Allen Ginsberg (Photo by: Ellen Denuto)
The Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards
Honoring Allen Ginsberg’s contribution to American literature and his Paterson upbringing, this annual poetry competition awards the first prize of $2000, the second prize of $1000, and the third prize of $500 for a single poem.
1.Up to five unpublished poems per person will be accepted for consideration.
2. Three copies of each poem should be submitted for distribution to the judges.
3. Each poem should be no longer than two manuscript pages.
4. Pages with poems should not include the poet’s name; instead a separate cover sheet should list the poet’s name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, and poem titles.
5. Poems cannot be returned. Please do not submit poems that imitate Allen Ginsberg’s work.
6. A check for $18.00 payable to PCCC must accompany the submission (write “Poetry Contest” in the memo section of the check). There is a $55 bounced check fee for checks returned for insufficient funds.
7. Deadline: February 1, 2024 (postmarked).
The winners will be announced in spring 2024 on this website. Poems by the Winners, Honorable Mentions, and Editor's Choice recipients are included in the Paterson Literary Review and the poets are invited to read at The Poetry Center in historic downtown Paterson.
Contest guidelines for the 2024 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards (pdf)
For previous award winners, see The Poetry Center’s press releases.