The PEN/W. G. Sebald Award for a Fiction Writer in Mid-Career was a biennial award, honoring an author who had published at least 3 significant works of literary fiction, either novels or short story collections, with the promise of more to come. The $10,000 prize was established by an anonymous donor to recognize a writer in their prime whose powerful and courageous writing honored the legacy of W. G. Sebald. The award was offered for the last time in 2011.
Winners were selected at the discretion of a panel of three judges who represent the rich scope of literary output in contemporary fiction writing. Deliberations were based on internal nomination and informed by letters of nomination. Candidates were nominated only by PEN Members or Awards Judges.
Past winners: The 2010 inaugural award went to Susan Choi, author of The Foreign Student, American Woman, and A Person of Interest. The 2011 award went to Aleksandar Hemon, author of The Question of Bruno, Nowhere Man, The Lazarus Project, and Love and Obstacles.