For poets who are spending the long winter evenings reading, revising and combining their poems into collections, here’s an updated list of upcoming contest entry deadlines:
- Poetry Business Book & Pamphlet Competition (postmark deadline November 29/online entry deadline December 1)
- New Issues Poetry Prize at Western Michigan University (postmark deadline November 30)
- A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize from BOA Editions, Ltd. (postmark deadline November 30)
- Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers from Kenyon Review (online submissions only, deadline November 30)
- The Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize from Waywiser Press (postmark/online submission deadline December 1)
- Beatrice Hawley Award from Alice James Books (postmark deadline December 1)
- Center for Book Arts Poetry Chapbook Competition (postmark deadline December 15)
- Gival Press Poetry Award (postmark deadline December 15)
- Poetry Society of America Chapbook Fellowships (postmark deadline December 22)
- Meridian Editors’ Prize in Poetry from the University of Virginia (online manuscript submissions only/deadline December 30)
- The Dorset Prize from Tupelo Press, final judge Kimiko Hahn (postmark/online submission deadline December 31)
- Pavement Saw Press Chapbook Contest (manuscripts considered until December 31)
- Omnidawn Open Book Poetry Contest to be judged by Cole Swenson (postmark/online submission deadline December 31)
- New American Poetry Prize (postmark/online submission deadline December 31)
- The Colorado Prize for Poetry from Colorado State University’s Center for Literary Publishing (postmark/online submission deadline January 14)
- John Ciardi Prize for Poetry from BkMk Press at the University of Missouri Kansas City (postmark deadline January 15)
- Grayson Books Chapbook Contest (postmark/online submission deadline January 31)
- “Discovery”/Boston Review Poetry Contest (mail entries only/postmark deadline in January, date TBA)
- Cleveland State University Poetry Center Prizes, First Book competition and Open Competition (postmark deadline February 15)
- Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry from Sarabande Books (postmark/electronic submission deadline February 15)
- New Women’s Voices Chapbook Competition from Finishing Line Press (postmark/PDF email submission deadline February 15)
- Georgetown Review Poetry Manuscript Contest to be judged by D.A. Powell (postmark/online submission deadline February 15)
- National Poetry Series (postmark deadline February 15)
- Fence Modern Poets Series (online submissions only, in February)
- Snowbound Chapbook Award from Tupelo Press (postmark/online submissions deadline February 28)
Required Reading Before You Submit To Any Contests:
“What’s Really Wrong with Poetry Book Contests?,” by David Alpaugh
How to Put Together a Poetry Manuscript for Publication
“A Word To the Wise: On Entering Your Poems in Competition,” by Kurt Heintz
“You Do It Because You Love It,” by S.A. Griffin
Related Resources:
More Contest Links
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