IF YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE SUBMITTING VIA SUBMITTABLE, 

EMAIL YOUR POEMS TO NCLRSTAFF@ECU.EDU.

To read the full guidelines for the James Applewhite Poetry Prize Competition, including eligibility requirements, click here. 

Please follow the instructions in this form carefully.

The final judge for the 2024 competition is Jessica Jacobs. 

Deadline midnight EST April 30.

Winner receives $250 and publication in NCLR. Selected finalists will also be published and poets will receive honoraria of $25-$100/poem.

No submission fee, but you must be an NCLR subscriber OR a member of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association to have your poems included in the contest (you may subscribe after submitting). 

With a one-year subscription, submit 1-3 poems. With a two-year subscription, submit 4-5 poems. Members of the North Carolina Literary and Historical Association (who receive a subscription with their membership) may submit up to 6 poems.

There are no line restrictions; however, NCLR rarely publishes poetry longer than 2 of our designed pages (occasionally 3 pages).

NCLR AI Policy: As we continue to offer financial awards and publishing opportunities  for writers and scholars, we’re introducing measures to protect and  ensure the integrity of our creative writing contests and NCLR submissions in general from the influence of artificial intelligence. The following policy will apply to all submissions to NCLR.  This and other policies may undergo revisions to adjust for ongoing  developments in artificial intelligence:

 Artificial intelligence (AI)  approximates human-like language very well and can generate content in a  literary style. Other kinds of AI can generate convincing images. NCLR  has established contest opportunities to award human creativity. As  such, the use of Generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, Bard, Watson,  and similar tools is strictly prohibited.

Once you have submitted your poems on Submittable, you will receive an email with a link to subscription information. 

Please direct questions about the competition to nclrstaff@ecu.edu.

To check on your subscription status, please email subscriptions@dukeupress.edu or call toll-free in the US and Canada 888.651.0122 or 919.688.5134.