Able Muse Book Award (for Poetry) -- 2013
(2011 Results HERE) | (2012 Results HERE)
$1000 prize plus publication of the winning manuscript by Able Muse Press.
Finalists will also be considered for publication.
Entry deadline: March 31, 2013
Guidelines:
- Blind Judging by the Final Judge X.J. Kennedy.
- Initial screening by the Able Muse Editors.
- Entries may not be previously published, but individual poems and chapbook-length sections may have been if the previous publisher gives reprint permission. (Still, more than half of the manuscript. may not have been previously published as a collection.)
- Simultaneous submissions accepted as long as we're immediately notified if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- Unlimited entries per person.
- All poetry styles are welcome (metrical or free verse).
- A poetry manuscript of 50 to 120 pages
- Acknowledgments may be included in the manuscript but are not required.
- We prefer online entries, however, paper/snail mail entry is available for those who insist on the traditional submission method.
- If you wish to enter more than once, then a separate entry fee and submission form must be completed for each entry.
- If you're entering by paper/snail mail, the manuscripts cannot be returned so, do not send us your only copies.
- For paper/snail mail entries, include an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) to receive the announcement of the winner.
- The contests will be judged blind by the final judge, so:
- Author's name should only appear on cover page/cover letter and nowhere else.
- Initial screening will be done by the editors of Able Muse.
- The final judge will received anonymized manuscripts (five to ten depending and the number of total entries and their quality).
- The final judge will be instructed to disqualify any work that he recognizes. The entry fee the work thus disqualified will be refunded.
- Include on your cover page ONLY:
- the title of your manuscript
- a brief bio
- the poet's/writer's name
- address
- phone number, and
- email address.
Entry Methods:
- Preferred method is our online entry form—
- DO NOT type or copy and paste your manuscript in the poem text box. Rather, upload your submission file from the upload field (accepted formats are: Text, RTF, Word, Wordperfect, PDF, HTML).
- Only send one file attachment with everything (50 to 120 pages), with the cover page prepared as described in the blind judging section above (do NOT attach a separate file for each poem!)
- There should be no identification in the manuscript file itself as described in the blind judging section above.
- Enter at http://www.ablemuse.com/enter-contest online.
- Second favorite entry method is via e-mail—
- Again, do not type your submission in the body of the email. Rather, attach your submission file to the email (accepted formats are: Text, RTF, Word, Wordperfect, PDF, HTML).
- The subject of the email should be: "<Your Name>: Book Award (poetry)"
- Email your entry to submission@ablemuse.com without any identification in the manuscript file itself as described in the blind judging section above.
- Least favorite entry method is paper by snail mail—
- The manuscript should be without any identification as explained in the blind judging section above.
- The cover page should be prepared as explained in the blind judging section above.
- Duplicates not required, so do NOT send duplicate of the manuscript.
- Send your entry to:
Able Muse Review
Book Award for poetry Contest
467 Saratoga Avenue #602
San Jose, CA 95129
USA
Entry Fees:
- $25 for a manuscript of 50 to 120 pages.
- No matter how you choose to enter (online or email or snail mail) you may choose to pay:
- Online at http://www.ablemuse.com/enter-contest (or right below!), OR,
- By check: Able Muse Review, and sent to the contest address indicated above.
- In the event of a withdrawal, entry fees are non-refundable.
- To enable us to match your payment to your entry, be sure to indicate the name you entered with in your manuscript (i.e. your pen name, etc), if it's different from the one under which payment was made, and this applies for online or check payment by snail mail.
Pay Entry Fee & Enter Contest Now:
Comments
Cinda MacKinnon (not verified)
Mon, 01/09/2012 - 12:35
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Book Award - fiction?
I assume the book award is for fiction? (If so I would like to submit sample chapter of my novel manuscript.) Or could it be just for chapbooks?
Thanks, cinda.mackinnon@comcast.net
Administrator
Sat, 01/14/2012 - 11:36
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Hi Cinda,
Hi Cinda,
For now, the book award is for poetry manuscripts only, as indicated in the contest description. The Write Prize on the other hand is for poetry and fiction (i.e. individual stories).
...Alex
Elizabeth (not verified)
Wed, 01/18/2012 - 12:48
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Page requirements
First off, please excuse a young writer a potentially naive & ridiculous question. I have a poetry collection of 27 poems. The longer poems definitely require page breaks. Is it a valid 50 pages if I format the page breaks myself? If I publish this work myself, I am anticipating 6x9 dimensions. Appreciate your honest advice on how to determine acceptable and appropriate page length.
