River Paw Press is pleased to announce the opening of the 2026 Silent River Poetry Prize for a First Full-Length Poetry Collection, with submissions beginning on March 20, 2026.
Created to offer meaningful publishing opportunities, this prize seeks to discover, recognize, and publish powerful new work that reflects deeply lived experiences and speaks to the human condition. We welcome poetry on all themes, with a particular interest in writing that uplifts, resonates, and engages thoughtfully with life’s complexities.
The prize is open to American writers, new or established, born in or permanently residing in the United States, who have not yet published a full-length poetry collection. Authors with previously published chapbooks or books in other genres are eligible. Self-published poets are also eligible, provided they have not published more than one full-length poetry collection.
The Silent River Poetry Prize is also offered in chapbook category. Entries in both categories—First Full-Length Poetry Collection and Chapbook—may be submitted directly to River Paw Press via email or through Duosuma.
If you have been working on a manuscript that feels ready to meet its readers, we invite you to send it our way. For guidelines, please visit our submissions page. We look forward to reading your work.
