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Past Awards

PastAwards

You can find our current and future award opportunities here.

The 2019 Frontier Award for New Poets

Closed September 15, 2019

Our team is currently reading submissions and will have the winners selected soon!

A distinguished panel of emerging poets will guest judge the contest: Ocean Vuong, Kaveh Akbar, and Eve L. Ewing.

Ocean Vuong is the author of the best selling debut, Night Sky With Exit Wounds. His latest effort, the novel On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous has been one of the most widely anticipated books of 2019.

Eve L. Ewing is a genre crossing artist and scholar, the author of the debut award winning collection Electric Arches and the non-fiction Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side.

Kaveh Akbar has been a Ruth Lilly Fellow from the Poetry Foundation and the founder of Divedapper, a dialogue platform for poets. His debut Calling a Wolf a Wolf was one of the most talked about collections of 2018.

Beotis Creative—the amazing boutique agency that represents many of our favorite poets—has also generously offered to have a phone call/video chat with the winner of this contest.

Frontier Poetry staff will select the top ten submissions, and the winning poem and honorable mentions will be selected by the panel of judges, to be announced in the fall. The winning poet will be awarded $3000 and publication on Frontier Poetry. Second and third place will win $300 & $200 respectively, as well as publication. The top ten finalists will also be recognized.​

We do not hold preference for any particular style or topic—we simply seek the best poem we can find. Send us work that is blister, that is color, that strikes hot the urge to live and be. We strongly invite poets from all communities. You, & your words, are welcome here.​

Contest Window: July 15 - September 15, 2019

Guidelines:
  • Submissions are open to new and emerging writers (poets with no more than two full-length published works forthcoming at the time of submission).
  • Send us only your best, polished work.
  • Unpublished poems only.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
  • No more than 3 poems (5 pages) per submission. Please submit all your poems in ONE document.
  • Multiple submissions are allowed.
  • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history.
  • International submissions are welcome.
  • Submission fee of $20.

2019 WINNER

TBD

2019 Runner Ups

TBD

2019 Finalists

TBD

 

The 2019 Industry Prize

Closed July 15, 2018

Thank you to all of our submitters! Your support means the world to us. 

We are so excited to get to work with three of the best in the industry as our guest judges: Jeff Shotts—Executive Editor of Graywolf Press, Kwame Dawes—Editor-in-Chief of Prairie Schooner, and Sarah Gambito—Co-founder of Kundiman. The panel of three judges will collaborate to select a single winning poem from a group of finalists for the $3000 prize and publication on Frontier. 2nd and 3rd place poems also selected by the judges will receive $200 / $100 respectively and publication with Frontier Poetry. The Frontier staff will select the finalists and any honorable mentions. The winner and finalists will be announced Fall 2019.

Contest Window: May 15 - July 15, 2018

Guidelines:
  • Submissions are open to emerging poets—submitters should have no more than two full-length collections out or forthcoming at the time of submission.
  • No identifying information in the submission document. Our diverse team of readers will read all submissions blind.
  • Unpublished poems only.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
  • ONE poem per submission (due to overwhelming response, and for the sanity of our readers)
  • There is no line-limit. Poems may be any length, any style, or any subject.
  • Multiple submissions are allowed.
  • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and about yourself.
  • International submissions are welcome.
  • Submission fee of $20.

2019 WINNER

"After April Rain" by Elizabeth Oxley

2019 Runner Ups

“Inheritance” by ae hee lee

“Twelve” by Olatunde Osinaike

2019 Finalists

“A Wilderness of the Mind” by Christopher Louvet
“It’s the Inner Harbour neighborhood, but everyone calls it Skeleton Park” by Sadiqa de Meijer
“Out of the Shell” by Jerl Surratt
“Permission to Speak Freely” by Threa Almontaser
“Record Room” by Emily Lawson
“YUCCA MOUNTAINT” by Rachel Harkai
“Un-animal” by C. Samuel Rees

 

The 2019 Frontier Digital Chapbook Contest

Closed May 15, 2019, Opens Again in 2020

Thank you everyone who submitted! We can't wait to dig into your chaps. You should hear back from us in 4-8 weeks.

We're incredibly honored to present our 2018 winner: How Often I Have Chosen Love, by Xiao Yu Shan! Please read, download and share! Learn more here.

Chapbooks are a huge milestone for emerging poets—not to mention that poetry chapbooks are one of the most unique features of art that our world-community of poets produces. We’re always looking forward to the Frontier Digital Chapbook Contest, to finding that one electric bundle of poems that rocks our world in less than 30 pages—and to finding the poet to share with this wonderful opportunity.

The winner of the prize will receive $2000 and publication of the free, downloadable chapbook on Frontier Poetry. Most exciting of all: the chapbook will also be distributed to tens of thousands of readers, editors, agents and magazines through our newsletter. Don’t underestimate the power of this reach to shine a light on your work!

