SUNKEN GARDEN POETRY PRIZE

The Sunken Garden Poetry Prize is a prestigious national poetry prize for adult writers. Established in 2002, the Prize has drawn submissions from around the country that have been judged by renowned poets such as Martha Collins, Patricia Smith and Tony Hoagland. The winner receives a cash prize, an introductory reading

at the Sunken Garden Poetry Festival and publication of a chapbook.

Organizers: 

TUPELO PRESS

Eligibility: 

The Sunken Garden Chapbook Poetry Prize is open to anyone writing in the English language, anywhere in the world. Translations are not eligible for this prize, nor are previously self-published books. Employees of Tupelo Press and authors with books previously published by Tupelo Press are not eligible. Poets submitting work for consideration may be published authors or writers without prior book publications.

Length of Work: 

We suggest in the area of 20 to 36 pages, but all manuscripts will be read and considered with full respect, regardless of length, and no manuscript will be rejected simply because it's shorter or longer.

Prize: 

A cash award of $1,000 in addition to publication by Tupelo Press, 25 copies of the winning title, a book launch, and national distribution with energetic publicity and promotion.

Entry Fee: 

A reading fee of $25 (U.S.) must accompany each submission. 

If you are mailing your manuscript to us, please enclose a check or money order for the reading fee, payable to Tupelo Press. If you are submitting your manuscript online, you will be prompted to pay via Submittable.

Rules: 

Submit a previously unpublished, chapbook-length poetry manuscript with a table of contents.

If you are submitting a paper manuscript, include two cover pages: one with the title of the manuscript only, the other with title of manuscript, name, address, telephone number, and email address. Cover letters or biography notes are optional; if included, these will not be read until the conclusion of the contest.

If you are submitting a manuscript online, include a single cover page with the title of the manuscript only, so that your manuscript document remains anonymous. Submittable provides fields to fill in your contact information: name, address, telephone number, and email address.

Individual poems in a contest manuscript may have been previously published in magazines, journals, or anthologies, or chapbooks, but the work as a whole must be unpublished. If applicable, include with your manuscript an acknowledgments page for prior publications.

Simultaneous submissions to other publishers or contests are permitted, as long as you notify Tupelo Press promptly if a manuscript is accepted elsewhere.

Before you submit a manuscript to a Tupelo Press competition, please consider exploring the work of the poets we have published. We’re drawn to technical virtuosity combined with abundant imagination; memorable, vivid imagery and strikingly musical approaches to language; willingness to take risks; and an ability to convey penetrating insights into human experience.

To confirm receipt of your paper manuscript, include a self-addressed stamped postcard.
The online Submittable system automatically confirms receipt.

Beyond these notifications, kindly refrain from requesting an individual response to confirm receipt of your manuscript and/or payment. We receive thousands of manuscripts each year and cannot offer individual acknowledgments. Thank you for your understanding.

Please do not enclose a SASE for return of manuscript. All paper manuscripts will be recycled at the conclusion of the competition, except those under consideration for future publication.

To receive mailed notification of the winner and finalists, send a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Results will be announced in Winter 2016. We notify all entrants in three ways:

1. Via postal mail to those who included a SASE with their manuscript.
2. Via email to those who included an email address with their contact information.
3. We post the results on our website.

 

Deadline: 

All entries must be submitted by midnight of October 31, 2016.

How to Submit: 

There are two ways to submit your manuscript:

1. Via postal mail. Be sure to include your check, money order, or copy of your PayPal receipt.

    Mail your international submission to:
    Tupelo Press Sunken Garden Chapbook Prize, 243 Union Street, # 305, North Adams MA 01247   

    USA

2. Via Submittable

Check out the 2016 winner here