Eligible Writers
Poets and fiction writers who are residents of North Dakota or South Dakota are eligible to apply if they:
- Reside in North Dakota or South Dakota presently and for at least two years prior to the application deadline, which is March 1, 2025.
- Have never published a book or have published no more than one full-length book in the genre in which they are applying.
Winners and runners-up will be asked to submit verification of residency, as well as publication history.
Writers may apply in poetry and/or fiction (only one manuscript per category).
Employees of Poets & Writers, Inc. are not eligible.
Awards
One poet and one fiction writer will be selected as winners. Winners will be announced in summer 2025. Each will receive:
- A $500 honorarium.
- An all-expenses-paid trip to New York City in fall 2025 to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers, and to give a public reading, hosted by Poets & Writers.
- A one-month residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming.
Manuscript Submission Requirements
- Poetry manuscripts should not exceed ten pages, single or double-spaced (minimum of 7 pages).
- Fiction manuscripts should not exceed 25 pages and must be double-spaced. Fiction manuscripts may include stories and/or excerpts from novels.
Published work may be included; however, photocopies of previously published work from a book or a magazine will not be accepted. Published work submitted for this award must conform to the above manuscript requirements and should not be identified as published work.
All work must be the applicant’s original work and written in English; translations are not eligible. There are no restrictions on style or subject matter.
Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award
Eligible Writers
Poets and fiction writers who are residents of North Dakota or South Dakota are eligible to apply if they:
- Reside in North Dakota or South Dakota presently and for at least two years prior to the application deadline, which is March 1, 2025.
- Have never published a book or have published no more than one full-length book in the genre in which they are applying.
Winners and runners-up will be asked to submit verification of residency, as well as publication history.
Writers may apply in poetry and/or fiction (only one manuscript per category).
Employees of Poets & Writers, Inc. are not eligible.
Awards
One poet and one fiction writer will be selected as winners. Winners will be announced in summer 2025. Each will receive:
- A $500 honorarium.
- An all-expenses-paid trip to New York City in fall 2025 to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers, and to give a public reading, hosted by Poets & Writers.
- A one-month residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming.
Manuscript Submission Requirements
- Poetry manuscripts should not exceed ten pages, single or double-spaced (minimum of 7 pages).
- Fiction manuscripts should not exceed 25 pages and must be double-spaced. Fiction manuscripts may include stories and/or excerpts from novels.
Published work may be included; however, photocopies of previously published work from a book or a magazine will not be accepted. Published work submitted for this award must conform to the above manuscript requirements and should not be identified as published work.
All work must be the applicant’s original work and written in English; translations are not eligible. There are no restrictions on style or subject matter.