Entry information for Patricia Dobler Poetry Award

Open to women writers aged 40 and over who are United States citizens or permanent residents, currently living in the United States, who have not published a full-length book of poetry (chapbooks and self-published poetry books of any length excluded).

Submission information

Submission deadline: Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST
Submission email: dobleraward@carlow.edu 
Submission fee: $20 for 2 poems
Judges: Kayla Sargeson, primary judge and Allison Joseph, final judge

Prize

One prize in the form of $1000; round-trip travel, lodging, and a public reading at Carlow University in Pittsburgh with final judge Allison Joseph; and publication of the winning poem in Voices from the Attic. Prize valued at $2,000.

Eligibility

Open to women writers aged 40 and over who are United States citizens or permanent residents, currently living in the United States, who have not published a full-length book of poetry (chapbooks and self-published poetry books of any length excluded).

You are not eligible to submit your work if any of these apply: 

Exceptions: 

• You have self-published a book of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction of any length; or
• You are the author of a nonfiction work that is an academic/technical textbook, a research monograph, theological text, or a children’s book.

Submit

• Poems: Up to 2 unpublished poems of any style. One 2-poem entry per person. Each poem must be 75 lines or fewer, not counting stanza breaks. All entries will be anonymously judged, so your name, address, etc., should not appear on your poems. Simultaneous submissions accepted.
• Cover Sheet: A cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, email, poem titles, and a 1-paragraph bio.
• Format: Put your poems and your cover sheet into one document and title it: Last Name 2023 Dobler Award (e.g., Jones 2023 Dobler Award). We accept only Microsoft Word or PDF formats (doc, docx, pdf). We will not accept poems submitted in the body of an email.

Submission fee: $20 for 2 poems. If you are not able to afford the submission fee, please contact us.

Poem Eligibility

Poems that have appeared in a self-published book of poetry of any length are eligible for submission.

Poems are considered not eligible for submission if:

Copyright

The copyright reverts to the writer. The winning poem is considered a publication and thus could not be sent out to other literary magazines/anthologies; however, it could be included in a book of poems, with credit given in the acknowledgments to Voices from the Attic and Carlow University Press for first publication.

Deadline

All entries must be emailed to dobleraward@carlow.edu by Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST.

Payment

Our editorial team will review your submission to confirm its eligibility. Once they have done so, they will email you a link to pay your $20 submission fee online by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express). If you wish to pay by check, please note this in your submission email, and we will contact you to arrange payment.

Notification

The winner will be notified by phone or email by January 8, 2024. All other entrants will receive an email after this date, listing the winner and finalists. The results and winning poem will be posted on the Carlow University website (www.carlow.edu). All entrants will receive a copy of Voices from the Attic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I am a past Dobler Award entrant. Can I reapply?
Answer: Yes. This includes finalists and honorable mentions.

Question: Is an editor of an anthology of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction eligible to submit?
Answer: Yes.

Question: I live on a Native reservation, in a United States district or territory, or on a U.S. military base. Am I eligible to submit?
Answer: Yes, as long as you have a permanent U.S. residence address.

Question: I live outside of the United States for part of the year. Am I eligible to submit?
Answer: Yes, as long as you have a permanent U.S. residence address.