Donald Justice Poetry Prize

The submission deadlines has been extended to December 1, 2009.

The distinguished American poet Donald Justice is recognized as one of the finest poets of the late twentieth century. The recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, Bolingen Prize, and numerous honors for his verse, Justice was a masterful and exacting craftsman, traits that define the prize named in his honor. The prize is made possible through the generosity of the Iris N. Spencer Poetry Prizes. The Justice Prize welcomes unpublished, original book-length collections of poems that pay attention to form for consideration in the competition. Two winners from the competition will each receive $1,000, and have her/his manuscript published. The judge for this year's competition is A.E. Stallings. We ask that applicants adhere to the following guidelines.

The biennial competition is open to all American poets regardless of whether they have previously published a book-length collection.

• The manuscript should be between 50-100 typed pages in unbound, bound, or clipped form.
• No more than one-third of the manuscript may consist of permission-secured or public domain translations.
• The manuscript should contain two title pages: one with the collection's title, author's name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number; and the other with only the title.
• There is a $25 entry fee for each manuscript submitted. Make payment to: Donald Justice Poetry Prize-West Chester University.
• 2010/2011 Competition: All submissions for the 2010/2011 competition may be sent after August 1, 2009 and must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2009.
• Manuscripts should be sent to:
  

  Donald Justice Poetry Prize
  Poetry House
  West Chester University
  West Chester, PA 19383

Submitted manuscripts will not be returned. For notification of contest results, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

One winner from the competition will be designated for 2010, and one for 2011. Each winner will receive her/his prize, and give a public reading at the annual West Chester University Poetry Conference in early June, 2010/2011.

Previous winners                                                                    Donald Justice Biography