Debut poets, you’ve got a week left to submit to one of the nation’s most prestigious prizes: the First Book Award from the Academy of American Poets. The winner receives $5,000, publication by Graywolf Press, and a six-week all-expenses-paid residency at the Civitella Ranieri Center in Umbria, Italy. The winning book will also be distributed to over 5,000 members of the Academy of American Poets.
Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $35 entry fee by September 1. Victoria Chang will judge. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
Founded in 1975, and known until 2020 as the Walt Whitman Award, the prize was created to support first-time poets and the publication of their books. Past winners of the prize include Threa Almontaser, Jenny Xie, Mai Der Vang, Sjohnna McCray, Matt Rasmussen, and Jan Heller Levi. The prize is supported by financial contributions from the members of the Academy of American Poets.