PEN Prison Writing Awards Grant

The PEN Prison Writing Awards, initiated after the 1971 Attica Prison Riots, invites incarcerated writers in the U.S. to submit unpublished works across various genres including Poetry, Fiction, and Memoir. Winners receive cash prizes and their works are published in an annual anthology. This program not only recognizes talent within carceral facilities but also supports writers through mentorship, fostering creativity and expression in challenging circumstances.

The PEN Prison Writing Awards was initiated in the wake of the 1971 Attica Prison Riots as the founding program for the Prison and Justice Writing Program at PEN America. Each year, the program invites writers in carceral facilities across the United States to submit unpublished work in the genre categories of Poetry, Fiction, Essay, Memoir, and Playwriting/Screenwriting.
Winners in each genre category are awarded cash prizes of $300, $200, $150, and $75 for First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention, respectively. Winning entries are also published in the annual PEN Prison Writing Awards Anthology, and award recipients are invited to develop their writing as part of the PEN Prison Writing Mentorship Program.

Eligibility

Entries are accepted from adults incarcerated in a federal or state prison, county jail, or other detention center. Only unpublished work is eligible for consideration. No entries will be disqualified based on content. Any subject matter will be considered.Poetry: Verse using rhythm, sound, and imagery to express feelings or ideas.
Fiction: Made-up stories exploring characters, plots, and settings from the imagination.
Essay: Nonfiction writing exploring an author’s argument, perspective, or personal experience.
Memoir: A true story from the author’s life, focused on specific memories or experiences.
Playwriting/Screenwriting: Scripts written for actors to perform on stage or on screen.

Ineligibility

Work published anywhere online is ineligible.Complete book-length works are not allowed. Please send a short excerpt of no more than 25 pages.