A Look at First Book Contests for the New Year [1]
Make 2010 the year of submitting your debut book manuscript. While first book prizes aren't the only option for emerging writers—there are plenty of opportunities out there that welcome published and unpublished writers—we've compiled a list of prizes to check out in the new year that include publication specifically of first books of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.
Debut poetry book publication prizes are offered by:
ABZ Press [2]
American Poetry Review [3]
BOA Editions [4]
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference [5]
Cave Canem Foundation [6]
Carolina Wren Press [7] (This press's contest also accepts second book manuscripts.)
Cleveland State University [8]
Crab Orchard Series in Poetry [9]
Elixir Press [10] (This press's contest also accepts second book manuscripts.)
Fence Books [11](Open to women poets only; this press's contest also accepts second book manuscripts.)
Four Way Books [12]
Kore Press [13] (Open to women poets only.)
New Issues Poetry & Prose [14]
Omnidawn Publishing [15] (This press's contest also accepts second book manuscripts.)
Pavement Saw Press [16]
Persea Books [17] (Open to women poets only.)
Perugia Press [18] (Open to women poets only; this press's contest also accepts second book manuscripts.)
Silverfish Review Press [19]
Tupelo Press [20]
University of Iowa Press [21]
[22]University of Pittsburgh Press [23]
Wick Poetry Center [22]
Yale University Press [24]
Zone 3 Press [25]
Debut fiction prizes are offered by:
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference [5]
James Jones Literary Society [26]
Livingston Press [27]
University of Iowa Press [28]
A debut creative nonfiction book prize is offered by the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference [5].
If your manuscript is still in progress, check out the Milton Center [29], which offers a fellowship to Christian writers to finish a first book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction, and the University of Wisconsin's [30] Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing Fellowships, which award three poets and three fiction writers a stipend and an academic year in residence to work on first collections or novels.