Each year, the Michigan Writers Cooperative Press (MWCP) publishes winners of its chapbook contest. Poetry, short-story collections, and works of creative nonfiction will be considered.
Selections are based on literary merit, not genre--meaning we may publish more than one winner in a given genre, or no winner in another genre. In past years, MWCP has published up to three winners. Readers specializing in each genre carefully consider and jury each eligible submission, and then forward the finalists to the contest judge.
Submissions will open Sept. 1 through Nov. 30.
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Eligibility: The MWCP chapbook contest is only open to members of Michigan Writers, Inc. who have not previously published a full-length book in a literary genre.
For complete eligibility requirements, contest guidelines, and procedures, click here.
To join Michigan Writers, click here.
For complete eligibility requirements, contest guidelines, and procedures, click here. To join Michigan Writers, click here.
Manuscripts will be accepted between September 1– November 30, 2023. All submissions must conform to the length available in a 40-page, 5.5 x 8.5-inch publication—roughly 10,000 words for prose or 16 – 30 pages of poetry. Manuscripts longer than specified will not be read. Participants may submit only one manuscript per contest cycle. All work should be in a final draft form, thoughtfully revised, and carefully proofread. Creative Nonfiction Guidelines:
- Manuscript length: 10,000 words. Please include the following, which does not count toward the limit.
- Title page (Manuscript title only; do not include your name or other identifying information.)
- Acknowledgements page (essays included in your manuscript may be previously published, but please credit the original publisher.)
- A complete table of contents
- Margins should be a minimum of one inch.
- Use Time New Roman 12-point font.
- Submit files in PDF format to ensure that your intended formatting is preserved.
Publication decisions will be made by March 2024.
For complete eligibility requirements, contest guidelines, and procedures, click here.
To join Michigan Writers, click here.
Manuscripts will be accepted between September 1, 2023 and November 30, 2023.
All submissions must conform to the length available in a 40-page, 5.5 x 8.5-inch publication—roughly 10,000 words for prose or 16 – 30 pages of poetry. Manuscripts longer than specified will not be read. Participants may submit only one manuscript per contest cycle. All work should be in a final draft form, thoughtfully revised, and carefully proofread.
Poetry Manuscript Formatting Guidelines:
- Manuscript page length: between 16 – 30 pages of poetry. Please include the following, which does not count toward the limit.
- Title page (Manuscript title only; do not include your name or other identifying information.)
- Acknowledgements page (Poems included in your manuscript may be previously published, but please credit the original publisher.)
- A complete table of contents
Only one poem per page (use the page break function on whichever word processor you utilize).
- Margins should be a minimum of one inch.
- Use Time New Roman 12-point font.
- Submit files in PDF format to ensure that your intended formatting is preserved.
Publication decisions will be made by March 2024.
For complete eligibility requirements, contest guidelines, and procedures, click here. To join Michigan Writers, click here.
Manuscripts will be accepted between September 1 -- November 30, 2023. All submissions must conform to the length available in a 40-page, 5.5 x 8.5-inch publication—roughly 10,000 words for prose or 16 – 30 pages of poetry. Manuscripts longer than specified will not be read. Participants may submit only one manuscript per contest cycle. All work should be in a final draft form, thoughtfully revised, and carefully proofread. Short Story Guidelines:
- Manuscript length: 10,000 words. Please include the following, which does not count toward the limit.
- Title page (Manuscript title only; do not include your name or other identifying information.)
- Acknowledgements page (stories included in your manuscript may be previously published, but please credit the original publisher.)
- A complete table of contents
- Margins should be a minimum of one inch.
- Use Time New Roman 12-point font.
- Submit files in PDF format to ensure that your intended formatting is preserved.
Publication decisions will be made by March 2024.