Chapterbook Contest

The Karen Fredericks and Frances Willitts Poetry Prize
The 2nd Annual Hotmetalpress Chapbook Contest

Our prize is $350 and 20 free copies. We also want to send every entrant a copy of the winning collection.
Page Limit: 32 pages
Fee: $20.00
Deadline: end of November 2008

If you are looking for clues as to what we look for a winner, we wish you luckbecause our selections are unpredictable and eclectic. Last year’s winner was Peter Nash’s collection of nature poems, “Tracks”; and other four top collections all have been published by other presses. Our two Best Poem winners this year included a language poem and a poem about a long-lasting love. We even have considered a high school student for a second place position. We like to take risks if the poems interest us. We do not know what poems will interest us
either until we see the poems.

Please make out a check for $20 to Hotmetalpress. Judged by Martin Willitts Jr (author of a full length book “The Secret Language of the Universe” and editor of a poetry anthology about cancer “Alternatives to Surrender”, and published many chapbooks).

Send one hardcopy of the manuscript to:
Martin Willitts Jr.
P.O. Box 4322
Rome, NY 13244

The entry rules:
Single spaced poems in 12 pt Ariel or Times New Roman.

Attach a separate page for the title page with your name, address, telephone, and email. Do not put your name anywhere else on the pages.

32 page maximum limit including title, content page, acknowledgements, and pages. Anything with more pages will be eliminated.

Include the check, the manuscript following the entry directions, and a SASE if you want the manuscript returned with a comment from Martin (he writes interesting comments) or the manuscript will be destroyed.

Attach all items together with a swing clip only. No staples, paper clips, etc.
The winner will be requested to submit a finished, edited version of the manuscript in a Word Document file upon winning. We are not responsible for any errors.