Our guest judge this year is Jericho Brown. His newest collection from Copper Canyon Press, The Tradition, drops on April 2nd, 2019!

Jericho Brown is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Brown’s first book, Please (New Issues 2008), won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament (Copper Canyon 2014), won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award. His third collection is The Tradition (Copper Canyon 2019). His poems have appeared in Buzzfeed, The New Republic, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, TIME magazine, Tin House, and several volumes of The Best American Poetry. He is an associate professor and the director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University.

Guidelines:

  • Contest is open for international poets, but the poems must be in English.
  • Manuscript should be 15-30 pages (not including front/back-matter.)
  • Manuscript should be on the whole unpublished, although individual poems can be previously published.
  • Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please notify us if the chapbook is accepted elsewhere.
  • Multiple submissions are allowed, but each submitted chapbook will have the $20 fee.
  • Do not include bio information in the manuscript itself.
  • Deadline is May 15.

 

2019 WINNER

“Shadow Black” by Naima Yael Tokunow (to be published 2020)

2019 Runner Ups

“in spite of years of silence” by Ryan Jones

“A Seven in Horses” by Jeff Whitney

2019 Finalists

Adela Najarro, Isabella DeSendi, Kelly Weber, Kirk Schlueter, Makmak Faunlagui, Mark Wagenaar, Simon Shieh

 

2019 Antioch-Fellowship Prize

Closed February 28, 2019, Opens Again in 2020

Antioch University’s MFA in Creative Writing Program has partnered with us to offer a Fellowship opportunity to experience one of their amazing residencies. The Fellow will learn about Antioch’s low-residency MFA Program and MFA programs in general, experience 10 days of intense learning and immersion that occur during a residency, and receive mentorship and community opportunities. Read an interview with our 2019 Fellow, Cassie Garison, here.

Fellowship Details

Because we know scheduling 10 days out of your life can be difficult, the winner will receive the opportunity to attend EITHER Antioch’s Summer/Fall 2019 residency (6/13 to 6/21), or Winter/Spring 2020 residency (12/5 to 12/14).

The trip will be made at virtually no cost to the winner—the fellowship will cover travel expenses and lodging, plus a $1000 cash prize to help with any other costs. Please note that the prize is open to all submitters, but only domestic round trip flights to Los Angeles will be paid for.

While the experience is non-credit earning, the Fellow will engage with the residency as an authentic student, including the opportunities to:

· be included in a poetry workshop group and have their poetry workshopped with other students (4 meetings throughout the residency);

· attend all readings, seminars, and social events offered during the residency, including Antioch’s new student orientation and closing conversation;

· deliver a reading at a Brown Bag reading during the residency;

· meet with Antioch MFA Program’s Core Faculty in Poetry;

· receive a residency buddy who is a current Antioch MFA student (who will answer questions and help the Fellow during the residency as requested);

· apply to Antioch’s MFA Program in the future with the possibility of receiving Antioch scholarship support.

Guidelines:

  • Submissions are open to everyone
  • English speaking poets  are eligible to submit
  • Prize is open to all submitters, but only domestic round trip flights to Los Angeles will be paid for
  • Include a cover letter which explains why you would benefit from the Fellowship
  • Up to FOUR unpublished poems only
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
  • There is no line-limit: poems may be any length, any style, or any subject
  • Multiple submissions are allowed
  • Submission fee of $20
  • Our editors and the faculty of Antioch will select the winner
  • 2nd and 3rd place will receive publication and $300, $200 respectively

 

2019 WINNER

Cassie Garrison

2019 Finalists

Sarah Key, Genevieve Paiement, Esther Ra, Noel Quiñones, Leila Ortiz, William Evans, Fay Dillof, Trace Howard, DePass, Elisabet Velasquez, Mick Powell, Dujie Tahat, Kaja Lucas, David Joez Villaverde

 

 

2018 Frontier Open: One Poem // $5000

Closed November 15, 2018, Opens Again in 2019

Please expect to hear from us in late February, early March of next year with our selections and winners.

In our pursuit to recognize today's best poets, we want to celebrate one outstanding piece of poetry, OPEN to all poets, with a $5000 award and publication. 

Ten finalists will also receive $100 each and all winners will earn publication with Frontier Poetry. The Frontier staff will select the winners and finalists.

While we are a platform for new writers, this prize is meant to support the poetry community on the whole. We look forward to offering this annual prize where emerging and established poets are considered in equal measure.

Submissions accepted from poets at all stages of their career.

