The PEN Literary Awards are the most comprehensive in the United States. With the help of its partners and supporters, in 2017 PEN will confer nearly $315,000 to writers and translators in the fields of fiction, science writing, essays, sports writing, biography, children’s literature, drama, and poetry. Submissions and nominations will be accepted from June 1, 2016 through August 15, 2016 for the 2017 awards listed below. Please be sure to click on the award to visit it’s submission page which will contain more information on submission deadlines and processes.
Book Submissions*
(*Please note that only publishers and literary agents may submit to the following PEN book awards.)
Fiction and Nonfiction
PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction ($25,000)
For a fiction writer whose debut work of fiction—a novel or collection of short stories published in 2016—represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay ($10,000)
For a book of essays published in 2016 that exemplifies the dignity and esteem of the essay form
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award ($10,000)
For a book of literary nonfiction published in 2016 on the subject of the physical or biological sciences
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction ($10,000)
For a distinguished book of general nonfiction possessing notable literary merit and critical perspective.
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award ($5,000)
For a distinguished biography published in the United States in 2016
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN Open Book Award ($5,000)
For an exceptional work of literature by an author of color published in 2016
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing ($5,000)
For a nonfiction book published in 2016 on the subject of sports. Eligible titles should be of a biographical, investigative, historical, or analytical nature and of the strongest literary character
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
Translation
PEN Translation Prize ($3,000)
For a book-length translation of prose into English published in 2016 (works of poetry will not be accepted; for works of poetry in translation, please see the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation below)
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN Award for Poetry in Translation ($3,000)
For a book-length translation of poetry into English published in 2016
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
Career Achievement & Nomination Awards
One of the many benefits of PEN Membership is the ability to submit letters of recommendation on behalf of your colleagues acknowledging their achievements in literature. Submit your letter of nomination by August 15, 2016.
PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing ($5,000)
For a living American or U.S.-based writer each year to celebrate their body of work and long-time contributions to the field of literary sports writing
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry ($5,000)
For an emerging American poet of any age showing promise of further literary achievement
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation Awards for Drama ($7,500 & $2,500)
Three awards which honor a Master American Dramatist, American Playwright in Mid-Career, and Emerging American Playwright
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/Nora Magid Award for Editing ($2,500)
For a magazine editor whose high literary standards and taste have contributed significantly to the excellence of the publication he or she edits
Submissions will be accepted June 1—August 15, 2016
PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers ($2,000 to 12 writers)
Recognizing twelve emerging fiction writers for their debut short story published in a literary journal in 2016
Submissions will be accepted through November 11, 2016
Unpublished Manuscripts
PEN/Jean Stein Grant for Literary Oral History ($10,000)
For a literary work of nonfiction that uses oral history to illuminate an event, individual, place, or movement.
Submissions will be accepted through October 17, 2016.
PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship ($5,000)
For an author of children’s or young-adult fiction, who has previously published at least one book, to complete a book-length work-in-progress. The Fellowship has been developed to help writers whose work is of high literary caliber but who have not yet attracted a broad readership
DEADLINE EXTENDED: SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants ($2,000–$4,000)
To support the translation of book-length works of prose, poetry, and drama
DEADLINE EXTENDED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2016
PEN Grant for the English Translation of Italian Literature ($5,000)
For a work-in-progress translation of narrative prose from the Italian into English
DEADLINE EXTENDED: SEPTERMBER 1, 2016
In 2017, PEN will also confer the following two awards. Please note that submissions are not accepted for either of these two awards.
PEN/Jean Stein Book Award ($75,000)
For a book-length work of any genre for its originality, merit, and impact
Submissions not accepted
PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature ($50,000)
To an international writer of any genre for their body of work
Submissions not accepted