Annual Prison Writing Awards

The PEN Prison Writing Awards was initiated in the wake of the 1971 Attica Prison Riots as the founding program for the Prison and Justice Writing Program at PEN America. Each year, the program invites writers in carceral facilities across the United States to submit unpublished work in the genre categories of Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Memoir, and Playwriting/Screenwriting.

Winners in each genre category are awarded cash prizes of $300, $200, $150, and $75 for First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention, respectively. Winning entries are also published in the annual PEN Prison Writing Awards Anthology, and award recipients are invited to develop their writing as part of the PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program. 

The Anthology

Submission Guidelines

Entries are accepted from adults incarcerated in a federal or state prison, county jail, or other detention center. Due to the volume of submissions, PEN America is unable to return submitted manuscripts.

• Only unpublished work is eligible for consideration. Work published anywhere online is ineligible.
• Manuscripts should be typewritten and double-spaced (except for poetry) whenever possible, or legibly handwritten on 8.5-by-11-inch paper.
• Include a title and genre category (see below) on the first page of each individual submission (not only the cover letter) to ensure the submission is judged correctly. Internal reviewers will assign genre categories for all unmarked submissions.
• All submissions should be accompanied by a brief cover letter that includes your name, address, identification number, the genre(s) you are submitting to, and the title(s) of your piece(s).
  • Poetry: Verse using rhythm, sound, and imagery to express feelings or ideas.
  • Fiction: Made-up stories exploring characters, plots, and settings from the imagination.
  • Essay: Nonfiction writing exploring an author’s argument, perspective, or personal experience.
  • Memoir: A true story from the author’s life, focused on specific memories or experiences.
  • Playwriting/Screenwriting: Scripts written for actors to perform on stage or on screen.
• Authors may not submit more than one entry in each category, except in poetry, which has a 20-page limit. A maximum of 25 pages per submission is allowed for works of fiction, essay, memoir, or playwriting/screenwriting. Reviewers are not required to read beyond these page limits.
• Complete book-length works are not allowed. Please send a short excerpt of no more than 25 pages.
• If possible, send copies, not the originals. PEN America is unable to return manuscripts after submission.
• No entries will be disqualified based on content. Any subject matter will be considered.