Submissions are now being accepted for the TS Eliot Prize 2010, for books published in the UK and Ireland from 1st January to 31st December 2010.
The Guidelines list all the formats that submissions can be made in, but please do send finished books wherever possible.
The Submissions Deadline is 17.00, Wednesday 28th July 2010.
The deadline is final and non-negotiable. The office is open from 09.30 to 17.30 Monday to Friday, and they only accept submissions within these times. They cannot collect abortive deliveries from Royal Mail depots etc., nor will they accept proof of postage as a mitigating circumstance if submissions are delayed.
All submissions will be acknowledged by email. If you do not receive an email within a reasonable period, please call the office on 020 7831 7468. Please note: if the submissions period closes and you have received no written or verbal confirmation of receipt, then your submission has not been entered for the Prize.
Guidelines:
THE PRIZE
A Prize of £15,000 will be awarded to the best collection of new verse in English first published in the UK or the Republic of Ireland in 2010. The ten shortlisted poets will also each receive a cheque for £1,000.
ELIGIBILITY
a) First publication in the UK may include simultaneous publication (within a period of six months) in other countries.
b) A collection must be the work of one poet. Anthologies and volumes of collected or selected work will not be eligible.
c) A posthumous collection will be eligible only if it is published within nine months of the poet's death.
d) At least eighty percent of the poems in the collection must not have been published before in book form.
e) Books which contain more than 20% translations (or versions, imitations or any poetry inspired by the work of one or more other writers) will not be eligible. Percentages should be calculated on the total number of lines of poetry in a book.
f) A ‘book’ shall be defined as having at least 48 pages.
g) Entries from individual poets of their own work will not be accepted.
SUBMISSIONS
a) Work can be submitted by the publisher in page proof, typescript, photocopy, or finished book form. Four copies of each submission together with a completed and signed submissions form and covering letter from the publisher stating that the submission(s) conform(s) with these rules and conditions must be sent to: The T S Eliot Prize 2010, The Poetry Book Society, Dutch House, 307 – 308 High Holborn, London WC1V 7LL.
b) Eligible collections which have been submitted for quarterly selection by the Poetry Book Society shall be considered for the prize on submission of a further four copies of the work.
c) The last date for submissions will be 17.00 on Wednesday 28th July 2010.
THE SHORTLIST
a) A shortlist of books selected for the prize will be announced in early November 2010 and published in the Poetry Book Society Winter Bulletin.
b) The list will comprise not less than six and not more than ten books.
c) The quarterly Choices of the Poetry Book Society will be given places on the shortlist.
d) Books which have been submitted in manuscript form should also be provided as bound copies if they are given places on the shortlist.
REPRODUCTION OF POEMS
Between one and three poems from each of the shortlisted titles will be reproduced on press releases, the Poetry Bookshop Online and PBS websites, in emails and the T S Eliot Prize Reading Group Scheme for the purposes of marketing the relevant book, the Reading or the Prize itself. In addition to this, two poems will be made available to schools as part of the TS Eliot Prize Shadowing Scheme.
THE JUDGING
a) There will be three poets on the 2010 judging panel.
b) Each judge will have one vote.
c) In the event of a tied vote, the chair will have the casting vote.
d) The final judging will take place and the prize will be awarded in mid-January 2011.
