top of page

Gatewood Prize: Deadline Extended!

The deadline for the Gatewood Prize has been extended to October 1, 2006!

The Gatewood Prize is Switchback Books' annual competition for a first full-length collection of poems by a woman writing in English between the ages of 18 and 39. It is named after Emma Gatewood, the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

GUIDELINES FOR THE GATEWOOD PRIZE

Switchback Books editors will select at least 10 finalists and a judge will select the prizewinner, who will be recognized with a cash prize of $1000 and publication by Switchback Books.

Manuscripts remain anonymous until a winner is selected.

GENERAL TERMS:

  • Poet must be a woman between the ages of 18 and 39

  • Writers who have had chapbooks of less than 42 pages printed in editions of no more than 400 copies are eligible

  • Students and former students of this year's judge may not enter; close friends of the judge are also not considered eligible

  • Entry fee of $20 must accompany each submission; make check payable to Switchback Books. Fee entitles entrant to a copy of the winning book. Please enclose a self-addressed 8 x 10 envelope with $1.42 postage to receive a copy

  • Multiple manuscript submissions are acceptable, but each manuscript must be entered under a separate cover, with a separate entry fee

  • Simultaneous submissions are acceptable; please let us know immediately if your manuscript is accepted by another publisher while under our consideration

  • No revisions to submitted manuscripts will be considered; the winning manuscript may be revised before publication

  • Translations ineligible

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:

  • Between 48 and 80 pages of poetry, paginated

  • Bound with a removable clip and nothing more

  • Include two cover pages: one with title of the manuscript only, the other with title of manuscript, name, address, telephone number, and email address

  • No other cover letter necessary

  • No acknowledgments page

  • Anonymous (do not include your name anywhere on the manuscript itself)

NOTIFICATION:

  • Enclose an SAS-postcard for confirmation of receipt of manuscript

  • Enclose an SASE for notification of winner

  • Do not enclose an SASE for return of manuscript; all manuscripts will be recycled at end of contest term

  • International submissions must include US postage; IRCs will not be honored. Go to www.usps.com to purchase US postage

  • TELL US IF YOU MOVE. Send new address to: editors@switchbackbooks.com

DEADLINE:

Envelope must be postmarked on or before October 1, 2006

MAIL MANUSCRIPT AND ENTRY FEE TO:

The Gatewood Prize Switchback Books PO Box 478868 Chicago, IL 60647

Search By Tags
Archive
bottom of page