Submissions to the Prairie Schooner Book Prize Contest are open annually, from January 15 through March 15. Winners receive $3,000, with their work published through the University of Nebraska Press.
The Prairie Schooner Book Prize Series welcomes manuscripts from all living writers, including non-US citizens, writing in English. Both unpublished and published writers are welcome to submit manuscripts.
However, does not consider manuscripts that have previously been published, which includes self-publication. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
No past or present paid employee of Prairie Schooner or the University of Nebraska Press or current faculty or student at the University of Nebraska will be eligible for the prizes.
Manuscript: Prefers fiction manuscripts to be at least 150 pages long and poetry manuscripts to be at least 50 pages long. Novels are not considered but will consider manuscripts comprised either entirely of short stories or one novella along with short stories (please do not send a single novella or a collection of novellas). Prairie Schooner accepts electronic submissions, as well as hard copy submissions.
Hard Copy Submissions: The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript. All entries will be read anonymously. Please include two cover pages: one listing only the title of the manuscript, and the other listing the author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address. An acknowledgements page listing the publication history of individual stories or poems may be included, if desired. No application forms are necessary.
For hard copy submissions, photocopies are acceptable. Please do not bind manuscripts with anything other than a binder clip or rubber band. Please include a self-addressed postage-paid postcard for confirmation of manuscript receipt.
Please use a standard postcard—small index cards will not be accepted by the U.S. Postal Service. A stamped, self-addressed business size envelope must accompany the submission for notification of results. No manuscripts will be returned. All manuscripts that do not win will be recycled.
Electronic Submissions: The author’s name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript. All entries will be read anonymously. An acknowledgements page listing the publication history of individual stories or poems may be included, if desired. No application forms are necessary. Click here to submit via Submittable.
A $25 processing fee must accompany each submission, payable to Prairie Schooner. Winners will be announced on this website on or before July 15, 2015. Results will be emailed or mailed shortly thereafter.
Mail your manuscripts to
Prairie Schooner Prize Series
Attn: Fiction or Poetry
123 Andrews Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0334
Please send any questions to PSBookPrize@unl.edu. For information on submitting to the journal, please see our submission guidelines.