National Poetry Series
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An American literary awards program that sponsors the publication of five poetry collections each year, with manuscripts selected by distinguished poets and each winner receiving a $10,000 prize.
PoetryLiterary awardPublishingOpen call
- Established
- 1979
- Organizer
- National Poetry Series
- Category
- Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
- Selection Method
- Open call
- Target
- Open
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Application Deadline
- around March
- Announcement Period
- around September
- Status
- Active
Description
The National Poetry Series is a U.S. literary program established in 1979 that solicits manuscripts through an annual open competition and selects multiple winners each year (typically 5) for publication support by participating publishers. Selections are made by prominent poets from around the world, and winning works are published by participating publishers. Related awards such as the Paz Prize for Poetry (for Spanish-language poetry collections) also exist.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Publication of winning poetry collection (by participating publishers)
- Publication contract and support
- Sales and promotion opportunities as a book
- Paz Prize for Poetry (related award targeting Spanish-language works)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application reception (open competition) | Manuscripts solicited from the general public (open submission) | — | Proceeds to the next selection stage after application period ends |
| Selection (by annual selectors) | Prominent poets invited annually select approximately one book each | Very low (only a few books selected against total submissions) | Announced by organizer (official website) and participating publishers |
| Publication decision and release | Participating publishers proceed with publication based on selectors' selections | — | Winning works announced and published via official website, press releases, and publisher information |
Application reception (open competition)
Judges
Manuscripts solicited from the general public (open submission)
Announcement
Proceeds to the next selection stage after application period ends
Selection (by annual selectors)
Judges
Prominent poets invited annually select approximately one book each
Pass Rate
Very low (only a few books selected against total submissions)
Announcement
Announced by organizer (official website) and participating publishers
Publication decision and release
Judges
Participating publishers proceed with publication based on selectors' selections
Announcement
Winning works announced and published via official website, press releases, and publisher information
Criteria
- Poetic quality (language, rhythm, imagery)
- Originality and clarity of voice
- Consistency and structure as a collection
- Degree of completion suitable for publication
Application Tips
Dos
- Thoroughly read the submission guidelines on the official website in advance
- Prepare a highly polished full manuscript (with proper structure)
- Comply with specified format and submission method (file format, page count, etc.)
- Read past winning works to understand the required quality and tendencies
Don''ts
- Do not submit incomplete or fragmentary manuscripts
- Do not submit in a format that does not follow the guidelines
- Do not submit non-original works or those infringing on others' rights
From Judges
- It is important to maintain a clear 'voice' of your own
- Value consistency and structure as a collection
- Both originality and poetic technique are evaluated
Related Awards
- Paz Prize for Poetry (established by National Poetry Series)
- Other U.S. poetry awards and open calls (e.g., Yale Series of Younger Poets)
- Poetry collection open calls and competitions by various publishers
Official Resources
https://nationalpoetryseries.org/Past Winners
Daniel Poppick
Winner
Anna Journey
Winner
Joe Bonomo
Winner
Laynie Browne
Winner
Steve Gehrke
Winner
Mary Leader
Winner
John B. Balaban
Winner
Wendy Battin
Winner
Jane Miller
Winner