Steel Toe Books

2023 PRIZES

We're pleased to announce the Steel Toe Books 2023 Prize in Poetry and the Steel Toe Books 2023 Prize in Prose, for fiction and nonfiction opens January 1, 2023!

​All books submitted to the awards are considered for general publication and are published as print and eBooks. In addition to the winner, we look to publish 1-2 other titles in each category. 

Deadline this year is Sept 1.

We also host an open chapbook category which includes an honorarium and copies. (Events and readings suspended due to covid). We publish 1-3 chapbooks per year and take more chances with this category.

Steel Toe has published 30 books since 2003 and has opened up to prose beginning in 2020.

Please see individual entry categories for guidelines.  All submissions are read blind. We occasional work with judges and will announce judges at the beginning of the prize launch. (no external judges for 2023). For our contests, we adhere to the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics.

Please send us your edgy and risk-taking, diverse and dynamic work! All subject matter welcome, inclusive of historically marginalized voices.

Multiple submissions are accepted, but please inform us promptly of a withdrawal. 

Our 2023 General submissions are open for Spring 2023.  Summer 2023 general submissions will open early in Summer 2023.

Books selected from our general open category receive a regular royalties based contract, copies, and significant marketing for the title. We submit to awards and submit for reviews. 

Editors in house read general open submission titles blind and look for personal and emotional connections to the work.

All submissions should be polished, final drafts.

Please see individual categories for deadlines.

Multiple submissions are accepted, but please inform us promptly of a withdrawal. 

A Note on Re-Submissions / Edits:
Please take care to dot your i's and cross your t's. We cannot entertain most requests for edits once submitted. Folks are allowed to re-submit to the open or prizes, but it's typically best to allow some time to pass before resubmitting and or to have worked on the piece in a substantial way. It's best not to re-submit to the open in the same year.

Please use direct messaging via social media for instructions on how to apply for a fee waiver if you are suffering hardship.