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The Colorado Prize for Poetry is an international literary contest started in 1995. Since the contest began, over 5,000 book-length poetry manuscripts have been entered. Each year’s prizewinner receives a $1,500 honorarium and publication of his or her book by the Center for Literary Publishing.

The Colorado Prize for Poetry adheres to the following Contest Code of Ethics, as adopted by the Council of Literary Presses and Magazines, of which the Center for Literary Publishing is a member. CLMP's community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines -- defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.

• Manuscripts will be accepted from October 1, 2007, through the postmark deadline of January 11, 2008. The winner will be announced in May 2008.
  
  
• The winning book-length collection of poems will be published by the Center for Literary Publishing and distributed by the University Press of Colorado in the fall of 2008.
  
  
• There is a $25 reading fee, which includes a one-year subscription to Colorado Review (subscription normally costs $24). Make checks payable to Colorado Review. VISA/Mastercard also accepted. (Include card number, expiration date, and name as it appears on the card.)
  
  
• This year's final judge is Martha Ronk. Former students and close friends of the final judge are not eligible to compete.
  
  
• Colorado State University employees, students, and alumni are not eligible to compete.
  
  
• Manuscripts may consist of poems that have been published, but the manuscript as a whole must not have been previously published.
  
  
• If individual poems have been previously published, you may include an acknowledgments page, though screening and final judges will not see that page.
  
  
• Include two title pages: top page with manuscript title and author name, address, and phone number; and second page with manuscript title only. The poet's name should NOT appear anywhere else in the manuscript.
  
  
• Manuscripts may be double- or single-spaced.
  
  
• Manuscripts must be securely bound (for example, with binder clips).
  
  
• There is NO minimum or maximum number of pages; most manuscripts, however, are between 40 and 100 pages.
  
  
• DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS: manuscripts will NOT be returned. Do not enclose stamped envelope for the return of your manuscript as manuscripts cannot be returned.
  
  
• No submissions accepted via e-mail.
  
  
• The theme and style are both open.
  
  
• Writers must enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for contest results and a self-addressed stamped postcard for notification of the manuscript's safe arrival.
  
  
• Send your manuscript to:

  Colorado Prize for Poetry - Center for Literary Publishing
  9105 Campus Delivery
  Dept. of English
  Colorado State University
  Fort Collins, CO 80523

• Questions? Please call us at (970) 491-5449 or send an e-mail to

  creview@colostate.edu