Opportunity: Emma Howell Rising Poet Prize

Willow Springs Books is seeking submissions for the inaugural Emma Howell Rising Poet Prize, a first poetry book prize for poets 35 years old and younger who have not yet published a book-length poetry manuscript. Poets who have previously published chapbooks are welcome to submit.

The contest is in honor of Emma Howell who was born in Portland, Oregon, and died in 2001, at the age of twenty. She lived in Spain and Brazil and traveled widely. She left behind a loving family, many close friends, and a single volume of poetry, Slim Night of Recognition. In an effort to promote the publication of young poets and to honor Emma’s memory, as well as the time and effort her father, Christopher Howell, former Director of Willow Springs Books, has put into our press, we are ecstatic to be launching this new prize.

The competition is open for submissions from 10/15/2021 to 1/15/2022. Finalists will be selected in late March, and the winner will be announced in mid-April. The winning poetry manuscript will be selected by the series’ judge, changing yearly. The winner receives $2000 plus publication in our Emma Howell Rising Poets series.