2025 Book Prize

$1,000 advance and an optional/standard contract from Unleash Press for one winning manuscript. 

Finalists will be considered for publication. Novels, poetry collections, short story collections, and creative nonfiction manuscripts are accepted. Full-length, completed manuscripts only. Reprints are welcome so long as the author maintains full rights.

• Submissions are $35.

 Guidelines (please read before submitting):

• Submissions will be accepted until December 1, 2024. 
• We accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify us immediately if you wish to withdraw it from consideration.
• Multiple submissions are accepted. Please submit each manuscript separately.
• There are no refunds if you withdraw a submission.
• Please include a cover letter with a summary. Your name and contact information may appear in the cover letter area. 
• Please leave all identifying information off the manuscript as the first round of reading is blind.
• The minimum length of a manuscript is 30,000 words for prose or 70 pages for poetry.
• Genres accepted include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and experimental/hybrid. 
• If guidelines are not followed, the manuscript will be automatically rejected (e.g., including identifying information on the manuscript).
• *Note: The publishing contract is optional and contingent on the author maintaining full rights to the work. Reprints are accepted for consideration.

Formatting:

• Please include page numbers.
• Please double-space and use a 12pt font.
• Your name should not be anywhere on the manuscript. (See above.) 
• Submit as a .doc, .docx, .rtf, or PDF file format.

While you wait for us to read, check out our new lit journal home at www.unleashlit.com!

*Note: This year, we will be reading and reviewing manuscripts on a rolling basis, so if we choose not to move forward, you may hear from us before the end of the contest.  We have a limited number of fee waivers available. If you cannot afford tp pay the submission, please email us at info@unleashcreatives.com
 

We abide by the CLMP Code of Ethics and pledge 

• to conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors;
• to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—define conflict of interest for all parties involved; and
• to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. Namely, submissions are read without identifying information (see guidelines). All manuscripts are evaluated by at least two raters/readers.