World Literary Awards

Literary Awards

Browse award recipients, categories, and yearly award lists

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580 literary awards

Bram Stoker Award

Established
1987
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Horror Writers Association
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around February
NovelFirst NovelYoung Adult NovelMiddle Grade NovelGraphic NovelLong FictionShort FictionFiction CollectionPoetry CollectionNonfictionShort Non-FictionScreenplayAnthologyLifetime Achievement

Annual award by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) recognizing 'superior achievements' in dark fantasy and horror works.

Prize: Winners receive a statuette manufactured by Society Awards (New York) (honorary award)

Carter G. Woodson Book Award

Established
1973
Frequency
Annual
Organizer
National Council for the Social Studies (Racism and Social Justice Committee)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Children's literatureYoung adult literatureMulticultural educationHistoryBiography

American literary award aimed at promoting depictions of race/ethnicity and cultural literacy for children and young adults. Established in 1973, first awarded in 1974.

Prize: Recognition and an accompanying seal (gold for winners, silver for honor books); no monetary prize noted in the source.

Center for Fiction First Novel Prize

Established
2006
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Center for Fiction (non-profit organization in New York)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around March
Announcement Period
around December
Debut novel awardLong novelEnglish-language worksAmerican literary award

Annual literary prize awarded by New York's Center for Fiction to debut long novels written in English.

Prize: US$10,000 to the winner, US$1,000 to each finalist.

Christopher Hewitt Award

Established
2013
Frequency
Once a year (annually)
Organizer
A&U (Art & Understanding) magazine
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around June
FictionPoetryCreative nonfictionDramaHIV/AIDS-related literature

Annual literary award presented by A&U magazine in June each year for works themed on or related to HIV/AIDS.

Prize: null

Colorado Book Awards

Established
1991
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Colorado Center for the Book (a program of Colorado Humanities)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around July
FictionNonfictionPoetryMysteryScience fictionColorado & the WestBiography / MemoirAdviceCollections / AnthologyChildrenYoung Adult

Annual literary award (established 1991) that honors outstanding works in each category by authors, editors, illustrators, and photographers from Colorado.

Prize: Awards in each category (recognition by category)

Dana Award

Established
1996
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Mary Elizabeth Parker (Founder)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Open
Short storyPoetryNovel (full-length)Essay

A U.S.-based literary award targeting short stories, poetry, novels (and some essays). Established in 1996.

Donna J. Stone National Literary Awards

Established
1996
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Matthew J. Pascal Foundation, American Mothers, Inc.
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Open
PoetryLiterature

A U.S. literary award named after Donna J. Stone. Established to support writers and poets who are primarily mothers.

Prize:

John Dos Passos Prize

Established
1980
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Longwood University
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Literary awardAmerican literatureEnglish literatureWriter's achievement award

An annual literary award named after John Dos Passos that honors the achievements of American writers.

Prize: Winners receive $5,000 USD and a bronze medal engraved with their name.

Drue Heinz Literature Prize

Established
1981
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
University of Pittsburgh Press
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around July
Announcement Period
around January
Short story awardEnglish literature

A major American literary award for short fiction in English, presented by the University of Pittsburgh Press since 1981. Beginning with the 2027 prize, the cash award increases to $25,000, and eligibility has been expanded to include reputable digital/online-only publications and manuscripts translated into English.

Prize: $15,000 (cash) and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press

Edgar Allan Poe Awards

Established
1946
Frequency
Once a year (Annually)
Organizer
Mystery Writers of America (Mystery Writers Association)
Selection Method
Open call / Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around April
Mystery / Detective FictionNovelShort StoryFirst NovelPaperback or e-book OriginalYoung AdultJuvenileNonfiction (Fact Crime etc.)Critical / BiographicalTelevision ScriptFilm ScriptPlayAuthor Achievement Award (Grand Master etc.)Industry / Contribution Award (Raven, Ellery Queen etc.)

An American literary award presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America to honor outstanding works and writers in the mystery genre.

Prize: Winners receive the Edgar statuette (trophy) and the title. Many categories focus on honorary recognition and do not necessarily include prize money.

Edward Lewis Wallant Award

Established
1962
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
University of Hartford (Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around March
FictionJewish American literatureLiterature award

An annual literary award presented by the University of Hartford's Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies, given to fiction of significance to American Jews (established 1962). One of the oldest and most prestigious Jewish literary awards in the United States.

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence

Established
2007
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around October
FictionAfrican-American literatureLiterary award

An annual literary award recognizing emerging African American novelists. Cash prizes are awarded to winners.

Prize: Cash prize (financial support for the winner).

Fabri Literary Prize

Established
2006
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Boaz Publishing (Boaz Publishing Company)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Open
FictionFor unpublished novelsAmerican literary prize

Annual open submission literary prize targeting unpublished adult long novels. The winning work is published by Boaz Publishing, with a $7,500 advance and $5,000 marketing budget provided.

Prize: Publication contract ($7,500 advance and $5,000 marketing budget)

Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction

Established
1983
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
University of Georgia Press
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around May
Short storyNovellaEnglish fiction

Annual short fiction award (blind judging) sponsored by University of Georgia Press, targeting English-language short story collections. Winning entry is published by UGA Press.

