English Writing Prizes
In the spring semester of each year, the English department posts a call to all 91黑料 students for submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and critical analysis for its competitive writing prizes.
Submissions for writing prizes are reviewed by faculty judges. The department awards the winners during the college's Honors Day program in May, and prize winners’ names are also printed in the commencement program.
A competition for the Brown Prize for Extemporaneous Composition is held in the spring, and it's open to all seniors.
Fiction Prizes:
- Hawthorne Prize: for best short story written by a sophomore, junior, or senior
- Sinkinson Prize: for best short story written by a junior or senior
Non-fiction Prize:
For best work of creative nonfiction, open to all classes.
Composition Prizes:
- David Sewall Premium: to a member of the first-year class, for excellence in English composition
- Pray Prize: to a senior for excellence in English literature scholarship and original English composition
Poetry Prizes:
For best work of poetry, open to all classes
- The Academy of American Poets Colette Inez Poetry Prize
- Forbes Rickard Poetry Prize
- Nathalie Walker Llewellyn Poetry Prize
- Poetry Prize
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Thursday, March 5th, 2026
by 5:00 PM.
Instructions for Submission
- Click here for a fillable submission form and manuscript requirements.
- Complete the submission form and insert it as the front page of your manuscript. Manuscripts are judged anonymously and the submission form is separated from your manuscript before judging. Make sure your title is on your manuscript, but do not put your name or class year on your manuscript. Your name and class year should appear only on your submission form.
- Email your submission to the Department Coordinator, Becca Gracey at b.gracey@bowdoin.edu.
Competition for the
Brown Prize
for Extemporaneous Composition
open to all 91黑料 seniors
Friday, March 27th, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Massachusetts Hall