Rather humbly yours,
Elizabeth.
Administrator
Fri, 01/20/2012 - 00:38
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Hi Elizabeth,
Hi Elizabeth,
It's no problem, and it's perfectly fine if your 27 longer poems span about 50 pages.
The length requirement is about how many pages the poems cover altogether, not about the number of poems.
Best,
...Alex
Joe (not verified)
Sun, 02/12/2012 - 13:20
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Can you make a contest about
Can you make a contest about writing fiction and free entries? Shouldn't your writing contest be about recognizing people's Talent rather than gaining money??
Administrator
Wed, 02/15/2012 - 17:09
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Hi Joe,
Hi Joe,
We'd love to offer it free. As it its now, as a small press, we're not even breaking even when all is told. Running it without entry fee means we won't be able to sustain it.
Best,
...Alex
Matt (not verified)
Mon, 02/13/2012 - 19:37
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Previously published...
Does a doctoral dissertation count as "previously published"? I think there's a Library of Congress entry for it, but it's not physically in print anywhere and cannot be accessed online.
I've wondered about this for some time now. Thanks.
Matt
Administrator
Wed, 02/15/2012 - 17:13
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Hi Matt,
Hi Matt,
The conditions you describe appear to imply that it's essentially unpublished. So, an exception can be made. Remember though that this is a manuscript contest - not one on critical essays.
Best,
...Alex
Jennifer Conrad (not verified)
Tue, 02/14/2012 - 13:52
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Published copy?
Hello!
Thinking of entering but was wondering...the winning manuscript is published. Does Muse sell this publication? If so, what proceeds are returned to the writer?
Thanks for your insight!
Jennifer
Administrator
Wed, 02/15/2012 - 17:16
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Hello Jennifer,
Hello Jennifer,
Yes, Able Muse Press will promote and sell the published book through the regular book distribution channels. Besides, the winning prize, the winner will also be given a standard book contract including royalties on the book sales.
Best,
...Alex
Jaylyn Thacher (not verified)
Fri, 03/02/2012 - 07:02
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Entry page size requirements
I have a about 26 poems in a book format, but the page size I have the word document set at is 5x8. My question is whether or not, the entry has to be formatted to an 8.5x11 page size or if I can enter using the existing 5x8 setting? Also is it okay for me to use the poems I entered in the Write Prize contest in my manuscript?
Administrator
Thu, 03/22/2012 - 10:36
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Hi Jaylyn,
Hi Jaylyn,
It depends on how long or short the poems are. If they're very short poems (e.g. sonnet length or so), then the answer will be no. If they're longer, then I'll say yes since the page count will likely increase on a smaller size paper.
Best,
...Alex
George Ovitt (not verified)
Sun, 03/11/2012 - 09:44
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payment
Hello Editors:
Like many others, I am hesitant to send my credit card or checking acct. information over the web. Is it permissible to send the ms. and then to mail the check separately? I think you answered this in iii above, but I want to be clear that you aren't speaking there of checks submitted with mailed mss.
Thanks
George
Administrator
Thu, 03/22/2012 - 10:38
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Hello George,
Hello George,
Yes, you can send the manuscript by the online form or email, and then send a check separately by snail mail.
Best,
...Alex
shana bhajan (not verified)
Mon, 03/12/2012 - 16:25
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international
Is this open to international submissions?
Administrator
Thu, 03/22/2012 - 10:39
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Hello Shana,
Hello Shana,
The short answer is yes -- this is a worldwide contest, open to all countries.
Best,
...Alex
Anonymous (not verified)
Fri, 03/23/2012 - 21:18
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title
So to make sure I get this straight: the blind judge is not allowed to know the title of the manuscript? What if that's important?
Administrator
Sun, 03/25/2012 - 14:44
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The blind judge is not to
The blind judge is not to know the name of the poet. The manuscript title will be seen by the judge.
Anonymous (not verified)
Mon, 06/25/2012 - 15:09
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Announcement of winner?
Hello, friends. I'm just curious to know if there's an estimated date planned for the announcement of this year's winner/finalists. Thank you so much!
Joe Bensinger (not verified)
Sat, 07/14/2012 - 21:47
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Able Muse Book Award
When will the judging be completed?
