2025 CAAPP Book Prize/ How To Apply ($3000)
The Center for African American Poetry and Poetics (CAAPP) at the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with Autumn House Press, proudly announces the 2025 CAAPP Book Prize. This annual prize seeks to amplify the voices of writers of African descent by offering publication and a $3,000 cash award. Submissions open December 15, 2024, and will remain open until February 15, 2025.
About the Prize
Established in 2020, the CAAPP Book Prize is committed to publishing and promoting emerging writers who embody African American, African, or African diasporic experiences. The competition is open to first and second books, providing a crucial platform for new and emerging voices in literature.
The winning manuscript will be published by Autumn House Press, a renowned independent publisher dedicated to fostering innovative and diverse literary work. In addition to publication, the winner will receive a $3,000 honorarium, ensuring financial support as they continue their creative journey.
Who Can Submit?
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Writers of African descent, including those who identify with African American, African, or African diasporic experiences.
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Writers submitting their first or second book.
What Can Be Submitted?
The CAAPP Book Prize welcomes manuscripts across a wide spectrum of literary forms, provided they intersect with poetry. This includes:
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Poetry collections
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Hybrid works
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Speculative prose
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Translations
Manuscripts must meet the following requirements:
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Length: 48–168 pages
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Format: .doc, .docx, or .pdf
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Submissions per person: One manuscript only
Submission Period & Deadline
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Opens: December 15, 2024
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Closes: February 15, 2025
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Final Deadline: February 16, 2025, at 6:00 AM
Judging & Final Judge
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of distinguished editors and writers. The final judge for the 2025 prize is Cameron Awkward-Rich, an award-winning poet and scholar.
About the Final Judge
Cameron Awkward-Rich is the author of:
Sympathetic Little Monster (Ricochet Editions, 2016)
Dispatch (Persea Books, 2019)
The Terrible We: Thinking with Trans Maladjustment (Duke University Press, 2022)
His work has appeared in prestigious publications such as Kenyon Review, Poetry, Signs, and American Quarterly. A past fellow of Cave Canem, the Lannan Foundation, and ACLS, Awkward-Rich is currently an associate professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Previous Winners
Since its inception, the CAAPP Book Prize has recognized groundbreaking works, including:
Carly Inghram – The Animal Indoors
Jacques Germain – Bittering the Wound
Richard Hamilton – Discordant
Okwudili Nebeolisa – Terminal Maladies
Jasmine Reid – Interlocutor Goddess (forthcoming)
Tips for applying for writing contests
These winners have gone on to receive critical acclaim and further opportunities within the literary world.
How to Submit
Interested writers should prepare their manuscripts according to the guidelines and submit their work via Submittable during the reading period.
Why Submit?
Winning the CAAPP Book Prize offers more than just publication and a monetary award. It provides:
A platform to amplify your voice within African diasporic literary traditions.
The opportunity to work with a respected independent press.
Professional promotion and recognition within the literary community.
Creative writing course lessons
Emerging and underrepresented writers deserve opportunities that highlight and celebrate their work. If you have a manuscript that aligns with the CAAPP Book Prize’s mission, now is the time to submit.
For more details, visit the Center for African American Poetry and Poetics website.
