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Tupelo Press $10,000 Dorset Prize
Open to All Poets Writing in English.
https://www.tupelopress.org/prize.shtml

Submission Period: September 1 - December 15, 2006 (Postmark)

Again this year, the Dorset Prize includes a cash award of $10,000, in addition to publication by Tupelo Press and national and international distribution through Tupelo Press and Consortium.

Guidelines

Manuscript Requirements:
Submit a previously unpublished, full-length poetry manuscript of between 48 and 88 pages (suggested), enclosed in a folder. Include two cover pages: one with title of the manuscript only, the other with title of manuscript, name, address, telephone number and email address. Cover letter or bio optional, as these will not be read until the conclusion of the contest. Include a table of contents and, if applicable, an acknowledgments page.

This competition is open to anyone writing in the English language, regardless of prior publication history.

Terms:
Entry fee of $25 (US) must accompany each submission, made payable to Tupelo Press, Inc. May include stamped self-addressed postcard to confirm receipt of manuscript. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, so long as you notify Tupelo Press promptly if manuscript is accepted elsewhere. Multiple submissions are permitted so long as each manuscript is accompanied by separate entry fee. Individual poems, chapters or excerpts may have been published previously in magazines, journals or anthologies, but the work as a whole must be unpublished. Translations and previously self-published books are not eligible.

Notification:
Enclose SASE for notification of winner. Do not enclose SASE for return of manuscript; all manuscripts will be recycled at the conclusion of the competition except those under consideration for future publication. Usually the winner is notified in late April.

Entry must be postmarked between September 1 and December 15, 2006.

Mail Manuscript and Entry Fee to:
Tupelo Press Dorset Prize
P.O. Box 539
Dorset, VT 05251

International submissions only should be sent with entry fee via FedEx, DHL or UPS to: Tupelo Press Dorset Prize, 4933 Main St, Suite 3, Manchester Center, VT 05255


Contest Procedures and Ethical Considerations:
Tupelo Press is fully committed to fairness. Further, we believe that contest procedures should be transparent. If you have questions about our policies or procedures, please do not hesitate to inquire by email.

How We Judge Contests:
To be certain that each and every manuscript submitted receives the fairest and most thoughtful consideration, all manuscripts are submitted to readers and judges anonymously. When a manuscript is received, all identifying material, acknowledgment pages, cover letters and bios are removed and filed for reference at the conclusion of the competition. The manuscripts are then sent to readers, who are instructed to "grade" each manuscript on a scale of 1-5, and to make notes and recommendations on each of the "5" and "high 4" manuscripts. All of the "5" and "high 4" manuscripts are then returned for further consideration by the editors of Tupelo Press. That process, too, is anonymous. In a given competition, we often find about 150 manuscripts in the "high 4" to "5" category.

The editors then narrow the field to 50 semifinalists, which are then "ranked." Generally, the top 25 manuscripts become finalists. After a winner has been announced, all decisions about which additional manuscripts are to be published are made, ultimately, by the Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with other editors. Tupelo Press uses new readers each year. All readers are nationally recognized poets trusted and respected by Tupelo Press. Tupelo Press does not use students or interns as readers at any stage of its competitions.

Tupelo Press is thoroughly committed to safeguarding the integrity of our contests. You should not enter this year's contest if you have studied with, or have a close personal relationship with any of the panelists, or if any of the panelists has helped shape your manuscript in any manner. Similarly, panelists will set aside any manuscript where—for whatever reason—selecting a particular manuscript might have the appearance of impropriety.