The Cornerstone Press, the university press of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, is accepting submissions for the Linda Nemec Foster First Book Award for Poetry. The prize is named in honor of poet Linda Nemec Foster, award-winning author of fourteen collections, a Michigan Notable Book Author, finalist for the Michigan Governor's Artist Award, Pushcart Prize nominee, first prize winner of the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award, and founder of the Contemporary Writers Series at Aquinas College.
Submission Period:
May 1 – August 1, 2025
Submission Materials (via Submittable):
1. Full manuscript (60-70 pages of poetry), with title page and (when appropriate) acknowledgments page.
2. Cover Letter (including author bio, mailing address, phone number, and email address).
3. $15 entrance fee.
4. Entrants will be notified if a submission does not meet the requirements. Refunds will be issued for such submissions.
Winner Receives:
1. $1000 advance to the winner.
2. Publication by Cornerstone Press (standard contract issued upon announcement of winner).
3. Individual marketing/publicity campaign overseen by press interns.
4. Ten copies of the book.
5. Copyright remains with the author.
Guidelines:
1. Submission must be entrant’s first book of any kind (including chapbooks).
2. Submission must be the entrant’s original work. The use of AI in any way is prohibited.
3. Submission must be previously unpublished, save for portions published in journals or magazines prior to submission (entrant must list previous publication venues with their submission materials).
Judging Process:
1. All entries are submitted to a blinded review process. Reviewers and judges do not know the identity of entrants.
2. Only winners will be contacted, and no feedback will be provided except to the finalists.
3. The decisions of the reviewers and judges are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging process.
4. Contest judges include past press editors and alumni of the UWSP publishing program.
5. Judges will produce a shortlist of 5 finalists, followed by the final announcement of the winner.
6. Finalists announcement: September 1, 2025
7. Prize announcement: October 1, 2025
8. Publication: February 2026