Black Lawrence Press seeks to publish intriguing books of literature and creative non-fiction: novels, memoirs, short story collections, poetry, biographies, cultural studies, and translations from the German and French.
We have both an open reading period and several annual contests. Here is our reading schedule:
Big Moose Prize: December 1 - January 31
The Hudson Prize: February 1 - March 31
The Spring Black River Chapbook Competition: April 1 - May 31
Open Reading Period 1: June 1 - June 30
The St. Lawrence Book Award: July 1- August 31
The Fall Black River Chapbook Competition: September 1 - October 31
Open Reading Period 2: November 1 - November 30
(Please note that we occasionally offer early bird specials on our contests. These specials allow authors to submit their manuscripts ahead of time at a discounted rate.)
Please submit your work to the appropriate category below.
The Black River Chapbook Competition - Poetry - $15.00
Size limit: 16 - 36 pages
Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or short stories between 16 and 36 pages in length. The winner of this contest will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, and twenty-five copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication. Past winners include Helen Marie Casey (poetry), D. E. Fredd (fiction), Frank Montesonti (poetry), Sandra Kolankiewicz (poetry), T.J. Beitelman (poetry), Tina Egnoski (fiction), David Rigsbee (poetry), Lisa Fay Coutley (poetry), and Amelia Martens (poetry).
The annual deadlines for the prize are May 31 and October 31. Please enter poetry submissions here.
The Black River Chapbook Competition - Fiction - $15.00
Size limit: 16 - 36 pages
Twice each year Black Lawrence Press will run the Black River Chapbook Competition for an unpublished chapbook of poems or short stories between 16 and 36 pages in length. The winner of this contest will receive book publication, a $500 cash award, and twenty-five copies of the book. Prizes are awarded on publication. Past winners include Helen Marie Casey (poetry), D. E. Fredd (fiction), Frank Montesonti (poetry), Sandra Kolankiewicz (poetry), T.J. Beitelman (poetry), Tina Egnoski (fiction), David Rigsbee (poetry), Lisa Fay Coutley (poetry), and Amelia Martens (poetry).
The annual deadlines for the prize are May 31 and October 31. Please enter fiction submissions here.
Feast: Poetry and Recipes for a Full Seating at Dinner
Black Lawrence Press is now accepting submissions for a book celebrating food and poetry. Feast: Poetry and Recipes for a Full Seating at Dinner is an invitation to host a dinner party and share a meal, as well as a poetic toast or two, with family and friends. “Much depends on dinner,” Lord Byron wrote in The Island, and we believe that much still does. We invite you to contribute to this project that seeks to nourish body and soul with a delicious dinner and scrumptious poetry.
Guidelines: Black Lawrence Press welcomes established as well as emerging writers to submit a poem and an accompanying recipe to Feast. Both a poem and a recipe are required for the submission to be considered.
A few notes:
- The poem should evoke the spirit of a toast, which has been historically shared as an expression of celebration, goodwill or honor. We would like these “poem toasts” to link to some of the following wider themes: the value of celebration, good company, the enjoyment of food, and commiseration.
- There is no word limit.
- The recipe should be appropriate for 6 – 10 servings, and be tagged for one of the following sections: cocktails, appetizers, main courses, or desserts.
Multiple submissions are allowed!
Deadline: June 30, 2012