Press Release

Accepting Submissions for Emily Dickinson First Book Award

Seeking book-length manuscripts from poets of at least forty years of age

Originally Published: November 16, 2016

CHICAGO– The Poetry Foundation is pleased to announce a submission call for the Emily Dickinson First Book Award, a prize designed to recognize an American poet of at least 40 years of age who has yet to publish a first collection of poetry. In addition to publication and promotion of the manuscript by Graywolf Press, the winner will receive a prize of $10,000.

The Foundation seeks one book-length poetry manuscript (between 48 and 80 pages) to be published as the winner of the Emily Dickinson First Book Award. The competition is open to any American citizen forty years of age or over who has not previously published a book-length volume of poetry.

This is an occasional contest that is not held annually. Online submissions will open January 23, 2017 and close February 27, 2017. The winner will be notified by April 30, 2017 and publicly announced at the Pegasus Awards ceremony in June, 2017.

Full submission guidelines are available at poetryfoundation.org/foundation/dickinson-award

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About the Poetry Foundation

The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative literary prizes and programs. For more information, please visit poetryfoundation.org.

About Poetry Magazine
Founded in Chicago by Harriet Monroe in 1912, Poetry is the oldest monthly devoted to verse in the English-speaking world. Monroe’s “Open Door” policy, set forth in Volume 1 of the magazine, remains the most succinct statement of Poetry’s mission: to print the best poetry written today, in whatever style, genre or approach. The magazine established its reputation early by publishing the first important poems of TS Eliot, Ezra Pound, Marianne Moore, Wallace Stevens, H.D., William Carlos Williams, Carl Sandburg and other now-classic authors. In succeeding decades it has presented— often for the first time— works by virtually every major contemporary poet.

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Media contact:

Polly Faust, [email protected], 312.799.8065

Elizabeth Burke-Dain, [email protected], 312.799.8016