Contest Window: September 15 - November 15

Guidelines:
  • Submissions are open to all poets.
  • No identifying information in the submission document. Our diverse team of readers will read all submissions blind.
  • Unpublished poems only.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
  • No more than four (4) poems per submission. There is no line-limit. Poems may be any length, any style, or any subject. Please include all poems in a SINGLE DOCUMENT.
  • Multiple submissions are allowed (see above).
  • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and about yourself.
  • International submissions are welcome.
  • Submission fee of $20.

2018 WINNER

“Migrations” by Mark Wagenaar

2018 Runner Ups

“Expelling Venus” by Elizabeth Oxley

“Secret Hymn” by Sam Zafris

2018 Finalists

E.D. Watson, Jocelyn Williams, Korey Williams, Hillary Martin, K. Jagai, & Oriana Ivy

 

2018 Frontier Award for New Poets

Closed September 15, 2018, Opens Again in 2019

Our guest judge is currently reading submissions and will have the winners selected soon!

Victoria Chang will guest judge the contest. Victoria's fourth book of poetry Barbie Chang was published by Copper Canyon Press in 2017, and in that same year, she received a Guggenheim Fellowship. The whole poetry community is terribly excited for her next book, Obit. Frontier Poetry staff will select the top fifteen submissions, and the winning poem and honorable mentions will be selected by Chang.

The winning poet will be awarded $3000 and publication on Frontier Poetry. Second and third place will win $300 & $200 respectively, as well as publication. The top fifteen finalists will also be recognized.​

For any questions or problems with submissions, please review our FAQ page for more information: www.frontierpoetry.com/faq or email us at contact (at) frontier poetry (dot) com.

Guidelines:
    • Submissions are open to new and emerging writers (poets with no more than two full-length published works forthcoming at the time of submission).
    • Send us only your best, polished work.
    • Unpublished poems only.
    • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
    • No more than 3 poems (5 pages) per submission. Please submit all your poems in ONE document.
    • Multiple submissions are allowed.
    • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history.
    • International submissions are welcome.
    • Submission fee of $20.

2018 WINNER

“The Anorexic’s Aubade” by Kirk Schlueter

2018 Runner Ups

“Heart postpartum” by Cara Waterfall

“Self-Portrait No. 5 (Phoenix and Lullabies)” by Cynthia Manick

2018 Finalists

Hannah King, Khaty Xiong, Jacob Nelson, Meghann Plunkett, Yaccaira Salvatierra, Monica Ong, & Hilda Weiss

 

2018 Summer Poetry Award

Closed July 15, 2018

 

Frontier Poetry staff will selected the winning poem. The winning poet has been awarded $2000 and publication on Frontier Poetry. 2nd and 3rd place poems also received cash prizes and publication.

We do not hold preference for any particular style or topic—we simply seek the best poem we can find.

Guidelines:
      • Submissions are open to new and emerging writers (poets with no more than two full-length published works forthcoming at the time of submission).
      • Send us only your best, polished work.
      • Unpublished poems only.
      • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
      • No more than 3 poems (5 pages) per submission. Please submit all your poems in ONE document.
      • Multiple submissions are allowed.
      • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history.
      • International submissions are welcome.
      • Submission fee of $20.

2018 WINNER

“Louisiana Requiem” by Heather Treseler

2018 Runner Ups

“AFTER READING DJ KHALED...” by Leila Chatti

“Singularity” by Aurora Masum-Javed

2018 Finalists

Shavahn Dorris-Jefferson, Ying-Ying Zhang, Marlin Figgins, Karl Iglesias, Zilka Joseph, Tokorima Taihuringa, & Samuel Wright Fairbanks

 

2018 Industry Prize

Closed May 15, 2018

Thank you to all of our submitters! Your support means the world to us. 

For this prize, we want to give our submitters a chance to be read by some of the most influential persons across our industry: a magazine editor, a director of a professional poetry organization, and a book editor. The three judges will collaborate to choose one winning poem, and two runners-up. 2018's panel included:

Don Share, Editor of Poetry 

Nicole Sealey, Executive Director of Cave Canem

Matthew Zapruder, Editor of Wave Books

The winner of the Industry Prize will receive $3000 and publication on Frontier. The second and third place poems will win $200 and $100 respectively.The editors of Frontier will select the finalists from which the judges will make their decisions. Most exciting of all: the poems will be validated by a panel of leaders in our poetry community. 

Contest Window: March 15 - May 15

Guidelines:
      • Submissions are open to emerging poets—submitters should have no more than two full-length collections out or forthcoming at the time of submission.
      • No identifying information in the submission document. Our diverse team of readers will read all submissions blind.
      • Unpublished poems only.
      • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
      • ONE poem per submission (due to overwhelming response, and for the sanity of our readers)
      • There is no line-limit. Poems may be any length, any style, or any subject.
      • Multiple submissions are allowed.
      • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and about yourself.
      • International submissions are welcome.
      • Submission fee of $20.

