Post-Publication Book Contests

So you've published your poetry book. What next? Here are some contests for already published books of poetry. I've borrowed very heavily (actually COPIED ENTIRELY) from lists posted on the blogs of Bernadette Geyer and Sandra Beasley. Some of these are for first (or first or second, or not first) books only. Check out the details for yourself, particularly since dates and requirements to enter change year to year.

BOOK AWARDS FOR POETRY BOOKS

ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards – poetry category
sponsor: ForeWord Magazine
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: January 15
http://www.forewordmagazine.com/awards/

Levis Reading Prize (1st or 2nd book of poetry)
sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University, Dept. of English
submission/entry by: author or publisher
deadline: January 15
http://www.has.vcu.edu/eng/resources/levis_prize/levis_prize.htm

The Balcones Poetry Prize
sponsor: Austin Community College
submission/entry by: publisher, author or others
deadline: January 31
http://www.austincc.edu/crw/balcones_prize.html

Eric Hoffer Award for Independent Books
sponsor: Hopewell Publications
submission/entry by: anyone
deadline: January 31
http://www.hofferaward.com/

Paterson Poetry Prize
sponsor: The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: February 1
http://www.pccc.cc.nj.us/home/cultural-affairs/poetry-center/prizes

Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award in Poetry
sponsor: Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale & GRASSROOTS
submission/entry by: publisher or author
deadline: February 1
http://grassroots.siuc.edu/dkawards.html

Library of Virginia Literary Awards (VA writer)
sponsor: Library of Virginia
submission/entry by: publisher or author
deadline: February 5
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/litawards/index.htm

Milton Kessler Poetry Book Award (book by poet over 40)
sponsor: Binghamton University
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: March 1
http://www2.binghamton.edu/english/creative-writing/binghamton-center-for-writers/binghamton-book-awards/kessler-guidelines.html

Grub Street Book Prize (for a 2nd, 3rd or beyond book)
sponsor: Grub Street, Inc.
submission/entry by: author or press
deadline: March 15
http://www.grubstreet.org/index.php?id=24#bookprize

James Laughlin Award (2nd book)
sponsor: Academy of American Poets
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: May 15
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/109

Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize
sponsor: American Academy of Poets
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: May 15
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/108

National Book Award
sponsor: National Book Foundation
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: June 14
http://www.nationalbook.org/selection_process.html

Towson University Prize for Literature (for book by Maryland authors)
sponsor: Towson University
submission/entry by: author
deadline: June 15
http://www.towson.edu/english/7.1%20Towson%20Prize%20for%20Literature/index.asp

Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award
sponsor: Great Lakes Colleges Association
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: July 25
http://www.glca.org/component/content/article/45/254-2012-guidelines

Kate Tufts Discovery Award (for a 1st book)
sponsor: Claremont Graduate University
submission/entry by: author
deadline: September 15
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/6423.asp

Pulitzer Prize
sponsor: Pulitzer
submission/entry by: author
deadlines: Oct 1
http://www.pulitzer.org/how_to_enter

National Book Critics Circle Award
sponsor: National Book Critics Circle
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: December 1
http://bookcritics.org/awards/award_submissions/

Pushcart Prize (for individual poems from published poetry collections)
sponsor: Pushcart Prize
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: December 1
http://www.pushcartprize.com/nominate.htm

Norma Farber First Book Award (for a first book)
sponsor: Poetry Society of America
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: December 22
http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/awards/annual/guidelines_for_book_awards/

William Carlos Williams Award
sponsor: Poetry Society of America
submission/entry by: publisher
deadline: December 22
http://www.poetrysociety.org/psa/awards/annual/guidelines_for_book_awards/

American Book Awards
sponsor: Before Columbus Foundation
submission/entry by: anyone
deadline: December 31
http://www.bookweb.org/btw/awards/The-American-Book-Awards---Before-Columbus-Foundation.html

NOTE: WHEN I FIND MORE CONTESTS, I UPDATE THEM IN THE COMMENTS SECTION, SO BE SURE TO CHECK IT OUT.