The judge for the 2025 Stevens Poetry Book Manuscript Competition is Chris Abani. Chris Abani is a novelist, poet, essayist, screenwriter and playwright. Born in Nigeria to an Igbo father and English mother, he grew up in Afikpo, Nigeria, received a BA in English from Imo State University, Nigeria, an MA in English, Gender and Culture from Birkbeck College, University of London and a PhD in Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Southern California. He has resided in the United States since 2001.

He is the recipient of the PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, the Prince Claus Award, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, a California Book Award, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, a PEN Beyond the Margins Award, the PEN Hemingway Book Prize and a Guggenheim Award.

His fiction includes The Secret History of Las Vegas (Penguin 2014), Song For Night (Akashic, 2007), The Virgin of Flames (Penguin, 2007), Becoming Abigail (Akashic, 2006), GraceLand (FSG, 2004), and Masters of the Board (Delta, 1985).

His poetry collections are Sanctificum (Copper Canyon Press, 2010), There Are No Names for Red (Red Hen Press, 2010), Feed Me The Sun - Collected Long Poems (Peepal Tree Press, 2010) Hands Washing Water (Copper Canyon, 2006), Dog Woman (Red Hen, 2004), Daphne’s Lot (Red Hen, 2003) and Kalakuta Republic (Saqi, 2001).

His work has been translated into French, Italian, Spanish, German, Swedish, Romanian, Hebrew, Macedonian, Ukrainian, Portuguese, Dutch, Bosnian and Serbian.

Through his TED Talks, public speaking and essays Abani is known as an international voice on humanitarianism, art, ethics, and our shared political responsibility. His critical and personal essays have been featured in books on art and photography, as well as Witness, Parkett, The New York Times, O Magazine, and Bomb.

His many research interests include African Poetics, World Literature, 20th Century Anglophone Literature, African Presences in Medieval and Renaissance Culture, The Living Architecture of Cities, West African Music, Postcolonial and Transnational Theory, Robotics and Consciousness, Yoruba and Igbo Philosophy and Religion.

He is Board of Trustees Professor of English at Northwestern University.

General Guidelines

• Open to all poets writing in English, except for previous Stevens Competition winners. Friends, colleagues, and students of Chris Abani are asked to postpone entering until a future year.
• Original work by a single author. May contain previously published poems, but should not be a compilation of entire previously published chapbooks.
• No author identification anywhere in manuscript; no information that could disclose your identity. Do not include a bio note, acknowledgments, or blurbs. (The winner will be required to provide an acknowledgments page before the manuscript is published.)
• No content that is hate-mongering or abusive of any social, racial, ethnic, religious, or gender group. No gratuitous use of obscene or profane language.
• Include title page, table of contents, and 48 to 80 pages of poetry, counting any section title pages but not counting front matter. Notes on poems, if any, should be included in the count.
• Single-space your manuscript. Use a readable-size, conventional font such as 12-point Times New Roman. No illustrations, color type, or fancy fonts. If you write in long lines or complex formats, be aware that the winning book will be published in a 6" x 9" format, which may not allow them to be preserved.
• Number the pages of the manuscript. Begin each poem on a new page. Poems may be two or more pages in length, but do not put more than one poem on a page.
• Simultaneous and multiple submissions permitted. Notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
• No revisions after submission. (The winner will work with the NFSPS book editor to correct any typographical errors and to make any mutually acceptable minor changes.)
• Do not contact the judge. Entries from any persons found to have contacted the judge will be ineligible for the award.

Deadline

The submissions window opens August 15, 2025, and closes at midnight PST October 15, 2025. The Submittable online system will be accessible only during this time. No early or late submissions will be considered. If you are unable to use Submittable, please email stevenschair@nfsps.net no later than October 8, 2025, to ask about alternative means of submission.

Entry Categories & Fees

The submission fee is $20 for NFSPS members and $25 for non-members. Members of a state poetry society affiliated with NFSPS are automatically members. However, not all “state poetry societies” are NFSPS affiliates, so if you belong to a state poetry society, please check whether or not it appears on the pull-down list of NFSPS-affiliated societies to determine whether to submit as a member or a non-member.

The submission fee is not refundable. There will be no refunds for manuscripts found to be ineligible or withdrawn because of acceptance elsewhere or for any other reason.

How to Submit

• Click on the “submit” button on the NFSPS website. Log in to your Submittable account or follow the prompts to set up a free account.
• Select the appropriate option, member or non-member.
• Upload your manuscript, including title page with title only (no identification), in a single file (doc, docx, or pdf) into the designated area. Note that if your manuscript is selected for publication, you will need to supply an editable doc or docx file. Make sure that your name is not part of the filename.
• Pay at Submittable.com with a credit card or PayPal.
• You will be notified that your manuscript has been received.

