Submissions
Trio House Press publishes poetry and creative nonfiction. Manuscripts are accepted during these time frames:
November 1 - March 31:
Trio Award and Louise Bogan Award: Poetry Manuscripts accepted for the Trio Award and Louise Bogan Award competitions. Winners of each contest receive $1,000 and publication. The reading fee is $25
NEW: January 1 - March 31:
In 2027, to celebrate Trio House Press' 15th Birthday, we will offer a new contest: The Agate Award in the Novel. The winner receives $1,500 and publication.The reading fee is $30.
February 1 - May 15:
Aurora Polaris Award in Creative Nonfiction: Creative Nonfiction Manuscripts accepted for the Aurora Polaris Award in Creative Nonfiction. The winner received $1,000 and publication. The reading fee is $25
June 1 - 30:
Open Reading Period: Poetry manuscripts, creative nonfiction manuscripts, and translation manuscripts are accepted. There is a $25 reading fee for submitters who earn more than $50K per year. The reading fee is waived for those who earn less than $50K per year and those who entered one of the above contests and did not win.
NEW in 2026! August 1 - November 7, 2026:
The Scott King Award in Eco-Poetry: Poetry manuscripts focused on nature, rural life, and eco-poetry are accepted. The winner receives $1,000 and publication. There is a $25 reading fee. This award alternates between poetry in even years and prose in odd years.
Trio House Press Scott King Award in Eco-Poetry
Trio House Press is pleased to sponsor the inaugural Scott King Award in Eco-Poetry, judged by Anna Lena Phillips Bell.
Scott King was the founder of Red Dragonfly Press, which operated from 1996 - 2026, and was acquired by Trio House Press. To honor the memory of Scott King, who published many poetry books centered on eco-poetics, nature, and rural themes, Trio House Press is launching the Scott King Award in Eco-Poetry in 2026, a semi-annual contest which will also begin a new imprint centered on environmental and ecological titles at Trio House Press: Red Dragonfly Books.
Poets are encouraged to submit manuscripts centered on eco-poetics, nature, and/or rural themes.
Award: $1,000, publication, and 25 books
Entry fee: $25 per manuscript
Submissions are open from August 1 - November 7, 2026. Submissions received outside of this period will not be considered for the award.
For complete guidelines and to submit, click the button below
Meet the judge: Anna Lena Phillips Bell
Anna Lena Phillips Bell is the author of Might Could, winner of the Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize, from Waywiser Books. She is also the author of Ornament, winner of the Vassar Miller Poetry Prize, and the chapbook Smaller Songs, from St Brigid Press. Her work appears in journals including the Southern Review, Orion, Electric Literature, Evergreen Review, and the Oxford American. The recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship in literature and the Winter Anthology Award, she has served since 2013 as the editor of Ecotone. She is an associate professor in the creative writing department at UNC Wilmington, and calls ungendered Appalachian square dances in what’s now called North Carolina and beyond.
Trio House Press Novel Award: Agate Award for the Novel
Trio House Press is pleased to offer the Agate Award for a novel over 50,000 words, open to writers at any stage of their career. This award will be offered for the first time in 2027, and will be judged by anonymous readers and the Trio House Press editorial staff.
Award: $1,500, publication, and 50 books
Entry fee: $30 per manuscript
Submissions are open from January 1 - March 31 each year. Submissions received outside of this period will not be considered for the award.
For complete guidelines and to submit, click the button below
Trio House Press Creative Nonfiction Book Award: Aurora Polaris
Trio House Press is pleased to offer the Aurora Polaris Award for a book of creative nonfiction from 45,000 to 80,000 words, open to writers at any stage of their career, in any form of creative nonfiction. In 2026, the contest will be judged by previous winners, including Deborah Derrickson Kossmann, Samina Najmi, and Jason Prokowiew.
Award: $1,000, publication, and 20 books
Entry fee: $25 per manuscript
Submissions are open from February 1 - May 15 each year. Submissions received outside of this period will not be considered for the award.
For complete guidelines and to submit, click the button below
Trio House Press Trio Award & Bogan Award
Since 2012, Trio House Press has held two poetry book manuscript contests: The Trio Award for a First or Second Book of Poetry, and the Louise Bogan Award for Excellence in Poetry.
Award: $1,000, publication, and 20 books
Entry fee: $25 per manuscript
Submissions are open from November 1 - March 31. Submissions received outside of this period will not be considered for the award.
For complete guidelines and to submit, click the button below