Submission Deadline: March 15, 2008

CONTEST FINAL JUDGE: Allen Grossman
Allen Grossman has published nine books of poetry, including Sweet Youth (2002), The Woman on the Bridge Over the Chicago River (1979), Of The Great House (1982) and The Bright Nails Scattered on the Ground (1986) and several books of criticism. He has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment of the Arts, the MacArthur Foundation and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Among many prizes, he has received the Garrison Award for Poetry, the Prize of the American Academy of Poetry, the Pushcart Prize, the Sheaffer-PEN/New England Award for Literary Distinction, and the Sara Teasdale Memorial Prize in Poetry. Grossman has taught at Brandeis University and The Johns Hopkins University.

Bellday Books will publish the winning book and award $2,500 and 25 copies of the book to the winning author.

• Submit a manuscript of 50-70 pages of original poetry in any style in English. The manuscript must not have been published in book or chapbook, but may contain poems that have appeared in print or on the Internet. Entries may consist of individual poems, a book-length poem or any combination of long or short poems.
  
  
• Submitted manuscript must contain 2 title pages: Name and contact information should appear on first title page only. Name should not appear anywhere else in the manuscript.
  
  
• Manuscript should be typed, single-spaced, paginated, and bound with a spring clip.
  
  
• Include a table of contents page, but do not send an acknowledgements page.
  
  
• Enclose an SASE for announcement of the winner.
  
  
• Manuscript cannot be returned.
  
  
• Postmark deadline: March 15, 2008.
  
  
• Include a check or money order for $25 reading fee, payable to BELLDAY BOOKS.
  
  
• Bellday Books reserves the right not to select an award winner, in which case all reading fees will be refunded.

CONTEST MAILING ADDRESS:
Bellday Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 3687
Pittsburgh, PA 15230

Questions may be directed to:
office@belldaybooks.com

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Does the poet retain full rights?
   The poet retains full rights, but there must be an acknowledgement or citation of the book at each subsequent printing or printed use.
   
   
2. Will Bellday publish submitted poetry in any instance but the winner?
   Bellday may (or may not) approach poets who submitted other manuscripts and negotiate for publication of their manuscripts.
   
   
3. What will be done with rejected manuscripts?
   Manuscript paper will be recycled, as with virtually all other competitions.
   
   
4. Would you consider a manuscript co-authored by two poets?
   We will accept a manuscript in which two poets wrote the poems together. If it's merely two poets putting a book out together, the manuscript is not eligible for the award.
   
   
5. Is it okay if some of the poems were already published in a chapbook?
   As long as they are not the only poems in the book. The book can not just be a reprint of a chapbook.
   
   
6. Is the contest only open to U.S. citizens?
   The only stipulation is that the poetry be in English. Anyone can enter.
   
   
7. Who are the prescreening judges?
   There will be 5-8 preliminary screeners from around the country, all of whom are writers, students or otherwise involved with literature.
   
   
8. Is it a one-time or ongoing award?
   We don't know yet but the hope is to do it annually or bi-annually.
   
   
9. What kind of poetry do you want?
   Good poetry of any style on any subject will be considered. Allan Grossman will make the final selection.
   
   
10. Are you posting an announcement anywhere?
    We are posting announcements in the January-February issues of both Poets & Writers and American Poetry Review.
    
    
11. When do you plan to announce winners?
    We hope to announce the winner by July 15, 2008.