The 2008 Omnidawn Poetry Prize is Omnidawn
Publishing’s first annual contest for a first or second full-length
collection of poems by a poet writing in English. The contest will be
judged by Marjorie Welish, with a cash prize of $2,000 and Fall 2009
publication by Omnidawn Publishing. Manuscripts will remain anonymous
until a winner is selected.

General Guidelines:
#- The entering manuscript must be a first or second full length book.
Chapbook publication has no bearing on this.
#- The poet must be writing in English.
#- Entry fee of $25 must accompany each submission; make check payable to Omnidawn Publishing. We cannot accept any other form of payment at this time. The
entry fee entitles you to one Omnidawn title from our catalogue. Please
see website page “Omnidawn Titles” for full catalogue, and include an
index card with your name and chosen title. Also include an addressed
and stamped envelope to cover shipping. If you do not include these we
will assume you are forfeiting this option. See checklist below to
determine correct postage for your requested book.
#-
Multiple submissions are acceptable but each manuscript must be entered
under separate cover, each with separate check for entry fee.
#- Simultaneous submissions are fine but please let us know if your
manuscript is accepted by another publisher while under our
consideration.
#- No revisions to submitted manuscripts will be considered.
#- Translations are ineligible.

Manuscript Submission Requirements:
#- Manuscript should be between 60 to 90 pages, paginated, enclosed in
a standard manila folder. Nothing should be written on the manila
folder. Each manuscript should include one cover page with title of
manuscript only and a second cover page with title plus your name,
address, telephone number and email address.
#- Please include a table of contents but no acknowledgements page.
Because the reading process is anonymous, please do not submit a cover
letter or bio.
#- Please do not contact us with queries regarding the status of your
submission. Your cancelled check will indicate that we have received
your entry.
#- We will announce the contest results on our web page. If you would
like notification of winner, enclose an SASE. But this is not a
requirement. (International SASE must include adequate US postage or
mailing coupons <http://www.usps.com>)
#- DO NOT
enclose a SASE for return of manuscript; all manuscripts will be
recycled at the end of our contest. Please notify us if you move; send
new address to: <submissions@omnidawn.com>.

Deadline:
#- Envelope must be postmarked on or between March 1st of 2008 and June
30th of 2008. No Fed Ex, UPS or signature-required USPS express mail
envelopes will be accepted.
#- Mail manuscript and entry fee to:
OMNIDAWN POETRY PRIZE
Omnidawn Publishing
311 Monterey St
Vallejo, CA 94590

How We Judge:
The entries are logged into a database by an assistant not associated
with the reading process who registers the personal address information
of the entrant, the title of the manuscript, assigns it a number and
removes all identifying materials. The manuscripts are then anonymously
submitted to the editors of Omnidawn for screening. Omnidawn does not
use interns or students to screen for this contest. For the sake of
avoiding any conflict of interest, if one of the readers recognizes the
work of a colleague, student, or friend, then that manuscript is given
to another editor.
The final judge receives 50 manuscripts (an expected 30% of the
submissions) from which to select the winner. If the final judge wishes
to see additional manuscripts she may request them; the judge is not,
however, permitted to request specific manuscripts. Friends, colleagues, and students of the judge are not eligible to compete. The judge is not allowed to choose manuscripts that present a conflict of interest.
 
Omnidawn abides by the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics
The CLMP 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.

Book Production, Distribution, Advertising, and Complimentary Copies
The prize winning book will be produced, distributed, and advertised to
Omnidawn standards and will also meet the Green Press Initiative
standards and have the Green Press Initiative statement on the
copyright page. The book will be printed using the same archival
quality acid-free paper and full four-color cover used for other
Omnidawn books. As with other Omnidawn books, we will encourage the
winning poet to participate in the design of the book, including choice
of typefaces, cover colors and artwork, with all stages subject to the
approval of the winning poet. The book will be distributed worldwide by
Omnidawn's distributor, Independent Publishers Group, and will be
advertised along with other Omnidawn books in Poets & Writers Magazine, American Poetry Review, American Book Review, Rain Taxi,
and other publications. All costs, including production, distribution,
and advertising will be fully paid for by Omnidawn. In addition to the
$2,000 cash prize, the winning poet will also receive 100 copies of the
book free of charge.  

Checklist for submission:

#- In a manila folder:
-manuscript and
-one cover page with title of manuscript only and
-a second cover page with title plus your name, address, telephone number and email address.

#- Processing fee of $25 payable to Omnidawn Publishing (separate check for each submission).

#- (optional) SASE for notification (results will be posted on our web site).

#- (optional) For your FREE BOOK:
a)  an index card with your name & choice of one Omnidawn title printed on it
b)  a self-addressed envelope
-with title of requested book printed in lower left-hand corner of envelope
-with correct postage for sending this book to you (see below).

*******************************
POSTAGE for your free book (Based on new May 12, 2008 rates):

#- For ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SEVEN TITLES (which are heavier than our other books):
include a US Post Office 9.5"x 12.5" Flat Rate Priority Mail Envelope
with $ 4.80 postage. (We will enclose the book in a 9"x 12" heavy
cardboard mailer for protection and place this inside your flat rate
envelope and mail it back to you. The envelope must be a "flat rate"
envelope, because the shipping weight will be 2-3 pounds and the
postage for a non-flat rate envelope would be up to $11.50)

SKUNK: A LOVE STORY (fiction)
IN A TOWN CALLED MUNDOMUERTO (fiction)
PARASPHERES (fiction)
A SEMBLANCE (poetry)
ON SPEC (poetry)
INVISIBLE GREEN (poetics)
LYRIC & SPIRIT (poetics)

********
#- For ANY OTHER Omnidawn title:
include an 8.5 by 11 size mailer or envelope with $2.53 postage
(six .41 cent stamps + 7 cents more in stamps). We will enclose the
book in a bubble wrap mailer for protection and place this inside your
envelope and mail it back to you.)

**************************************************

#- For sending your free book to international addresses:
Appropriate U.S. postage or mailing coupon must be enclosed for the
higher rates required to ship the book to your location. Enclose U.S.
postage or coupon to cover either 10 ounces for the smaller books or 2
pounds for the seven larger books listed above (see  http://www.usps.com).

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