Incendiary Lit

A) I mean, come on guys, why don’t you know this already. If statement A doesn’t apply to you because B) you have already submitted, take this as a “Good one,” a pat on the back for supporting your literary community, if it doesn’t apply to you because of C) You don’t care, then tell me how little you care about these contests. Most creative wins a prize. Something glorious. Anyway October 31 is the deadline for:

James Hearst Poetry Prize c/o North American Review which is $18 to enter (includes a year subscription to NAR, which is well worth the $18 by itself) five poems (2 copies of each, no name on them for the blind reading, so make sure to also include braille prints. Or, maybe you can skip them this time.) for the $1000 grand prize.

Also, there is the prestigious APR/Honickman First Book Prize, judged by none other than the great Tony Hoagland. Go buy What Narcissism Means to Me this very instant. Even if you already own it. Someday you’ll need to send a writer a gift, and what finer gift can one hope to receive than one of the most entertaining books of poetry in the last decade? Anyway, basic specifications: $3000 prize for a book of 48 pages or more (by someone who hasn’t published even a long chapbook- over 25 pages). Entry is $25, but this is definitely one of the more prestigious of first book prizes.

November 1 deadlines (remember, that’s only 1 day later)

Bakeless Literary Prizes. This prize is issued in three categories (all for a writer’s first book): Poetry, Fiction, Non Fiction (no scholarly works for non fiction)You win no cash, but get publication by Houghton Miflin, and a free ride to the Breadloaf Writer’s Conference at Middlebury College in Vermont (a $2,200 value for the 11 days and room and board). The entry fee is just $10, so why not, right?

Briar Cliff Review’s prizes in Poetry, Fiction, and Non Fiction. Entry is $15 for the $1000 prize. Up to 3 poems, or one story for each fee. Each entry gets you a copy of the wonderful journal. Here’s my review of the last issue. It’s a very spectacular journal, and you won’t regret entering once you see what a great piece of art the journal is.

For more prize information check out the amazing New Pages contest page… for book contests check the link on the top right of the page. Poet’s and Writers also has a great contest calendar here.

Posted: Monday, October 22nd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Category: Writers, Publishing.