The Coniston Prize

About The Coniston Prize

The Coniston Prize is an annual award that recognizes an exceptional group of poems by a woman writing in English. The winner receives $1,000 and is featured in Radar's dedicated contest issue, which is released in October of each year. Finalists are also awarded publication.

Read the work of previous winners below:

2018: Erin Malone, selected by Martha Rhodes

2017: Emily Viggiano Saland, selected by Dorothea Lasky

2016: Sarah Ann Winn, selected by Gabrielle Calvocoressi 

2015: Alexandra Lytton Regalado, selected by Lynn Emanuel

2014: Flower Conroy, selected by Mary Biddinger

2019 Judge: Kim Addonizi

Kim Addonizio has authored twelve books of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Her most recent are Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions from a Writing Life, from Penguin, and Mortal Trash: Poems from W.W.  Norton. Her work has been recognized with two NEA Fellowships, a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Pushcart Prizes, and other honors. Her poetry collection Tell Me was a finalist for the National Book Award. Addonizio teaches poetry workshops online and in her home in Oakland, California. Read more: www.kimaddonizio.com.

Guidelines

Submissions are open July 1 through September 1 annually. We notify all entrants on or before October 1. The entry fee is $15. 

Submit 3-6 previously unpublished poems in a single document through our submissions manager. You may include a cover letter and brief bio in the comments box. Multiple submissions are acceptable with additional reading fee.

Please remove all identifying information from the poems themselves. All contest submissions will be read anonymously.

This award recognizes an exceptional group of poems. We therefore suggest that you submit poems that are intentionally cohesive in some way, whether connected by subject matter, theme, voice, style, or imagery.

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but we cannot refund contest fees if you have to withdraw all or part of your submission. Multiple entries are acceptable with an additional fee.  

Eligibility

The Coniston Prize is awarded only to women poets.

If you know the editors or our judge personally, you should not submit your work. This includes current or former students of the editors or the judge. If such a relationship is identified, your entry will be disqualified. 

Process

Each year, the editors first read all Coniston Prize submissions without viewing any personal information (name, cover letter, or bio). From these submissions, the editors select up to 10 finalists. The finalists' manuscripts, free of any identifying information, are sent to that year's contest judge, who then selects a winner.