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Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships

Five Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships in the amount of $15,000 will be awarded to young poets through a national competition sponsored by the Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry. Established in 1989 by the Indianapolis philanthropist Ruth Lilly, the fellowships are intended to encourage the further study and writing of poetry.

The online submission system will begin accepting applications on February 1, 2013.

Applicant Guidelines

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 31 years of age as of March 31, 2013.
• Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2013.
• Applications must be made through our submission website, according to the guidelines below.
• Application materials sent via e-mail or standard mail will not be considered.
• Previously published material may be included in your application.

How to Apply

FIRST, you must assemble your application materials as a SINGLE Word document. This document must include:

• An approximately 250-word introduction to your work (not to exceed one page).
• Ten pages of poems, in standard font and size [Times New Roman, 12pt]. You may include multiple poems on one page, but total pages of poems must not exceed ten.
• Publication list. (Optional. If you choose to include it, please do so as the last page of your document.
• Name this document [LAST NAME]_[FIRST NAME].doc (example: Doe_John.doc)

THEN, upload your application to the online submission manager.

Finalists will be notified by e-mail by August 1.

Winners will be announced on September 1.

If you have any questions, contact: lgarbutt@poetrymagazine.org

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About the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship Program
Established in 1989 by Ruth Lilly to encourage the further writing and study of poetry, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship program has dramatically expanded since its inception. Until 1995, university writing programs nationwide each nominated one student poet for a single fellowship; from 1996 until 2007, two fellowships were awarded. In 2008 the competition was opened to all U.S. poets between 21 and 31 years of age, and the number of fellowships increased to five, totaling $75,000.

About Poetry Magazine
Founded in Chicago by Harriet Monroe in 1912, Poetry is the oldest monthly devoted to verse in the English-speaking world. Monroe’s “Open Door” policy, set forth in Volume 1 of the magazine, remains the most succinct statement of Poetry’s mission: to print the best poetry written today, in whatever style, genre, or approach. The magazine established its reputation early by publishing the first important poems of T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Marianne Moore, Wallace Stevens, H.D., William Carlos Williams, Carl Sandburg, and other now-classic authors. In succeeding decades it has presented—often for the first time—works by virtually every major contemporary poet. In 2011, the magazine was honored with two National Magazine Awards. It celebrates its centennial in 2012.

About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience. The Poetry Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry through innovative partnerships, prizes, and programs. Opened to the public in June 2011, the Poetry Foundation building in Chicago provides new space for the Foundation’s extensive roster of public programs and events. It also houses a public garden, a library, and an exhibition gallery as well as the offices of the Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine.

Learn more about the foundation »

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