The Academy of American Poets is pleased to announce that Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tyehimba Jess will judge the 2022 Academy of American Poets First Book Award, the nation’s most generous first-book prize for poetry. The winner will receive $5,000 and their manuscript will be published by Graywolf Press in 2023. In addition, the Academy of American Poets will purchase and send thousands of copies of the book to its members, which will make it one of the most widely distributed poetry books of the year. The winner will also receive a six-week all-expenses-paid residency at the Civitella Ranieri in Umbria, Italy, and will be featured in American Poets magazine and on Poets.org, which reaches millions of readers each year.
Submissions to the 2022 Academy of American Poets First Book Award will be accepted online between August 1 and October 1, 2021, and the recipient will be announced in April 2022 during National Poetry Month. All poets who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply.
To review the eligibility requirements and official guidelines, and to submit to the Academy of American Poets First Book Award, visit: https://poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/first-book-award