2007 Judge: Patty Seyburn
2007 Deadline: October 1

The Gatewood Prize is Switchback Books’ annual competition for a first full-length collection of poems by a woman writing in English between the ages of 18 and 39. It is named after Emma Gatewood, the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. Guidelines for the Gatewood Prize Switchback Books editors will select at least 10 finalists and a judge will select the prizewinner, who will be recognized with a cash prize of $1000 and publication by Switchback Books. Manuscripts remain anonymous until a winner is selected.

General Terms:
Poet must be a woman between the ages of 18 and 39 Writers who have had chapbooks of less than 42 pages printed in editions of no more than 400 copies are eligible. Students and former students of this year’s judge may not enter; close friends of the judge are also not considered eligible. Entry fee of $25 must accompany each submission; make check payable to Switchback Books. Fee entitles entrant to a copy of the winning book. Please enclose a self-addressed 8 x 10 envelope with $1.42 postage to receive a copy. Multiple manuscript submissions are acceptable, but each manuscript must be entered under a separate cover, with a separate entry fee. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable; please let us know immediately if your manuscript is accepted by another publisher while under our consideration. No revisions to submitted manuscripts will be considered; the winning manuscript may be revised before publication. Translations ineligible.

Manuscript Requirements:
Between 48 and 80 pages of poetry, paginated
Bound with a removable clip and nothing more
Include two cover pages: one with title of the manuscript only, the other with title of manuscript, name, address, telephone number, and email address
No other cover letter necessary
No acknowledgments page
Anonymous (do not include your name anywhere on the manuscript itself)
Notification:
Enclose an SAS-postcard for confirmation of receipt of manuscript
Enclose an SASE for notification of winner
Do not enclose an SASE for return of manuscript; all manuscripts will be recycled at end of contest term
International submissions must include US postage; IRCs will not be honored.
Go to www.usps.com to purchase US postage
TELL US IF YOU MOVE. Send new address to: editors@switchbackbooks.com

Deadline:
Envelope must be postmarked on or before October 1, 2007
Mail manuscript and entry fee to:

The Gatewood Prize
Switchback Books
PO Box 478868
Chicago, IL 60647