Judging

• All manuscripts will be reviewed for compliance with guidelines and overall quality by experienced, award-winning poets with book and chapbook publications.
• 50-100 manuscripts will be sent, without identification, to the judge. A different judge is used each year. Past judges include Maggie Anderson, David Baker, Tony Barnstone, Ellen Bass, Erin Belieu, Jeff Gundy, Lola Haskins, Edward Hirsch, Peter Meinke, Carolyne Wright, and Diane Seuss.
• The winner will be contacted, and all entrants will be notified of the competition results by January 31, 2026.
• The winning manuscript will be published by the NFSPS Press, and the book will be available for sale at the NFSPS annual convention and elsewhere by July 2026. The winner will be invited to read from the book at the convention and receive a travel stipend to attend. The reading will be recorded and posted on YouTube.

Questions

You may address questions to the competition chair via email at stevenschair@nfsps.net.

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies adheres to the CLMP Code of Ethics <https://www.clmp.org/clmp-contest-code-of-ethics/>.

The judge for the 2025 Stevens Poetry Book Manuscript Competition is 

General Guidelines

• Open to all poets writing in English, except for previous Stevens Competition winners. Friends, colleagues, and students of   are asked to postpone entering until a future year.
• Original work by a single author. May contain previously published poems, but should not be a compilation of entire previously published chapbooks.
• No author identification anywhere in manuscript; no information that could disclose your identity. Do not include a bio note, acknowledgments, or blurbs. (The winner will be required to provide an acknowledgments page before the manuscript is published.)
• No content that is hate-mongering or abusive of any social, racial, ethnic, religious, or gender group. No gratuitous use of obscene or profane language.
• Include title page, table of contents, and 48 to 80 pages of poetry, counting any section title pages but not counting front matter. Notes on poems, if any, should be included in the count.
• Single-space your manuscript. Use a readable-size, conventional font such as 12-point Times New Roman. No illustrations, color type, or fancy fonts. If you write in long lines or complex formats, be aware that the winning book will be published in a 6" x 9" format, which may not allow them to be preserved.
• Number the pages of the manuscript. Begin each poem on a new page. Poems may be two or more pages in length, but do not put more than one poem on a page.
• Simultaneous and multiple submissions permitted. Notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
• No revisions after submission. (The winner will work with the NFSPS book editor to correct any typographical errors and to make any mutually acceptable minor changes.)
• Do not contact the judge. Entries from any persons found to have contacted the judge will be ineligible for the award.

Deadline

The submissions window opens August 15, 2025, and closes at midnight PST October 15, 2025. The Submittable online system will be accessible only during this time. No early or late submissions will be considered. If you are unable to use Submittable, please email stevenschair@nfsps.net no later than October 8, 2025, to ask about alternative means of submission.

Entry Categories & Fees

The submission fee is $20 for NFSPS members and $25 for non-members. Members of a state poetry society affiliated with NFSPS are automatically members. However, not all “state poetry societies” are NFSPS affiliates, so if you belong to a state poetry society, please check whether or not it appears on the pull-down list of NFSPS-affiliated societies to determine whether to submit as a member or a non-member.

The submission fee is not refundable. There will be no refunds for manuscripts found to be ineligible or withdrawn because of acceptance elsewhere or for any other reason.

How to Submit

• Click on the “submit” button on the NFSPS website. Log in to your Submittable account or follow the prompts to set up a free account.
• Select the appropriate option, member or non-member.
• Upload your manuscript, including title page with title only (no identification), in a single file (doc, docx, or pdf) into the designated area. Note that if your manuscript is selected for publication, you will need to supply an editable doc or docx file. Make sure that your name is not part of the filename.
• Pay at Submittable.com with a credit card or PayPal.
• You will be notified that your manuscript has been received.

Judging

• All manuscripts will be reviewed for compliance with guidelines and overall quality by experienced, award-winning poets with book and chapbook publications.
• 50-100 manuscripts will be sent, without identification, to the judge. A different judge is used each year. Past judges include Maggie Anderson, David Baker, Tony Barnstone, Ellen Bass, Erin Belieu, Jeff Gundy, Lola Haskins, Edward Hirsch, Peter Meinke, Carolyne Wright, and Diane Seuss.
• The winner will be contacted, and all entrants will be notified of the competition results by January 31, 2026.
• The winning manuscript will be published by the NFSPS Press, and the book will be available for sale at the NFSPS annual convention and elsewhere by July 2026. The winner will be invited to read from the book at the convention and receive a travel stipend to attend. The reading will be recorded and posted on YouTube.

Questions

You may address questions to the competition chair via email at stevenschair@nfsps.net.

The National Federation of State Poetry Societies adheres to the CLMP Code of Ethics <https://www.clmp.org/clmp-contest-code-of-ethics/>.

