PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing
ぺん・えすぴーえぬ ぶんがく すぽーつ らいてぃんぐ しょう
A literary award established by PEN America in 2010 targeting nonfiction books related to sports.
- Established
- 2010
- Organizer
- PEN America (formerly PEN American Center)
- Category
- Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Ended
Description
The PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing is an annual award established in 2010 by PEN America (formerly PEN American Center) for nonfiction books themed around sports. Eligible works possess biographical, investigative, historical, and analytical characteristics, with past judges including Robert Lipsyte, Tim O'Brien, Susan Orlean, and others. In 2011, the "PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing" was also established, and recipients of this award are reportedly paid an honorarium in US dollars along with honor. In June 2019, ESPN announced the end of its partnership with PEN, and as of April 2021, PEN has not resumed this award.
Prize
- Main Prize
- The PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award grants recipients honor and an honorarium (details below). The amount for the main literary sports writing award is not clearly stated in the materials.
- Cash Prize
- 5,000 USD
- Honor (commendation by PEN)
- PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award: US$5,000 (explicitly stated in materials)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination / Application | Candidates for the Lifetime Award are nominated by PEN members. Details of submission/application for the main award are not specified in the materials. | — | — |
| Review (Selection Committee) | Review by the selection committee. Past judges have included Robert Lipsyte, Tim O'Brien, Susan Orlean, etc. (varies by year). | — | — |
| Winner Announcement | — | Announced by PEN America (website and winner announcement events, etc.). |
Criteria
- Must be nonfiction with sports as the theme
- Biographical elements may be subject to evaluation
- Depth of investigative reporting is emphasized
- Historical and analytical perspectives are evaluated
Application Tips
Dos
- Make it clear that it is nonfiction with sports as the theme
- Emphasize biographical, investigative, historical, and analytical perspectives
- Demonstrate depth of research and supporting evidence from sources
- For the Lifetime Award, obtain a recommendation from a PEN member
Don''ts
- Do not submit fiction works or works unrelated to sports
- Do not submit in a format that does not follow the application requirements
- Do not submit works limited to mere game commentary or result reports
From Judges
- Deep research, excellent storytelling, character depiction, and context presentation are emphasized
- Works with analytical and historical perspectives that depict the social and cultural significance of sports are likely to be evaluated highly
Related Awards
- PEN America Literary Awards (other awards by PEN America)
- PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing
- Other PEN awards supported by International PEN