PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers recognizes 12 emerging writers each year for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. The 12 winning stories are selected by a committee of three judges who are well-respected experts in the art of the short story. The winning writers each receive a $2,000 cash prize and will be published by Catapult in their annual anthology, Best Debut Short Stories: The PEN America Dau Prize.

The prize is generously supported by the family of the late Robert J. Dau, whose commitment to the literary arts has made him a fitting namesake for this career-launching prize. Inspired by Dau’s hometown in northern Michigan and its proximity to Walloon Lake, where Ernest Hemingway spent much time and derived inspiration from, the prize promotes emerging voices and spotlights the next generation of fiction writers.

Submissions for the 2025 cycle  are now open through November 1, 2024. Submit here. 

2024 Winners

History

History

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are writers still eligible if they have published poetry and/or nonfiction before?

A: Yes, so long as the story submitted is the writer’s first fiction publication. Writers who have published one or more books of poetry, nonfiction, or other writing which has undergone editorial review are ineligible for the prize.

Q: The story I plan to submit does not fit the exact formatting specifications (Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, double-spaced). Do I need to reformat?

A:We understand that many literary journals publish stories according to their formatting conventions and that therefore, the style of the PDFs does not conform to the formatting specifications. If the copy is legible online and in hard copy, you do not need to reformat.

Q: We would like to nominate an author who had a short story published on another online magazine almost simultaneously. We accepted the writer’s story first, but the magazine published their work first. Which publication is eligible to submit?

A: We consider only whichever work was readable to the public first. If this situation presents itself as an issue, please write to [email protected] for more clarification.

Q: An author has previously published work on a blog or as a part of a school project. Are they still eligible?

A: An author becomes ineligible if the previous work underwent an editorial review process with a publication the author was not affiliated with academically or professionally. Blog posts that have not been reviewed by an editor do not render the writer ineligible.

Q: The author I wish to nominate has a piece that was accepted to our magazine this year, but the story will be published next year. Can I still submit their work for the current awards cycle?

A: Submitted stories must be published in the calendar year prior to the corresponding Awards Ceremony. For example, for the 2020 awards cycle, stories must have been published in 2019 to be considered eligible. If the story is published in 2020, you may submit it for the 2021 awards cycle.

Q: Can I submit PDFs from our forthcoming fall or winter issue?

A: Yes. You may submit PDFs for forthcoming stories as long as they are published by the end of the required calendar year.

Q: If an author has only published one short story during their career but has self-published writing online or as a book, does that in any way interfere with the author’s eligibility for this prize?

A: This prize is for a writer’s first fiction publication that has gone through an editorial review process. If the self-published writing has generated significant sales or readership, please email [email protected] with the number of copies sold, years self-published, and other relevant information to confirm eligibility.

Q: We’re publishing a debut short story as an e-book or anthology. Do you accept galleys?

A: An author would be ineligible if they are being published in a book with a press. Stories published in anthologies are ineligible.

Q: Would a creative nonfiction story be eligible for the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers?

A: No, the prize is for works of fiction only.

Q: Are the writers signing a contract with Catapult for First North American Serial Rights? Does this contract include digital rights?

A: Writers would sign with Catapult for nonexclusive, second serial rights for print and digital. All other rights will be retained by the author. It’ll be as author-friendly as it can get.

Q: I’ve received an award/grant/scholarship for my writing, but have never been published. Am I still eligible?

A: Yes, so long as this is your first piece of fiction writing published that has also undergone editorial review.

Q: What if my short story was first published in an anthology—does that count?

A: No, stories whose first publication is in an anthology are ineligible. Participating publications include literary magazines, journals, or cultural websites published on a recurring schedule.

Q: The story I want to submit was originally written in a language other than English, and has been translated into English. This is the story’s first publication in English, and the original writer’s first published piece of fiction. Is it eligible?

A: No. The debut short story must be originally published in English. Translations are not eligible.

Q: The story I want to submit is written by a writer who has published a few stories in a language other than English, but this is their first publication in English. Is this story eligible?

A: No, the debut story has to be the writer’s first short story or piece of fiction ever published in any language that has undergone an editorial review process.

Q: Previously, only U.S.-based publications were eligible. My journal is based in Australia. Are we eligible to submit our debut stories?

A: Yes, so long as the stories were originally published in English and meet all the eligibility requirements.