2007 Call for Entries
The Emily Dickinson First Book Award recognizes an American poet who is 50 years of age or over and has yet to publish a first collection of poetry.

The Poetry Foundation seeks one book-length poetry manuscript to be published in the Emily Dickinson Poetry Series. The competition is open to any American citizen 50 years of age or over who has not previously published a book-length volume of poetry. In addition to publication and promotion of the manuscript, the winner will receive a prize of $10,000.

Submissions accepted: May 15, 2007–June 15, 2007

Submission Guidelines

Contestants must be 50 years of age or over by June 15, 2007. There is no charge to submit for this contest. All poems must be original. Translations are not accepted. The manuscript must be between 48 pages and 96 pages. All manuscripts must be paginated. Begin paginating the manuscript with the first poem; each new poem must start a new page. Submissions must be received in hard copy via mail; they should be typed. The author’s name and complete contact information should appear on the title page only. A brief biography citing any previous chapbook, anthology, or magazine publications should follow the cover page. Publishing credits should include title of poem, where published, and when. Writers who have had chapbooks of poetry printed in editions of 300 copies or more are ineligible. Do not staple or bind the manuscript. A manuscript previously submitted to the Emily Dickinson contest may not be reentered, unless it has been selected as a finalist. Submissions are limited to one manuscript per person. All submissions will remain the property of the author. Due to the volume of entries received, manuscripts cannot be returned. The winner must grant exclusive first publication rights to the Poetry Foundation. Please include a self-addressed stamped postcard or an email address if you wish to be notified of manuscript receipt. In order to submit for the 2007 contest, follow the above guidelines and send manuscripts to the address below, postmarked between May 15, 2007 and June 15, 2007. The winner will be notified by September 1, 2007, and publicly announced at the Pegasus Awards ceremony in October 2007. This is an occasional contest that is not held annually. All prize payments will be subject to and made in compliance with IRS requirements.

Poetry Foundation
Attn: Emily Dickinson Award
444 N. Michigan Ave.
Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60611