The WASHINGTON PRIZE

In 1981, Karren Alenier, Deirdra Baldwin, Jim Beall, and Robert Sargent created the Washington Prize, a United States national literary competition awarding $1000 to an American poet. In 1999 the prize award was increased to $1500. From 1981 to 1987 winning poems were published in a full-page ad in Poets & Writers magazine. In 1988, the prize progressed from a single poem competiton to a book-length manuscript award. Washington area poets read and judge contest entries blind. Literary merit is the sole criterion. As a book publication award, the Washington Prize has given The Word Works national recognition and has increased distribution.

In 1999, The Word Works published WINNERS: A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE WASHINGTON PRIZE, an anthology of poems, anecdotes, essays, and photos of and by the winners and judges of the prize from 1981 to 1999. This collection of work by 80 poets tells the complete story of the Washington Prize. Entrants to the competition should consider this book a reference for how to win this prize.

All snail mail queries about the Washington Prize are answered with a graphically attractive brochure that describes the organization, provides the Washington Prize contest rules, profiles our books, and solicits orders. Typically, distribution is through booksales at readings by the author and mail orders to The Word Works. 

WASHINGTON PRIZE GUIDELINES

In 2010, The Word Works will award a living American or Canadian poet $1,500 and book publication for a volume of original poetry in English. To enter:

  • Submit a manuscript of 48 to 64 pages.
    • Include a title page with name, address, phone number, email address and signature. Author's name should appear on the title page only.
    • Repeat the title of the manuscript on the table of contents page.
    • Include an acknowledgments page and brief bio. Attach acknowledgments and bio to title page with a staple.
    • Use a binder clip to fasten the manuscript. No manuscripts will be returned.
    • Kindly indicate the information source where you learned about the Washington Prize. For example, AWP newsletter, Poets & Writers Magazine, the Word Works web site.

  • Enclose entry fee: $25 US drawn on a US bank only, payable to The WORD WORKS.


  • Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) for contest results. Early in 2011, all entrants to the 2010 Washington Prize will receive the winning publication.


  • Between January 15 and March 1, 2010, inclusive, mail manuscript by first class postage, entry fee, and business-sized SASE to:
    • Nancy White, Administrator
    • WORD WORKS Washington Prize
    • Dearlove Hall
    • Adirondack Community College
    • 640 Bay Road
    • Queensbury, NY 12804

The winner will be selected by August 2010. Book publication is planned for January 2011.

Direct questions to Nancy White, Washington Prize Administrator, electronically or by regular mail to The Word Works, PO Box 42164, Washington, DC 20015. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with all regular mail inquiries. Many questions are answered in WINNERS: A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE WASHINGTON PRIZE .

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: May I send a manuscript that exceeds your limit of 64 pages?

A: While we prefer that submissions meet our guidelines of 48 to 64 manuscript pages, we usually tolerate a manuscript that might run over or under by a few pages.

Q: May I send a postcard for notification that you received my manuscript?

A: Yes, but we prefer that you consider your canceled check as proof that your MS arrived safely.

Q: May I send more than one manuscript?

A: Yes, and it is best if we know that you are doing this so that the manuscript can be distributed to different first readers. Please be sure to submit a $25 entry fee per manuscript--i.e., $50 for two manuscripts, $75 for three, etc.

Q: Why do you require that a binder clip hold manuscripts together?

A: if your manuscript is selected, we will copy that manuscript for our final judges and want easy access to the pages. Therefore we do not want stapled or bound manuscripts. We also do not want manuscripts sent in folders because the pages might fall out and get lost.

Q: is there a limit on the length of any one poem submitted for this contest? For example, could one poem exceed one or two pages?

A: Individual poems may be of any length as long as the manuscript adheres reasonably to our manuscript length of 48 to 64 manuscript pages.

Q: What kind of paper should I use?

A: Use standard white 20 lb copying paper sized 8 ½ “ X 11”. We handle a lot of manuscripts and do not want unnecessarily heavy manuscripts.

Q: May I use distinctive fonts and styling?

A: Text should be printed in black ink. The single font you choose should be standard and easy to read, such as Times New Roman.

Q: May I include illustrations and/or drawings?

A: No. The contest is judged solely on the poetry.

Q: I have submitted to your contest before and want to know if I am wasting my time and money sending my manuscript again.

A: In 2009, there will be a completely new roster of first and second readers. All manuscripts are read without identification of the author. If you read about our judging process, you will see that it is not likely that your manuscript will be read by the same first reader, which is a critical point in the competition’s process. If you have been submitting your manuscript without notice of it being selected as a finalist, consider working with a professional editor or a peer group to make revisions.

Q: How does your judging process work?

A: When a manuscript arrives, it is assigned an identification number and logged into our database. When the contest closes March 1, first readers are assigned 20-30 manuscripts. From that group, a first reader selects up to 5 manuscripts to pass on to a second reader. Second readers receive 15 to 20 manuscripts and pass along as many as 3 manuscripts to the final judges. Final judges receive copies of the same 10-12 manuscripts. Therefore, a single manuscript making it to the hands of the five final judges is read by one first reader, one second reader, and the complete panel of five judges. If a reader or judge recognizes the work, he or she will recuse him/herself from reading the manuscript and will allow others to read it. After the final judges have read the final manuscripts, they meet, discuss the merits of the manuscripts, and vote on a winner. The winner is usually called from that meeting.

Q: Is there a particular school or style of poetry that The Word Works prefers?

A: The Word Works looks for the best manuscript without any restriction to style or subject matter. The best advice for a winning manuscript can be found in an essay by Hilary Tham in Winners, A Retrospective of the Washington Prize.

Q: What happens to my fee?

