And So It Begins Again

Looking back at my list of all the contests and open reading periods I sent to, or was going to send to, in the last two years, I decided to get together a list for the contests and open reading periods I can send to when I decide that my second manuscript is ready for such insanity again.

Basically, that means avoiding all the strictly first book contests.

I was surprised to realize how many contests I sent to that weren't for just first books, even though I thought they were. The folks who said it doesn't get any easier were, of course, completely right.

That said, I've compiled a list of contests and open reading periods poets can submit to beyond first books, and I wondered if folks out there would be willing to help me add to it or take away (because I may be wrong about some of these). I didn't Google to find a similar list, since I wanted to see what I could gather on my own first, though if there's a place with a much more organized and fully compiled list (which I would bet on probably), please do share that also if you would be so kind.

And because links and websites are so transient these days, I've left links off the list...

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CONTESTS

Alice James Books Beatrice Hawley Award
Anhinga Prize for Poetry
Ashland Poetry Press Richard Snyder Memorial Publication Prize
Barrow Street Book Prize
BkMk Press John Ciardi Prize for Poetry
Cleveland State University Open Competition
Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Open Competition
CSU Fresno Philip Levine Prize in Poetry
Dream Horse Press Orphic Prize
Dream Horse Press American Poetry Journal Book Prize
Eastern Washington University Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry
Elixir Press Annual Poetry Contest
Elixir Press Antivenom Poetry Award
FIELD Poetry Prize
Hollis Summer Poetry Prize
Lost Horse Press Idaho Prize for Poetry
Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize
National Poetry Series
New Issues Green Rose Prize
Northeastern University Press Samuel French Morse Poetry Prize
Pleiades Press Lena-Miles Wever Todd Poetry Series Book Competition
Prairie Schooner Book Prize
Red Hen Press Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award
Sarabande Books Kathryn A. Morton Prize in Poetry
Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize
Steel Toe Books
Tampa Review Prize for Poetry
Tupelo Press Dorsett Prize
University of Akron Press Akron Poetry Prize
University of Arkansas Press Poetry Series Miller Williams Poetry Prize
University of Massachusetts Press Juniper Prize
University of North Texas Press Vassar Miller Prize in Poetry
University of Utah Press Agha Shahid Ali Poetry Prize
University of Wisconsin Press Brittingham / Felix Pollak Prizes
Utah State University Press May Swenson Poetry Award
Waywiser Press Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize

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I've since updated the Open Reading Periods with a comprehensive list from Steve's blog.

I'll also copy and paste below what he has posted, but it may be easier to click the link above...

List of presses with reading periods for poetry manuscripts, plus notes:

Open: BlazeVOX Books
Open: Melville House
Open: New Directions
Open: Persea Books
Open: City Lights Books (proposal/sample)
Open: Counterpath Press (query/sample)
Open: Eastern Washington University Press (query/sample)
Open: Apogee Press (query)
Open: Coffee House Press (sample, not "new authors")
Open: High Plains Press (sample, "Poetry of the American West")
Open: Mayapple Press ($10 fee)
Open: Etruscan Press ($20 fee)
January & June: Milkweed Editions
January-June: BkMk Press (sample)
January-July: Ghost Road Press (query/sample) (not currently reading)
January-November: Graywolf Press (query/sample)
January-March: CavanKerry Press
January-? (not first books): BOA Editions
Feb. 1-June 1: Carolina Wren Press
March 1-May 1: Ahsahta Press
April: Octopus Books
April-September: Waywiser Press
May-June: Black Ocean
June: Four Way Books
June: Ausable Press
June & October: Steel Toe Books (you have to buy one of their previous books)
July: Tupelo Press ($35 fee[!!!])
September: Sarabande Books (sample) (not reading 2008)
September-October: University of Pittsburgh Press (not first books)
October: Carnegie Mellon University Press ($10 fee)
October: Tarpaulin Sky Press ($10 for past contributors, $20 for others)
October-November: C&R Press ($10 fee, $15 to received published book)
November-December: WordTech Communications (not reading 2008)

Note that you MUST check the press websites, as these things often change from year to year.