Ten prizes will be awarded in each division: First Place - $75, Second Place - $50, Third Place - $40, Fourth Place - $35, Fifth Place - $30, and five Honorable Mentions - $10 each.

All winning poems will be published in the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Award Anthology. Winners will receive complimentary copies. The schools of each winning student will receive a complimentary copy for the school library. There is no entry fee.

1. There are two divisions: Grade 6-8 (Junior Division) and Grades 9-12 (Senior Division). Competition is open to all qualified students.  Poems may have been previously published and/or have won previous awards. 

2. The competition is open to all USA students in grades 6 – 12.  Public, private, and homeschooled are eligible for entry by individual submission.  Individual poets may only submit one poem.

3. All entries must be entered through Submittable, and the proper application form must be completed, indicating poet’s contact information, school attended, & grade student is currently in. All students can open a Submittable account for no cost and there is no entry fee for the contest. Go to www.nfsps.submittable.com and check the appropriate grade level to submit.  

4. Each poem must be neatly typed or computer-generated and should appear on a single sheet.  In order to fit on the page, line width limit is 60 characters, including punctuation marks and spaces between words. Lines longer than 60 characters will be wrapped with a hanging indent by the editors. Any poem that exceeds the 60-character limit may be disqualified. Because our printed format will be a 6 x 9 book, some winning poems may end up printed on more than one page. The decision of the judge and/or editor is final. There should be no large or unusual fonts or illustrations. Times New Roman is the suggested font. 12-point font should be used.

5. The poem submitted must not have ID information. There should be no indication of prior awards granted or publication information. Winners may be asked for that information to be provided at the time of publication.

6. Each entrant must make a declaration of originality. The statement will be included in the Submittable application “I certify that this poem is my original work and has not been copied in whole or part from any author’s poems in print or posted on the Internet. Signed: _____________________”

7. Entries must be received on Submittable between September 15 and November 15th.

Notice of winners will be sent to each winner’s member state society (President and/or Manningham Youth Chair). Awards (certificates, checks, anthologies) will also be mailed to the student.  Each member state is responsible for celebrating their state’s winners. The top winning poems will be read at the Annual NFSPS Convention held in 2026.

Literary Standards. While we honor the First Amendment right of free speech, be aware that the winning poems will be published and distributed to school-age children. The use of inappropriate language could disqualify an entry. The decision of the judge is final. 

Any questions can be directed to secretary@nfsps.net.

Ten prizes will be awarded in each division: First Place - $75, Second Place - $50, Third Place - $40, Fourth Place - $35, Fifth Place - $30, and five Honorable Mentions - $10 each.

All winning poems will be published in the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Award Anthology. Winners will receive complimentary copies. The schools of each winning student will receive a complimentary copy for the school library. There is no entry fee.

1. There are two divisions: Grade 6-8 (Junior Division) and Grades 9-12 (Senior Division). Competition is open to all qualified students.  Poems may have been previously published and/or have won previous awards. 

2. The competition is open to all USA students in grades 6 – 12.  Public, private, and homeschooled are eligible for entry by individual submission.  Individual poets may only submit one poem.

3. All entries must be entered through Submittable, and the proper application form must be completed, indicating poet’s contact information, school attended, & grade student is currently in. All students can open a Submittable account for no cost and there is no entry fee for the contest. Go to www.nfsps.submittable.com and check the appropriate grade level to submit.  

4. Each poem must be neatly typed or computer-generated and should appear on a single sheet.  In order to fit on the page, line width limit is 60 characters, including punctuation marks and spaces between words. Lines longer than 60 characters will be wrapped with a hanging indent by the editors. Any poem that exceeds the 60-character limit may be disqualified. Because our printed format will be a 6 x 9 book, some winning poems may end up printed on more than one page. The decision of the judge and/or editor is final. There should be no large or unusual fonts or illustrations. Times New Roman is the suggested font. 12-point font should be used.

5. The poem submitted must not have ID information. There should be no indication of prior awards granted or publication information. Winners may be asked for that information to be provided at the time of publication.

6. Each entrant must make a declaration of originality. The statement will be included in the Submittable application “I certify that this poem is my original work and has not been copied in whole or part from any author’s poems in print or posted on the Internet. Signed: _____________________”

7. Entries must be received on Submittable between September 15 and November 15th.

Notice of winners will be sent to each winner’s member state society (President and/or Manningham Youth Chair). Awards (certificates, checks, anthologies) will also be mailed to the student.  Each member state is responsible for celebrating their state’s winners. The top winning poems will be read at the Annual NFSPS Convention held in 2026.

Literary Standards. While we honor the First Amendment right of free speech, be aware that the winning poems will be published and distributed to school-age children. The use of inappropriate language could disqualify an entry. The decision of the judge is final. 

Any questions can be directed to secretary@nfsps.net.