Drue Heinz Literature Prize
どりゅー・はいんつ ぶんがくしょう
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.
- Established
- 1981
- Organizer
- University of Pittsburgh Press
- Category
- General Fiction and Popular Fiction
- Selection Method
- Open call
- Target
- Open
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Application Deadline
- around July
- Announcement Period
- around January
- Status
- Active
Description
The Drue Heinz Literature Prize, presented by the University of Pittsburgh Press, is one of the most prestigious awards for literary short fiction in English. Founded in 1981 by Drue Heinz and developed by Frederick A. Hetzel, it has recognized and supported short fiction writers for more than four decades. Eligible authors must have published a novel or book-length fiction collection with a reputable publisher, or at least three short stories or novellas in reputable magazines, literary journals, or — beginning with the 2027 prize — reputable digital and online-only publications. Manuscripts translated into English are now eligible for the first time. All manuscripts are judged anonymously by internationally known writers; past judges include Ann Patchett, Richard Russo, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver, Margaret Atwood, Michael Chabon, Joan Didion, and Quan Barry. Starting with the 2027 prize, winners receive a cash award of $25,000 (increased from $15,000), publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press, and support in the worldwide promotion of their book. Winners are announced in January or February each year.
Prize
- Main Prize
- $15,000 (cash) and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press
- Cash Prize
- 15,000 USD
- Publication by University of Pittsburgh Press
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submission intake | University of Pittsburgh Press (handled by the secretariat) | — | Submissions are accepted via the method specified by the organizer (see official website for details). |
| Blind judging | Blind judging by prominent writers (past judges examples: Robert Penn Warren, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver, Margaret Atwood, Michael Chabon, Richard Ford, etc.) | — | Judging results are announced via University of Pittsburgh Press press releases and website. |
| Final selection and winner determination | Final selection committee (aforementioned prominent writers, etc.) | — | The winning work is published and prize money awarded to the winner. Winners announced every February. |
Criteria
- Completeness and literariness as short fiction (style, structure, character depiction, etc.)
- Originality and narrative power
- Polish worthy of publication (publishability)
- Fulfillment of eligibility (short story collection publication history, or 3+ short stories in commercial/literary magazines)
Application Tips
Dos
- 応募資格（短編集出版歴、または商業誌/文学誌での短編3編以上の発表）を事前に確認する
- 原稿は完成度を高め、入念に校正する
- 匿名審査であるため、原稿やファイル名に個人を特定する情報を含めない
- 応募要項（フォーマット、提出方法、締切等）に厳密に従う
Don''ts
- 未完成・校正不足の原稿を提出しない
- 原稿に著者名や所属などの識別情報を記載しない（匿名審査の妨げになる）
- 応募資格を満たしていないのに応募する
From Judges
- 審査では作品の完成度、独創性、文体の力が重視される
- 短編は限られた分量で印象を残す構成と登場人物描写が求められる
- 刊行可能な一貫した声（voice）と品質を示すことが重要
Related Awards
- Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction
- O. Henry Prize
- The Story Prize
- PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize