

Comstock Review Jessie Bryce Niles Chapbook Contest
Deadline September 30

Concrete Wolf Poetry Chapbook Series
Deadline December 1

Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the arts individual artist grants for New York state western and central counties
Deadline January 15

Crab Orchard Review First Book Manuscript Poetry Contest
Submit May 15 – July 1

Crab Orchard Review Open Poetry Prize
Submit October 1 – November 16

Cranky Press chapbook competition.
Deadline: April 15

D-N Publishing Chapbook Contest
Deadline October 31

D-N Publishing full-length poetry manuscript contest
Deadline October 31

The Dana Portfolio Award (for those working in multiple genres)
Deadline October 31

De Novo Poetry Contest by C&R Press.
Deadline September 1

Del Sol Press Poetry Prize
Deadline January 15

Diagram Chapbook Contest
Deadline April 2

Discovery/The Nation Award
Deadline January 19

The Donald Hall Prize in Poetry, AWP
Submit between January 1 and February 28

Donald Justice Poetry Award for a full-length manuscript
Deadline October 1

Dorothy Brunsman Poetry Prize, Bear Star Press
Submit September 1 – November 30

The Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prize (for poets under forty)
Deadline November 6

Dorset Prize, Tupelo Press
Deadline December 15

Elixir Press Poetry Book Awards
Deadline October 31

The Ellen Meloy Fund Desert Writer Award
Deadline December 31

Emily Dickinson First Book Award – Poetry Foundation (by a poet over 50 years of age)
Submit May 15 – June 15

Ernest Sandeen Prize from the University of Notre Dame Press
Submit May 1 – September 1

FIELD Poetry Prize – Oberlin College Press
Deadline May 31

Finishing Line Press Chapbook Competition
Deadline June 30

Firewheel Poetry Chapbook Award
Deadline September 29

Four Way Books Intro Prize, and Larry Levis Poetry Prize
Submit January 1 – March 31 (alternating years for Intro and Levis Prizes)

Frank O’Hara Award Chapbook Competition for LGBTs
Deadline February 1 – email fr guidelines jelledg1@kennesaw.edu

Gatewood Prize, Switchback Books (for women poets)
Deadline October 1

Writers & Books Gell Poetry Prize
Deadline Nov. 30.

Gerald Cable Book Award, Silverfish Review Press
Deadline October 15

Gival Press Poetry Award
Deadline December 15

The Green Rose Prize in Poetry by New Issues Press for a second or more book
Deadline September 30

Green Tower Press Chapbook Competition for Midwest writers. Northwest Missouri State University
Deadline May 1

Hackney Literary Awards, Brimingham Southern College
Deadline September 30

Hayden Carruth Award, Copper Canyon Press
Contest suspended until further notice

The Holland Prize for a full-length manuscript sponsored by Logan House Press
Deadline August 1st

The Hollis Summers Poetry Prize Open Competition
Deadline October 31

Honickman Prize, American Poetry Review
Deadline October 31

The Hudson Open Prize from Black Lawrence Press
Deadline February 28

The Hurston/Wright Foundation awards for writers of African in grad or undergrad schools
Deadline January 15

Idaho Prize for Poetry, Lost Horse Press
Deadline May 15

Iowa Poetry Prize
Submit during April

The Jack Micheline Memorial for a full-length manuscript
Deadline is October 1

Jackson, Phelan, Tannenbaum Awards (for Calif.-born & current Calif. residents)
Deadline March 31

James Laughlin Award
Deadline May 15 (for a second book)

White Crane/James White Poetry Prize for Gay men.
Deadline October 30

John Ciardi Prize for Poetry, Bkmk Press
Deadline January 16

The Journal Award in Poetry, Ohio State University Press
Submit during the month of September

Julia Peterkin Award, Converse College (alternates between poetry and fiction)
Deadline February 15

Juniper Prize for Poetry, University of Massachusetts Press
Submit August 1 – September 29 (alternates each year for 1st & 2nd book prizes)

Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry, Sarabande Books
Submit January 1 – February 15

Kinereth Gensler Awards by Alice James Books (for poets living in New England, New York, and New Jersey)
Deadline October 1

Kore Press First Book Award for Women
Deadline July 31

Kulupi Press Chapbook Competition
Deadline: July 1

Ledge Press Poetry Chapbook Competition
Deadline October 31

Lexi Rudnitsky Poetry Prize, Persea Books
Deadlne October 31

Levis Reading Prize, Virginia Commonwealth University
Deadline January 15

Liam Rector First Book Prize by Briery Creek Press.
Deadline February 1st

Lotus Press Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award
Deadline march 31 (for African American poets)

Main Street Rag Poetry Chapbook Contest
Deadline May 31

Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award
Deadline January 31

Maine Community Foundation Martin Dibner Artist Grants
Deadline January 15

Many Mountains Moving Press Poetry Poetry Book Contest (I was a finalist for this in 2007)
Deadline May 1

Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize
Deadline April 30

Massachusetts Artist Grants
December 7

May Swenson Poetry Award
Deadline September 30

The Midwest Chapbook Series by Green Tower Press
Deadline May 15

University of Arkansas Miller Williams Poetry Prize
Submit Sept. 1 – Oct. 31

Minnesota Artist Grants
Deadlines March 28, 2008 and November 30, 2007

Morse Poetry Prize, Northeastern University
Deadline September 15

Motherwell Prize, Fence Books (for women poets)
Submit during November and December

