The inaugural Clark Closser Memorial Literature Award is offered to one contestant in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

The winning piece in each category will receive publication and a cash prize, the amount of which will be determined after submissions close. (Minimum guarantee of $75.) The runner-up in each category will receive publication and a cash prize, the amount of which will be determined after submissions close. (Minimum guarantee of $25.)

All finalists in each category will receive publication and free contest entry in next year’s contest.

The entry fee is $10, with submissions accepted through Submitable. Finalists will be announced in October, and winners will be announced in November. Response times for contest submissions may range from one to three months, depending on the submission date.

Poetry: Submit up to three poems in one file. Poems must be previously unpublished. Entries are considered anonymously, so identifiable information must be removed from the submitted manuscript. Multiple entries are allowed.

Fiction: Submit one work of fiction or nonfiction with a maximum word count of 4,000. Entries must be previously unpublished. Entries are considered anonymously, so identifiable information must be removed from the submitted manuscript. Multiple entries are allowed.