Prize: Publication as a standalone book by University of Georgia Press

Robert Frost Medal

Established
1930
Frequency
Annually (since 1984; irregularly after establishment)
Organizer
Poetry Society of America
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around January
PoetryLifetime achievementAmerican poetry

Lifetime achievement award presented to American poets. Established in 1930 and awarded annually since 1984. Recipients receive a medal and $5,000 prize money.

Prize: Medal and prize money. Recipients receive a medal and prize money, and since 1995, they have the opportunity to deliver the Frost Medal Lecture.

Goldsmith Book Prize

Established
1993
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around December
Announcement Period
around April
NonfictionMedia studiesJournalismPublic policy

An American book prize honoring books published in the previous year that best examine the intersection of media, politics, and public policy in service of improving democratic governance. Each category winner (Trade and Academic) receives $5,000.

Prize: For books published in the previous year, the best book in each of the Academic and Trade categories is honored.

Gotham Book Prize

Established
2020
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Gotham Book Prize (Founders: Bradley Tusk, Howard Wolfson)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Professional
Literary prizeFictionNonfictionRegional literature (New York City)American literary award

Annual award for fiction/nonfiction works set in or themed around New York City.

Prize: Cash prize (usually $50,000. Varies by year. e.g., 2023 total $70,000 distributed)

Gregory Kolovakos Award

Established
1992
Frequency
Once every 3 years
Organizer
PEN American Center (now PEN America)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
TranslationEditingLiterary CriticismHispanic Literature (English Translation)

Award established by PEN American Center in 1992 to recognize translators, editors, and critics who contributed to the dissemination of Hispanic literature in the English-speaking world, awarded every three years (1992–2004).

Prize: Cash prize (USD $2,000)

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award

Established
1976
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Academy of American Poets
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around February
Announcement Period
around July
TranslationPoetryTranslation awardLiterature award

An American award given to collections of poetry translated into English. Established in 1976, awarded annually.

Prize: Award for collections of poetry translated into English. Prize money is awarded to the winning work.

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize

Established
1996
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Goethe-Institut New York (administered); funded by Friends of Goethe New York
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around June
Translation awardLiterature prizeGerman to English Translation

An annual prize honoring an outstanding literary translation from German into English. The winner receives $5,000 and a fully funded trip to the Frankfurter Buchmesse.

Prize: Cash prize for the winning translator

Hispanic Heritage Awards — Literature

Established
1987
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
Literature

The Literature category of the "Hispanic Heritage Awards," organized by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation to recognize the achievements of Hispanic Americans.

Prize: Honorary recognition (trophy/title), media exposure

James Duval Phelan Award

Established
1935
Frequency
annual
Organizer
San Francisco Foundation
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Newcomer
Literary awardLiterature

One of the literary awards involving the San Francisco Foundation.

James Jones First Novel Fellowship

Established
1992
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
James Jones Literary Society / Co-sponsored by: Wilkes University
Selection Method
Open call
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around March
Announcement Period
around September
Debut novelFirst novel fellowshipFictionAmerican literary awards

Annual fellowship award for unpublished first full-length novels (work in progress allowed).

Prize: Main award (Fellowship)

James Laughlin Award

Established
1954
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Academy of American Poets
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around May
Announcement Period
around October
PoetryAmerican poetryAward for second poetry collectionsFor emerging poets

An annual American poetry award given to a poet's second published poetry collection. It was formerly known as the Lamont Poetry Prize.

Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize

Established
1975
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies and the Department of English, University of Rochester
Selection Method
Selection
Category
General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around September
Prose fictionAmerican literary awardLiterary awards honoring women

An annual literary award given to book-length prose works by American women writers.

Prize: Winners receive a cash prize (recent information indicates US$15,000).

Jackson Poetry Prize

Established
2006
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Poets & Writers, Inc.
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around April
PoetryLiterary prizesUnited States

Annual award recognizing U.S. poets through a nomination process.

Prize: Cash prize awarded to the winner. Aims to provide time and encouragement for writing.

John Esten Cooke Fiction Award

Established
0
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Military Order of the Stars and Bars
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around March
Announcement Period
around April
Historical fictionAmerican Civil WarSouthern historyFiction

Annual literary award encouraging long fiction that depicts characters and events from the Civil War or Southern history with historical accuracy.

Prize: Grant/prize awarded in a competition targeting book-length works (prize money: $1,000 USD)

Joseph Henry Jackson Award

Established
0
Frequency
annual
Organizer
San Francisco Foundation (administered in partnership with Nomadic Press since ~2021; previously with Intersection for the Arts)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Newcomer
Literary awardEmerging Writer Award

A literary award mentioned in connection with the San Francisco Foundation. Details of the award are limited in the provided materials.

Kate Tufts Discovery Award

Established
1994
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Claremont Graduate University
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around April
PoetryTargets first published works (first book)English-language poetryOpen to US citizens and legal residents

The Kate Tufts Discovery Award is an annual award ($10,000 USD) hosted by Claremont Graduate University, given to promising poets for their first published poetry collection.

Prize: Award given to a poet recognized for future promise in their first poetry collection (cash prize and recognition).

Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award

Established
1993
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Claremont Graduate University
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around April
Poetry awardAmerican literary awardMid-career prize

An annual $100,000 prize for a mid-career poet's published collection, administered by Claremont Graduate University and described as the world's largest monetary prize for a single collection of poetry.

Prize: Annual Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award presented to a mid-career poet (major prize); counterpart Kate Tufts Discovery Award for a first book.