Applications are invited for the University of Pittsburgh Press Drue Heinz Literature Prize 2021. The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world.
The award is open to authors who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.
Prizes
Winners receive
A cash prize of $15,000
Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press
Support in the nation-wide promotion of their book
Eligibility
Open to writers who have published a novel or a book-length collection of fiction with a reputable book publisher, or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in magazines or journals of national distribution. Digital-only publication and self-publication do not count toward this requirement.
The award is open to writers in English, whether or not they are citizens of the United States.
University of Pittsburgh employees, former employees, current students, and those who have been students within the last three years are not eligible for the award.
Translations are not eligible if the translation was not done by the author.
Eligible submissions include an unpublished manuscript of short stories; two or more novellas (a novella may comprise a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 150 and no more than 300 pages. Prior publication of your manuscript as a whole in any format (including electronic) makes it ineligible.
Stories or novellas previously published in magazines or journals or in book form as part of an anthology are eligible.
Manuscripts may also be under consideration by other publishers, but if a manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere and you wish to accept this offer, please notify the Press immediately. Manuscripts under contract elsewhere are no longer eligible for the Prize.
Authors may submit more than one manuscript to the competition as long as one manuscript or a portion thereof does not duplicate material submitted in another manuscript.
Application
Applications may be submitted electronically or by mail.
Format for Mail-in Submissions:
Manuscripts must be double-spaced on quality white paper, unbound, and pages must be numbered consecutively. Clean, legible photocopies on high quality white paper are acceptable.
Manuscripts will be judged anonymously. Each manuscript should have two cover pages: one listing the title of the manuscript and the author’s name, address, e-mail address (if available), and telephone number; and a second listing only the manuscript title. The author’s name, other identifying information, and publication information must not appear after the first cover page.
Manuscripts will not be returned. Enclose a self-addressed stamped postcard for acknowledgement of receipt. For results, please check our website.
Send submissions to:
Drue Heinz Literature Prize
University of Pittsburgh Press
7500 Thomas Blvd., 4th floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
All submissions must be postmarked on or after May 1 and on or before June 30. Note: 15260 is the correct and exclusive zip code for the University of Pittsburgh and the Press. For UPS, FedEx, etc., zip code 15208 should be used. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please e-mail eomalley@upress.pitt.edu.
Format for Electronic Submission
During the submission period (May 1 – June 30) you can apply via the link below. You’ll be taken to a secure submittable webpage where you’ll find easy-to-follow instructions
Manuscripts must be double-spaced and pages must be numbered consecutively.
Each submission must include a list of all of the writer’s published short fiction work, with full citations. You will be given an opportunity to enter this information into a field in Submittable.
Manuscripts will be judged anonymously. Therefore, the author’s name, other identifying information, and publication information must not appear within the manuscript. Only your uploaded manuscript is visible to the judges.
Click here to apply online
For more information, visit Drue Heinz Literature Prize.