Modern Poets Series, Fence Books
Submit during November and December

Munster Literature Centre Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition
Deadline October 31

National Poetry Review Book Award
Deadline October 31

National Poetry Series Open Competition
Submit January 1 – February 15

NEA Translation Awards
Deadline January 9

New American Press Chapbook Competition
Deadline November 15

New Criterion Poetry Prize
Deadline September 30

New Issues Press Poetry Prize
Deadline November 30

New Rivers Press MVP Competition
Submit September 15 – November 1

New Women’s Voices Chapbook Competition, Finishing Line Press
Deadline February 15

Nightboat Books Prize
Deadline November 15

Ohioana Library Association Krout Memorial Poetry Award
Deadline December 31

Omnidawn Press Poetry Contest for first or second book
Deadline June 30

P & W Inc. Maureen Egen Writers Exchange focuses on a different state each year
Deadline December 1

Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest
Submit during February

Patricia Bibby First Book Award sponsored by Tebot Bach Press
Deadline October 31

Pavement Saw Press Transcontinental Poetry Award for a first book
Deadline August 15

Pearl Poetry Prize
Submit May 1 – July 15

PEN Beyond Margins Awards for emerging poets, fiction, and creative non fiction writers of color
Deadline December 31

PEN Translation Fund
Deadline January 14

Perugia Press
Deadline November 15

Philbrick Poetry Prize sponsored by the Providence Athanaeum for best chapbook
Submit July 15 – October 15

Philip Levine Prize in Poetry
Deadline September 30

Pleiades Press Lena Miles-Wever Todd Poetry Series Award
Deadline October 1

Poets Out Loud Prize
Submit September 1 – November 15

Prairie Schooner Prize, University of Nebraska Press
Deadline March 15

PSA New York Poetry Chapbook Fellowships
Deadline December 15

PSA - many awards for members and non members
Submit October 1 – December 23

Pudding House Publications Poetry Chapbook Competition
Deadline September 30

Puffin Foundation awards for emerging writers
Deadline December 30

Quercus Review Annual Book-Length Poetry Contest
Deadline October 19

Red Mountain Chapbook Competition
Deadline April 30

Richard Snyder Memorial Publication Prize
Deadline May 15

Richard Wilbur Award, University of Evansville Press
Deadline December 1

Robert Watson Poetry Award Chapbook Competition by Spring Garden Press and the Greensboro Review
Submit between October 1 and April 2

Robert H. Winner Memorial Award for poets over 40
Deadline December 21

Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships – Poetry Foundation (you’ve got to query for guidelines)
Deadline April 16 (for grads and undergrads not older than 30 years old)

The Sacramento Poetry Center’s Cathy Washington Prize for a full-length manuscript
Submit between January 1 and March 31 2009

St. Lawrence First Book Award in poetry from Black Lawrence Press
Deadline is August 31

Santa Fe Art Institute translation fellowship
Deadline December 1

Sawtooth Poetry Prize, Ahsahta Press
Deadline March 1

Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize
Submit during April (I was a semi-finalist for this in 2006)

Seven Kitchens Press Robin Becker Chapbook Prize for LGBT poets
Deadline is May 15

Slapering Hol Press Chapbook Competition
Deadline May 15

Slipstream Poetry Chapbook Competition
Deadline December 1

Slope Editions Annual Book Prize
Deadline March 15

Snowbound Series Chapbook Award, Tupelo Press
Deadline February 15

So to Speak Annual Poetry Contest
Deadline October 15 (I was a runner-up for this prize once)

Soul-Making Literary Contest, PEN/Nob Hill Branch
Deadline November 30

Sow’s Ear Review Poetry Chapbook Competition (I won this award in 2001)
Deadline May 1 email for guidelines: errol@kitenet.net

Spire Spring First Book Manuscript Contest
Submissions open on October 1

Spire Spring Poetry Chapbook Contest
Check website for Deadline

Stan & Tom Wick Prize
Submit February 1 – May 1

Stevens Poetry Manuscript Competition
Deadline October 15

Tampa Review Prize for Poetry
Deadline December 31

Terminus Magazine and Jeanne Duval Editions Chapbook Contest
Deadline November 1

Three Candles Press Open, and First Book Manuscript Contests
Deadline October 15 (alternates years between First Book and Open prizes)

TS Eliot Prize, Truman State University Press
Deadline October 31

Tupelo Press First Poetry Manuscript Competition
Submit January 1 – April 15, 2007

Vassar Miller Prize in Poetry
Deadline November 15

University of California Chicano / Latino Literary Prize
Deadline June 1 (alternates every four years (poetry, novel, drama, short story)

Walt Whitman Award, Academy of American Poets
Submit September 15 – November 15

White Eagle Coffee Store Chapbook Competition
Deadline October 31

White Pine Press Poetry Prize
Submit during July

Whitebird Chapbook Competition
Submit September 1 – October 31

The Word Works Washington Prize
Submit January 15 – March 1

The Yale Series of Younger Poets
Submit October 1 – November 15

Zone 3 Press first book award competition
Deadline is May 1