The 2016 Pinch Literary Awards
Sponsored by the Hohenberg Foundation
December 15, 2015 – March 15, 2016
1st Place in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry each receive $1000.
Click here to view winners and judges from previous contests.
Fiction Judge: Leslie Pietrzyk
Nonfiction Judge: Nicole Hardy
Poetry Judge: Alex Lemon
THE ANNUAL PINCH LITERARY AWARDS:
RULES AND DETAILS
All entries are considered for publication. First, second, and third place winners will be selected from each category. The first place winners will be published in the Spring issue following announcement. Second and third place winners will be given high-priority consideration for publication, but because of space, cannot be guaranteed. Due to the high volume of submissions, any prize-winners will be ineligible for contest participation for three years.
Only unpublished work will be considered. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, but notify us immediately if work is accepted elsewhere. No refunds will be issued. Manuscripts will not be returned. You may submit entries online via the link below or via snail mail. Please note that emailed and/or electronically delivered entries will NOT be considered; we are only able to accept online entries through our Submittable platform at this time.
ONLINE SUBMISSIONS
$20 for the first entry of 1-3 poems or prose of up to 5000 words ; $10 for each subsequent entry. The $20 entry fee also includes one issue of The Pinch.
In the “cover letter” box please enter the author’s contact information: name, address, phone number, and email address.
We do not accept translations at this time.
The author’s name should only be entered into the text box labeled “Cover Letter.”
The author’s name should NOT appear anywhere in the uploaded contest entry document.
SNAIL MAIL SUBMISSIONS
Please enclose the following with each entry:
1. $20 for the first entry of 1-3 poems or prose of up to 5000 words; $10 for each subsequent entry. The $20 entry fee also includes one issue of The Pinch. Additional postage charge for international subscriptions.
2. A cover sheet with the author’s contact information: name, address, phone number, and email address. The
AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION SHOULD NOT APPEAR ON THE MANUSCRIPT itself. Entries that do not adhere to this policy will be DISCARDED UNREAD. Please notify us if your address or email changes. Entries postmarked outside the deadline will be discarded unread.
Code of Ethics and Contest Procedures
CLMP Contest Code Of Ethics
CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines — defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.
Process Of Selection
1st Round: All entries are submitted blind and read at least twice by our readers and editors. 5 to 10 pieces in each genre are then sent to the judges in their respective categories.
2nd Round: Judges then read the works, also blind-submitted, and choose one winner and two runners-up.
Conflicts Of Interest
Faculty, staff, or students associated with the University of Memphis within the last five years are not eligible for consideration or publication. Anyone associated with a judge will not have work considered within that category.