A: Your $25 fee helps support the cost of printing the winning book, supplying the winner’s monetary award, advertising the prize, and the mailing costs associated with sending every entrant a copy of the book.

Q: When or how will I hear the contest results?

A: if you are selected as the winner, you will be called. Be sure to include your phone number and email address. If you provide an SASE, we will send you a news release about the winner. Results will be posted on our website at wordworksdc.com.

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2010 WASHINGTON PRIZE WINNER

The Word Works is pleased to announce that Brad Richard, of New Orleans, LA, won the 2010 Washington Prize for his full-length poetry manuscript, Motion Studies. The prize includes publication and a cash award of $1,500.

Motion Studies was chosen from 205 manuscripts submitted by American and Canadian poets. Two additional manuscripts were named honorable mentions: The Natural Order of Things by Kathy Carlisi of Atlanta GA and Without Measure by Allison Smythe of Columbia MO. Other finalists were Jennifer Barber of Brookline MA, Wendy Chin-Tanner of New York NY, Cortney Davis of Redding CT, Jaimee Kuperman of Falls Church VA, April Lindner of Havertown PA, V. P. Loggins of Annapolis MD, and Candice Reffe of Northampton MA.

Brad Richard is the chair of the creative writing program at Lusher Charter High School in New Orleans. His previous book of poems, Habitations, was published by Portals Press in 2000, and since then Lowlands Press brought out his chapbook The Men in the Dark (2004). Richard is the 2002 Winner in the Poets & Writers, Inc., Writers Exchange competition, and his work has appeared in a wide variety of journals, including American Letters and Commentary, Bayou, Hunger Mountain Review, The Iowa Review, Literary Imagination, Prairie Schooner, The Massachusetts Review, North American Review, Passages North, and Witness.

Final judges in this year’s contest were Karren L. Alenier, J.H. Beall, Margo Stever, Maria van Beuren, and Nancy White. First readers were Stuart Bartow, Pete Borrebach, George Drew, Peter Fernbach, Michelle Galo, Elaine Handley, Amanda Hosey, Diane Lockward, Marilyn McCabe, Kathleen McCoy, Mary Sanders Shartle, and David Svenson. Second readers were Carrie Bennet, Allen Hoey, Jay Rogoff, and Barbara Ungar.

The Word Works has awarded the Washington Prize since 1981. In 2011, the Word Works again will offer publication and a $1,500 prize to a volume of original poetry. Submissions will be accepted from Jan. 15 to March 1, 2011, and the entry fee will still be $25. All entrants receive a copy of the winning book, and semi-finalists and finalists may receive comments on their manuscripts upon request.

For further information and guidelines, visit the Word Works Web site at www.wordworksdc.com, or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Nancy White, President, The Word Works, Dearlove Hall, SUNY Adirondack, 640 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804.

Motion Studies is available by advance order for $15 plus $3.95 shipping and handling from the mailing address above.

 

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WASHINGTON PRIZE WINNERS 1981-2008

  • 1981 - Barbara Goldberg for "Nee Maggie Malone"
  • 1982 - Susan Gubernat for "To the Close Friend Most Unlike Me"
  • 1983 - Judith Steinbergh for "Initiation at Bish Bash Falls"
  • 1984 - Lindsay Knowlton for "Flight"
  • 1985 - Enid Shomer for "Stalking the Florida Panther"
    In 1987 Word works published Enid Shomer's full-length book
    STALKING THE FLORIDA PANTHER as the first Washington Prize book
  • 1986 - Renee Ashley for "Crow"
  • 1987 - Lisa Ress for "Setting the Table, Eating What is Served"
  • 1988 - Christopher Bursk for THE WAY WATER RUBS STONE
  • 1989 - John Bradley for LOVE-IN-IDLENESS
  • 1990 - Barbara Moore for FAREWELL TO THE BODY
  • 1991 - Elaine Magarrell for BLAMELESS LIVES
  • 1992 - Nancy White for SUN, MOON, SALT
  • 1993 - Fred Marchant for TIPPING POINT
  • 1994 - Jay Rogoff for THE CUTOFF
  • 1995 - Linda Lee Harper for TOWARD DESIRE
  • 1996 - George Young for SPINOZA'S MOUSE
  • 1997 - Ann Rae Jonas for A DIAMOND IS HARD BUT NOT TOUGH
  • 1998 - Nathalie F. Anderson for FOLLOWING FRED ASTAIRE
  • 1999 - Peter Blair for LAST HEAT
  • 2000 - Charlotte Gould Warren for GANDHI'S LAP
  • 2001 - Michael Atkinson for ONE HUNDRED CHILDREN WAITING FOR A TRAIN
  • 2002 - Miles Waggener for PHOENIX SUITES
  • 2003 - Ron Mohring for SURVIVABLE WORLD
  • 2004 - Carrie Bennett for BIOGRAPHY OF WATER
  • 2005 - Richard Lyons for FLEUR CARNIVORE
  • 2006 - John Surowiecki for THE HAT CITY AFTER MEN STOPPED WEARING HATS
  • 2007 - Prartho Sereno for CALL FROM PARIS
  • 2008 - Richard Carr for ACE
  • 2009 - Frannie Lindsay for MAYWEED
  • 2010 - Brad Richard for MOTION STUDIES
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WASHINGTON PRIZE ANTHOLOGY

WINNERS: A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE WASHINGTON PRIZE was published December 1999 as part of The Word Works 25 year celebration. This anthology of poetry by Washington Prize winners, readers, and judges includes anecdotal material about winning or judging the prize since the competition was started in 1981. Winners‹A Retrospective of the Washington Prize is a reference for anyone who enters the competition for the prize.

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