Donald Justice Poetry Prize

We will begin accepting submissions on August 1, 2013.

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 The Justice Prize welcomes unpublished, original book-length collections of poems that pay attention to form for consideration in the competition.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. 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.
• 2014/2015 Competition: All submissions for the 2012/2013 competition may be sent after August 1, 2013 and must be postmarked no later than November 1, 2013.
• 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.

The judge for this award will be Dick Davis. One winner from the competition will be designated for 2014, and one for 2015. Each winner will receive her/his prize, and give a public reading at the annual West Chester University Poetry Conference in early June, 2014/2015.

Previous winners

Donald Justice Biography