Judge: David Dodd Lee, Series Editor
Note: We are currently OPEN for submissions until June 15, 2023.
The 42 Miles Press Poetry Award was created in an effort to bring urgent and original voices to the poetry reading public. The prize is offered annually to any poet writing in English, including poets who have never published a full-length book as well as poets who have published several. New and Selected collections of poems are also welcome.
Manuscripts submitted for the 42 Miles Press Poetry Award should exhibit an awareness of the contemporary “voice” in American poetry, an awareness of our moment in time as poets. We are excited to receive poetry that is experimental as well as work of a more formalist bent, as long as it reflects a complexity and sophistication of thought and language. Urgency, yes; melodrama, not so much. Our tastes are truly eclectic. Past winners include Betsy Andrews, Carrie Oeding, Allan Peterson, Erica Bernheim, Mary Ann Samyn, Bill Razmovicz, Tracey Knapp, William Stobb, Jake Bauer, Bryce Berkowitz, Claire Bateman, Jennifer Boyden, and Elly Bookman.
The winning poet will receive $1,000, publication of his or her book, and 50 author copies. The winner will also be invited to give a reading at Indiana University South Bend )post-pandemic) as part of the release of the book. The final selection will be made by the Series Editor. Current or former students or employees of Indiana University South Bend, as well as friends of the Series Editor, are not eligible for the prize.
Winners will be announced via our website in the fall of 2023.
The winning book will be published in August, 2025 and be available to purchase on in our bookstore, SPD and on Amazon.
Manuscripts will be accepted from February 1, 2023 to June 15, 2023.
We will only accept submissions through Submittable. We no longer accept hard copy submissions or emailed submissions.
Guidelines
- There is a $25, non-refundable, entry fee, made payable to Indiana University.
- Your cover sheet should include name, address, phone number, and e-mail.
- The manuscript should be paginated (between 48 and 120 pp.) and include a table of contents and acknowledgments page.
- There is no limit on the number of entries an author may submit.
- Simultaneous submissions are fine (in fact they are encouraged), but please withdraw your manuscript if it gets taken for publication elsewhere.
- No manuscripts will be returned.
Submittable:
Questions?
Email us: 42milespress@gmail.com
Our address:
42 Miles Press Poetry Award
Indiana University South Bend
Department of English
1700 Mishawaka Avenue
P. O. Box 7111
South Bend, IN 46634-7111
Do you have any rules on number of pages for the 42 miles poetry award?
Lucy,
48-110 is a pretty safe bet for length.
Is this prize open for international poets?
Yes. Absolutely.
Are international poets eligible to apply to this prize?
Yes. Absolutely.
Please clarify whether the submitted manuscript must be anonymous except for the one cover sheet.
Thank you–
Hi Diane, Thank you for asking. The submitted manuscript does not need to be anonymous.
Are poems from self-published books eligible?
Yes. : )
Are you doing the award again soon?
Indeed. Thank you for asking. We do the award every year.
https://42milespress.com/contest/
Is this competition open to international submissions in English? If yes, is it possible to pay by other means (except check by post)?
Yes, absolutely. It is open to international submissions in English. Unfortunately, right now we can only accept check, money order, or well hidden US dollars. So long as the envelope is postmarked prior to the deadline. Apologies. Sorry for the inconvenience.