Genre: Creative Nonfiction

A prize of $25,000 and a weeklong residency at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan, will be given annually for a book of fiction or nonfiction published in the previous two years “that inspires, illuminates, or exemplifies the creative process.” The winner will also participate in an event cohosted by the National Writers Series in Traverse City, Michigan, in April 2025. Using only the online submission system, submit a book of any length published in 2022 or 2023 by June 1. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Kinsman Quarterly will be given annually for a poem or group of poems, a short short story, a short story, or an essay on a theme related to African culture or subculture. The winner will also have their work featured in the 2025 anthology Black Butterfly: Voices of the African Diaspora. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five poems totaling no more than 10 pages, a short short story of up to 1,000 words, a short story of 1,000 to 5,000 words, or an essay of up to 1,000 words with a $20 entry fee by June 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

A fellowship of up to $5,000 is given annually to a poet, a fiction writer, a creative nonfiction writer, or a writer working in a genre outside these categories who is a resident of Maine and has lived in the state for at least one year. The fellow is expected to reside in the state for the year of the fellowship. Writers who are at least age 25 and are not enrolled in a degree-granting program are eligible. The fellowship committee can appoint a translator to assist in the review of work submitted in a language other than English. Using only the online submission system, submit up to five writing samples of no more than 8 pages of poetry or prose each; an artist statement; and a résumé (or a brief bio) between May 22 and July 3. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Four prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and young people’s literature written by U.S. writers and published in the United States during the previous year. A $10,000 prize is also given for an English translation of a book of fiction or nonfiction by a living writer and translator published in the United States during the previous year. Finalists in all categories receive $1,000 each. Publishers may submit titles published or scheduled for publication between December 1, 2023, and November 30, 2024, for consideration via the online submission form with a $135 entry fee per title by May 15. Additionally, a digital copy and six hard copies (or bound galleys) of the books must be submitted to the judges and the National Book Foundation by May 31 (for books published in the first half of the eligibility year) or by July 1 (for books published in the second half). Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.