Administrator
Mon, 02/18/2013 - 14:14
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Results were announced in
The 2012 contest results were announced in late December, 2012 at http://www.ablemusepress.com/2012-book-award-results
Best,
...Alex
Brandan Bracken (not verified)
Mon, 12/31/2012 - 12:41
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Poetry manuscript submissions
My style of poetry is somewhat similar to that of Philip Larkin, in that there are many monologues of poetry combined with a free style story. Is this exceptable?
Administrator
Fri, 01/04/2013 - 13:40
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Yes. All styles are welcome
Yes. All styles are welcome as indicated in the submission guidelines.
Best,
...Alex
Barbara Ellen (not verified)
Mon, 01/07/2013 - 18:52
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RE: Comments
Administrator
Mon, 02/18/2013 - 14:08
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Hi Barbara Ellen,
Hi Barbara Ellen,
Thank you for your kind remarks!
Best,
...Alex
rm (not verified)
Wed, 01/23/2013 - 08:49
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query
hello! do all submission manuscripts get edited and into the contest or if they are not satisfying do they get tossed asided?
Administrator
Mon, 02/18/2013 - 14:17
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Hello rm,
Hello rm,
No, entries are not edited. They're read and considered as submitted, and will win or not on the strenght of the manuscript as submitted. Still, the winning entries, and finalist entries that are ultimately selected for publication might receive editing recommendations from the editors.
Best,
...Alex
Derek Warden (not verified)
Mon, 03/04/2013 - 11:33
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Epic Poem
I have written and self-publsihed two of my three epic poems. I am currently almost done with the final one. Since it's part of a trilogy does that disqualify me from submitting it? Also, since it is an epic, it is essentially a fictional story. Thus, I want to know if I should submit it to the Write Prize instead.
Thanks,
Derek
Administrator
Fri, 03/15/2013 - 14:15
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Hello Derek,
Hello Derek,
If the final epic poem that you refer to can somehow stand on its own, then I see no problem with submitting it to the contest.
Best,
...Alex
Jody (not verified)
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 05:53
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royalties
Hi Alex, :)
Quick question. After the author is published, do they receive royalties when the book sells?
Thanks so much.
Jody
Administrator
Fri, 03/15/2013 - 14:18
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Hi Jody,
Hi Jody,
Besides the contest winning prize, the winner will also receive a standard Able Muse Press book contract, royalties included.
Best,
...Alex
Anonymous (not verified)
Sun, 03/24/2013 - 16:29
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I an going to submit
I an going to submit electronically and was not clear: do you want the cover page included in the manuscript that is uploaded? I understand no info that appears on the cover page should appear anywhere else in the manuscript.
Administrator
Mon, 03/25/2013 - 20:09
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Yes, you may include the
Yes, you may include the cover page in what's uploaded electronically. Any identifying information is removed before the manuscript is seen by the judges.
Best,
...Alex
Vicky (not verified)
Mon, 03/25/2013 - 06:18
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Poetry contest
Hello!
Can a partial manuscript be submitted and then edited and added to after being chosen?
Thank you,
Vicky
Administrator
Mon, 03/25/2013 - 20:06
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Hello Vicky,
Hello Vicky,
The simple answer is that chosen manuscripts can still be edited afterwards by the authors (pending the editor/publisher). However, you'll only be judging is solely based on what is submitted to the contest.
Best,
...Alex
Carl Auerbach (not verified)
Thu, 03/28/2013 - 07:16
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entering writers contest
I just tried to upload my manuscript submission and don't think it worked. There was a line where I could enter the file name on my computer, but there was nothing that allowed me to upload it. Is there something wrong?
Thanks
Administrator
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 12:16
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Hi Carl,
Hi Carl,
Actually, the upload worked just fine. But we also received your emailed file attachment after that. So, you're doubly covered and properly entered in the contest. Good luck.
Best,
...Alex
Janet (not verified)
Sat, 03/30/2013 - 17:39
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payment
I am ready to submit but I see that the only online payment option is Google. I do not have Google Wallet. Is it possible to pay with Paypal?
Administrator
Sun, 03/31/2013 - 16:38
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Hi Janet,
Hi Janet,
No we don't use Paypal. However, you don't need to have Google Wallet to pay with it. All you need is any major credit card. Or, if that fails, you can pay by the snail mail/check or money order method as described above (item 3 of "Entry Methods").
Best,
...Alex
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