National Letters Chair:
Karen McAferty Morris
lettchair@nlapw.org
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2026 Biennial Letters Competition Call for Entries
General Guidelines
The contests are open to all NLAPW Letters members in good standing.
No electronic submissions. Entries must be typed on 8 ½ x 11 white paper. Do not submit photocopies of newspaper or magazine articles, and do not send books (see Specific Guidelines below regarding books). Single-space poetry, double-space prose. Use a plain 12-point font.
All entries must have the category letter and category name at the top right corner of the first page of each entry. Judges will not decide on the best category for you. Any entry received without a designated category will be discarded.
Entries are judged with concealed identity. Decisions of the independent judges, who are not Pen Women, are final. All judges are anonymous. Independent judges are not asked to convey their decision-making process comments to the letters chair.
Omit additional materials such as photographs or illustrations as supplemental material. Only text will be considered. No folders are necessary; just staple materials where possible and paperclip larger entries.
The submission period is November 1 – December 15, and entries must be postmarked on or before the deadline to be considered. Entry fees must be paid at the time of submission. See payment options under Entry Fees. Unpaid entries will not be judged.
Competition winners will be notified at the end of February, in anticipation of the Biennial in April. Winners will receive awards at the Biennial. If a winner is not present, the prize award or certificate will be sent to the winner sometime after May 1.
Specific Guidelines
Submit a cover sheet for each entry with your name, address, email, phone number, Pen Women Branch/MAL, the title and category (with letter) of your entry, and the dollar total of the fee for that entry. Submit one copy of each entry with only the category title and letter, not your name. Do not submit any AI-generated work.
You may submit to multiple categories, but submit a piece to only one of them. Do not submit a winning entry from any previous Biennial competition.
Do not send books. If submitting to a book category, provide a one-page synopsis, and no more than 30 pages total (double-spaced manuscript or doublespaced photocopies from the book) from the first and last chapters. If the book is 30 pages or less, send entire manuscript or photocopies.
No manuscript entries will be returned.
Entry Fees
• Poetry: $15 per entry, covering up to two entries. Each entry consists of one or two poems. The poems do not have to be in the same category. If you wish to submit more than two poems, you must pay an additional entry fee of $15 for each additional one- to two-poem entry. Identify the form of any traditional poem.
• Prose ekphrastic: $15 per entry.
• Article, essay, short story, blog post, vignette: $18 per entry. If you wish to submit multiple short stories or essays, you must pay an additional entry fee for each new entry. Indicate word count.
• Book excerpts and long manuscripts (over 20 pages): $25 per entry.
Submit entries to: Karen McAferty Morris, NLAPW Letters Chair, 710 Halcyon Circle, Pensacola, FL 32506 in one flat mailing envelope via regular mail that requires no signature. Do not include your competition check with your entry.
Entry fees can be paid by sending a check to or, if using a credit card, by phoning Evelyn Wofford, NLAPW Treasurer, 1300 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036- 1901, telephone: 202-785-1997 (check made payable to NLAPW), or by PayPal below.
Email questions to lettchair@nlapw.org.
Categories
A. MARION DOYLE POETRY AWARD. For poets “whose aim is communication; who believe poetry to be a medium of emotional release, of inspiration; that the mission of poetry is to build spiritual morale; to enrich life with perceptions; who have genius of expression, and lack of modern cynicism.” Poems may be any length. 1st: $100; 2nd: $75; 3rd: $50.
B. MARJORIE DAVIES ROLLER NONFICTION AWARD. For the best nonfiction article or book (published or unpublished) on any subject. 1st: $100; 2nd: $75; 3rd: $50.
C. NORMAN E. AND MARJORIE J. ROLLER AWARD. For best article, story, or book (published or unpublished) on wildlife or outdoor life, exclusive of physical contact sports. 1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $25.
D. ANITA MARIE BOGGS MEMORIAL POETRY AWARD. For a poem written in free verse (any length). 1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $30.
E. DELLA CROWDER MILLER POETRY AWARD. Established August 18, 1978. Awards for two categories:
a. Petrarchan sonnets. 1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $30.
b. Free verse (any length): 1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $30.
F. CATHERINE CUSHMAN LEACH POETRY AWARD. Established September 19, 1978. For a poem of merit, published or unpublished. The poem may be on any subject and in any verse form except free verse. 1st: $100; 2nd: $50; 3rd: $30.
G. ELIZABETH M. CAMPBELL POETRY AWARD. For a poem written in traditional form. 1st: $100; 2nd: $50.
H. HELEN SUTTON BOOTH NATIONAL MEMORIAL POETRY AWARD. For any traditional form of poetry of any length. Established October 11, 1986. 1st: $100; 2nd: $75; 3rd: $50. Three (nonmonetary) honorable mentions will also be awarded.
I. THE ANNE MARX SESTINA AWARD. Established April 9, 1998. For a poem in sestina form on the subject of immigration and/or cultural exchange. The award shall be in the amount of $250. Only one award will be given.
J. CENTRAL NEW YORK BRANCH JUDITH MCGINN SHORT STORY AWARD. For an unpublished short story of 7,000
words or less on any subject. 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
K. DELTA BRANCH GRACE K. WOFFORD ESSAY AWARD. For an unpublished essay on any subject. 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
L. SANDRA SEATON MICHEL CHILDREN’S BOOK OR STORY AWARD. For a children’s book or story (unpublished or published). 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
M. SANDRA SEATON MICHEL MIDDLE SCHOOL STORY AWARD. For a book or short story (published or unpublished) for an age-appropriate middle school child. 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
N. PENSACOLA BRANCH ANN T. DAVIS MEMORIAL EKPHRASTIC AWARD. For a nonfiction or fiction prose ekphrastic of 300-500 words. Provide a photocopy of the image of the art or a link to it. 1st: $100; 2nd: $75; 3rd: $50.
O. EVELYN B. WOFFORD JOURNALISM AWARD. For an unpublished article or feature story of high journalistic merit. 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
P. FICTION BOOK AWARD. For an unpublished manuscript or published book of fiction in any sub-genre. 1st prize only: $200.
Q. MEMOIR AWARD. For a published or unpublished memoir excerpt of up to 35 pages. 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
R. CENTRAL NEW YORK BRANCH SHEILA M. BYRNES NONFICTION AWARD. For an unpublished work of nonfiction (essay, vignette, memoir excerpt, blog post, etc.) of 5,000 words or less on any subject: 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
S. CENTRAL NEW YORK BRANCH SALLY ROESCH WAGNER CREATIVE NONFICTION AWARD. For a work of creative nonfiction related to feminism, social justice, or the rights of indigenous peoples. 1st: $100; 2nd: $70; 3rd: $30.
PAY VIA PAYPAL