Submissions and Guidelines
Trio House Press sponsors two annual poetry manuscript awards and one annual creative nonfiction award:
The Trio Award for First or Second Book for emerging poets for a book of poems contributing in an innovative and distinct way to American poetry.
The Louise Bogan Award for poets at any level of publication.
Each award winner receives $1000 and twenty copies of their book, along with assistance in marketing the book.
In 2023, Trio House Press launched its first creative nonfiction manuscript contest:
The Aurora Polaris Creative Nonfiction Award.
Award winners receive $1,000 and twenty copies of their book, along with assistance in marketing the book.
Trio House Press offers an open submissions period each year, which may vary from year to year.
2024-25 SUBMISSION PERIODS:
November 1, 2024 through April 7, 2025: Trio Award and Louise Bogan Award
February 1 - May 15, 2025: Aurora Polaris Award
June 1 - June 30, 2025: Open Reading Period
Our submissions fee is $25 per manuscript for all award reading periods. We do not waive submission fees for contests, but do offer a fee-free option during our open reading period for poets with incomes of $50,000 or less per year.
Judges are forwarded unmarked manuscripts for consideration. Relatives, close friends, and current or former students of judges are not eligible for publication.
Our submissions process adheres to and supports all ethical standards and guidelines outlined by the CLMP.
GENERAL GUIDELINES (FOR ALL PERIODS/CONTESTS)
All manuscripts must be written primarily in English, and authors must reside primarily in the United States. We do not publish fiction at this time.
- The Trio Award for First or Second Book is only open to poets submitting their first or second book of poetry. Books and chapbooks with ISBN's are considered "books". Writers who have published more than two books in other genres but no books of poetry are still eligible for the Trio Award.
- The Louise Bogan Award for Artistic Merit and Excellence is open to ALL poets, regardless of publication history.
- The Aurora Polaris Award is open to all writers, regardless of publication history.
- We do not accept submissions of books that have previously been self-published for any of our contests or during our Open Reading period.
- We do not accept submissions of books that have been previously published by other publishers for any of our contests. If the book is out of print and the rights have reverted to the author, these books MAY be submitted during our Open Reading period.
- Translations are only accepted during out Open Reading period, and submissions must identify the rights holder to the work being translated. Submissions where the rights have been acquired by translators are preferred.
- Poetry manuscripts must be 48-120 pages of poetry (excluding title page, table of contents, and all front matter), written in English by a poet residing within the U.S.; creative nonfiction manuscripts must be more than 48 pages long.
- No submissions from those living outside of the United States and/or those unwilling to participate in appearances and readings in the United States for at least one full year following the publication of the manuscript.
- No submissions are accepted that are written by someone who is deceased.
- Reading fees are not waived for contests for any reason, as those funds are used to pay the prize money and the judges. We encourage those who cannot afford the reading fee to send us work during the Open Reading period in June.
- Submissions generated using AI, in full or in part, are prohibited.
- Manuscripts should be submitted in one Word or PDF file. Trio Award and Bogan Award entries must be stripped of all information identifying the author.
- Creative nonfiction manuscripts submitted for the Aurora Polaris Award do not need to be stripped of identifying information; nor do any manuscripts submitted during the Open Reading Period.
- Include and upload your cover letter with your bio and contact information in the cover letter option area. Please include links to your webpage, social media, or other online presences.
- Include an acknowledgement page of individual poems or essays or excerpts published within the manuscript. The manuscript as a whole must not be previously published.
- Multiple award submissions are accepted as long as a $25 fee accompanies each award submission.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted as long as we are notified immediately if your manuscript is chosen elsewhere, and you withdraw your manuscript on Submittable at that time.
- Relatives and current or former students of judges are not eligible for awards or publication during our contest submissions period.
- No edits can be made to manuscripts after you submit your manuscript. However, if chosen for award or publication, edits can be made prior to final proofs.
- In the unlikely event that, due to unexpected illness or life events, that a judge is unable to select an award winner, a member of the Trio House Press Editorial staff will select the award winner for the poetry contests.
- Your submission acknowledges that you understand and agree to all guidelines.
- Entrants will be notified on Submittable of the status of their submissions when finalists are chosen, usually within a month of the closing date of the contest. Finalists and winners will be announced on our website and on social media.
Trio House Press is a small, nonprofit press with a volunteer staff. We rely on donations and reading fees to fund the publication of our books. That said, we are also poets who have not always been able to afford fees ourselves. Therefore, our open reading period is on a sliding scale honor system, as suggested below:
Those with incomes over $50,000 per year: $25
Those with incomes under $50,000 per year: no charge.
This is the form for those with incomes over $50,000 per year. If you have an income of lower than $50,000 per year, you can access the fee-free submission form by clicking the link below. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER BOTH.
If you would like to donate to Trio House Press in a different amount, you may do so here (donations will not be tracked and will not have an influence on decisions to publish or not publish a manuscript): https://www.givemn.org/organization/Trio-House-Press
Our poetry and creative nonfiction open submissions period in 2025 will be from June 1 - June 30. To be considered for publication, please follow these guidelines:
- Writers must reside in the USA, or spend significant time in the USA, and be willing to participate in readings and events in the USA
- Poetry manuscripts should be at least 48 pages, but should not exceed 120 pages; creative nonfiction can be of any length.
- Manuscripts should contain no color images (photos or graphics).
- Manuscripts must be previously unpublished, unless rights have reverted to the writer; in that instance, please provide details in your cover letter.
- If manuscripts are submitted that are represented by agents, this MUST be noted in the appropriate blank.
- Translations are eligible, but final acceptance depends on the ability of the press to acquire publication rights; please provide details about the rights holder in your cover letter; if the translator has secured rights to the poems being translated. In that instance, please provide details in your cover letter.
We look forward to reading your work.
Trio House Press is a small, nonprofit press with a volunteer staff. We rely on donations and reading fees to fund the publication of our books. That said, we are also poets who have not always been able to afford fees ourselves. Therefore, our open reading period is on a sliding scale honor system, as suggested below:
Those with incomes over $50,000 per year: $25
Those with incomes under $50,000 per year: no charge.
This is the form for those with incomes under $50,000 per year. If you have an income higher than $50,000 per year, you can access the fee-based submission form by clicking the link below. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER BOTH.
If you would like to donate to Trio House Press in a different amount, you may do so here (donations will not be tracked and will not have an influence on decisions to publish or not publish a manuscript): https://www.givemn.org/organization/Trio-House-Press
Our poetry and creative nonfiction open submissions period in 2025 will be from June 1 - June 30.
To be considered for publication, please follow these guidelines:
- Writers must reside in the USA, or spend significant time in the USA, and be willing to participate in readings and events in the USA
- Poetry manuscripts should be at least 48 pages, but should not exceed 120 pages; creative nonfiction can be of any length.
- Manuscripts should contain no color images (photos or graphics).
- Manuscripts must be previously unpublished, unless rights have reverted to the writer; in that instance, please provide details in your cover letter.
- If manuscripts are submitted that are represented by agents, this MUST be noted in the appropriate blank.
- Translations are eligible, but final acceptance depends on the ability of the press to acquire publication rights; please provide details about the rights holder in your cover letter; if the translator has secured rights to the poems being translated. In that instance, please provide details in your cover letter.
We look forward to reading your work.