2018 WINNER

"Dress code for an immigration interview" by Kristin Chang

2018 Tied for Second Place

Gabriel Kruis for “Bosky Farm”

Brian Tierney for “”Polyphagia”

2018 Finalists

Elizabeth Herron, Madhur Anand, Jasmine Reid, Carlos Gomez, Deborah Fried-Rubin, Inam Kang, Jessica Hincapie

 

2018 Digital Chapbook Contest

Closed March 15, 2018

Chapbooks are a huge milestone for emerging poets, and we’re always looking forward to the Frontier Digital Chapbook Contest—where we get to find that one electric bundle of poems that rocks our world in less than 30 pages.

The winner of the FDCC receives $2000 and publication of the free, downloadable chapbook on Frontier. Most exciting of all: the chapbook will also be distributed to tens of thousands of readers, influencers, editors, agents, and magazines through our newsletter. Don’t underestimate the power of this reach to empower your career as a poet.

Guidelines for submission:
      • Contest is open for international poets, but the poems must be in English.
      • Poets with more than two full-length collections published or forthcoming are ineligible.
      • Manuscript should be 10-30 pages.
      • Manuscript should be on the whole unpublished, although individual poems can be previously published.
      • Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but please notify us if the chapbook is accepted elsewhere.
      • Multiple submissions are allowed, but each chapbook must be submitted individually.
      • Do not include bio information in the manuscript itself.

2018 WINNER

“How Often I Have Chosen Love” by Xiao Yue Shan

2018 Finalists

“Insectum Gravitas” by Catherine Strisik
“Invention of the Mouth” by Linette Reeman
“Preternatural” by Becky Boyle
“The War Still Inside” by Tanya Ko-Hong
“Griefdom” by Kristin Chang
“Neologisms” by Seema Yasmin
“Nowhere Buelah” by Nicole Stockburger
“Smoke Girl” by Simone Person                                                                                                                                        “Voices of a Forgotten Letter” by Seif-Eldeine Och

 

2017 Frontier Open: One Poem // $5000

Closed November 15, 2017

In our pursuit to recognize today's best poets, we want to celebrate one outstanding piece of poetry, OPEN to all poets, with a $5000 award and publication.

Ten finalists will also receive $100 each and all winners will earn publication with Frontier Poetry. The Frontier staff will select the winners and finalists.

While we are a platform for new writers, this prize is meant to support the poetry community on the whole. We look forward to offering this annual prize where emerging and established poets are considered in equal measure.

Submissions accepted from poets at all stages of their career.

Contest Window: September 15 - November 15

Guidelines:
  • Submissions are open to all poets.
  • No identifying information in the submission document. Our diverse team of readers will read all submissions blind.
  • Unpublished poems only.
  • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
  • No more than four (4) poems per submission. There is no line-limit. Poems may be any length, any style, or any subject. Please include all poems in a SINGLE DOCUMENT.
  • Multiple submissions are allowed (see above).
  • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history and about yourself.
  • International submissions are welcome.
  • Submission fee of $20.

2017 WINNER

“Tim” by Tiana Clark

2017 Finalists

“Say Nothing” by Chad Oness
“Speak” by Rachel Jorgensen
“Forgiveness” by Jessica Turney
“apparel” by Chaun Ballard
“Study Tour” by Amanda Hawkins
“Ila Sisi, Ila Sisi” by Bola Opaleke
“Watching a Ruined Dog Die in a Dream” by Mason Henderson
“Carrying Season” by Mackenzie Whitehead-Bust
“Ars Poetica in Blue” by Ebony Chinn
“Fall” by Regina Marie

 

2017 Frontier Award for New Poets

Closed September 15, 2017

Tyehimba Jess guest judged the 2017 contest. Jess's beautiful collection, Olio, won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. 

Frontier Poetry staff will select the top fifteen submissions, and the winning poem and honorable mentions will be selected by Chang.

The winning poet was awarded $3000 and publication on Frontier Poetry. Second and third place won $300 & $200 respectively, as well as publication. The top fifteen finalists were also be recognized.​

Guidelines:
      • Submissions are open to new and emerging writers (poets with no more than two full-length published works forthcoming at the time of submission).
      • Send us only your best, polished work.
      • Unpublished poems only.
      • We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us if your work is picked up elsewhere.
      • No more than 3 poems (5 pages) per submission. Please submit all your poems in ONE document.
      • Multiple submissions are allowed.
      • Please include a brief cover letter with your publication history.
      • International submissions are welcome.
      • Submission fee of $20.

2017 WINNERS

First Place: “Souvenir” by Todd Smith

Second Place: “Love poem with a knife” by Kara Jackson

Third Place: “deciduous qween IV” by Matty Layne Glasgow

Honorable mentions: “Undone” by Brionne Janae; “the neighbor’s house” by Benjamin Hertwig

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