Black Lawrence Press
The St. Lawrence Book Award for a First Collection
Looking to publish your first full-length collection?


Each year Black Lawrence Press will introduce one new writer to the literary world with the publication of a first full-length collection of poems or short stories.

The Adirondack Review
The Adirondack ReviewThe Adirondack ReviewThe Adirondack Review
The Adirondack Review
The St. Lawrence Book Award for a First Collection
Tell a friend about this contest
List of Fall 2007 finalists and semi-finalists

List of Spring 2007 finalists and semi-finalists

List of Fall 2006 finalists and semi-finalists

List of Fall 2005 finalists and semi-finalists
Black River Chapbook Competition Guidelines


Black Lawrence Press is pleased to announce the semiannual Black River Chapbook Competition. Finalists will be selected by Black Lawrence Press and Adirondack Review staff. Entry fee: $15.00. The prize is $300 and publication, with 25 copies going to the winner. The postmark deadlines for entries to the Black River Chapbook Competition are May 31 (spring) and October 31 (fall) of each year.

To enter, submit manuscript of 16-36 pages of poetry OR short stories (not a combination of both) along with a $15.00 entry fee for each manuscript entered. Multiple submissions are acceptable. Checks should be made payable to Black Lawrence Press. Money orders are also acceptable. Send e-mail address for results.

Please make sure that your submission packet includes the following:

  • cover letter with brief bio and contact information including e-mail address
  • acknowledgments page for publications in which the poems/stories first appeared (if applicable)
  • a contest entry fee of $15.00.


No electronic submissions, please. Please include a table of contents page and make sure that each page of your manuscript is numbered. Make checks payable to Black Lawrence Press. Please do not include a manuscript-sized SASE; all manuscripts will be recycled. Include a valid e-mail address so that we may contact you with a decision. All work must be the original work of the author.

A list of finalists will be posted on the Black Lawrence Press website as soon as it is available.

Simultaneous submissions are fine, but you must notify Black Lawrence Press immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere for publication.

Please be sure to include your e-mail address. Entry fees are non-refundable.


Contest deadlines: May 31 (June 15 with grace period)
and October 31 (November 15 with grace period)


Send manuscript materials and contest entry fee to:



BLACK LAWRENCE PRESS
Colleen Ryor, Editor
305 Keyes Avenue
Watertown, NY 13601

Calling all procrastinators: Black Lawrence Press is now offering all writers a 15-day grace period on contest deadlines. Each season we inevitably get a few disappointed writers who just missed the deadline or had some other reason they couldn't make it to the post office in time, etc. As creative individuals, we know too well that procrastination is often part of the territory. For this reason, you don't need to write and request an extension or anything, just take up to 15 extra days after the posted deadline. We will accept all contest entries up to 15 (but not 16, and not 17, etc.) days after the official contest deadline. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, etc.
Deadlines: May 31 & October 31
Black Lawrence Press will start announcing all finalists and semi-finalists of contests on the website on or before July 31 (spring) and December 31 (fall), respectively. The winners of each contest will be announced shortly thereafter.

It is no longer necessary to send a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) with contest entries or regular submissions. All authors should check the site for status of contest entries. Authors sending regular (i.e., non-contest) submissions will be notified by e-mail, so please be sure to include a valid e-mail address with all work.
Contemporary Literature & Non-Fiction