Each year, the Michigan Writers Cooperative Press (MWCP) publishes winners of its chapbook contest. The purpose of the press is to help writers publish their first book in a literary genre. Poetry, short-story collections, and works of creative nonfiction will be considered. Selections are based on literary merit not genre. In past years, MWCP has published up to three winners. Readers specializing in each genre carefully consider and jury each eligible submission.

Eligibility

The MWCP chapbook contest is open to all members of Michigan Writers, Inc. who hitherto have not been the sole or a primary author of a literary book published by any type of press, including the MWCP. This means, for example, if you have authored a culinary textbook and want to publish in a literary genre, you may submit a manuscript to MWCP. However, if you have a previously published book in a literary genre (e.g. a book of poetry with a commercial press), you are not eligible to enter the contest.

Eligible:

• You were one of a several contributors to an edited collection.
• You were the editor of an essay, story, or poetry collection published by a juried press.
• You have had one or more poems published in a regional or national literary journal.
• You have had one or more short stories published in a regional or national literary journal.
• You have a textbook published.
• You have never had anything published.
• You have self-published a book in a literary genre.

Not Eligible:

• You were one of two coauthors of an essay collection published by a juried press.
• You have a book of poems, short stories, or essays published by a juried, cooperative, commercial, or university press.
• You have won a chapbook contest sponsored by a cooperative or independent press or a publishing house.
• You had a novel or memoir published by a press.
• You are a director or the spouse or child of a MWCP or Michigan Writers, Inc. director.
• You are an adjudicator or volunteer for MWCP or the Michigan Writers, Inc.
• You have served on the Michigan Writers, Inc. board within twelve months of the contest posting.

Writers wishing to submit manuscripts for consideration must be members of Michigan Writers. If you wish to join or if your membership has lapsed, please send $40 for annual dues to:

Michigan Writers, Inc.
P.O. Box 1505
Traverse City, MI 49685

Electronic Submissions

Manuscripts will be accepted electronically through December 15, 2012, and must conform to the length available in a 40-page, 5.5 x 8.5-inch publication—roughly 10,000 words for prose or sixteen to twenty-three poems. Manuscripts longer than specified will not be read. Participants may submit only one manuscript per contest cycle. All work should be in a final draft form, thoughtfully revised, and carefully proofread.

Please attend to the following guidelines:

• Email submissions to [email protected].
• Include your name and contact information in the body of the email.
• Attach your manuscript as a Word file or RTF.
• Submit prose in double-spaced 12-point Times New Roman text. Poems need not be double-spaced.
• Because the manuscripts will be read blind, please include two title pages: one with your name, the genre of the work, and contact information; and a second with only the title.
• Include the title of the manuscript (but not your name) at the top of each page.
• Omit any references to your name/identity in the manuscript itself.
• Number all pages.

Publication decisions will be made by March 2013. Authors selected for publication are expected to participate in editorial revision, sign a contract with Michigan Writers, Inc., and provide a final digital copy of the manuscript. If any portion of a submitted work has been published, authors must affirm that they hold clear copyrights to the material. (Michigan Writers, Inc. reserves the right not to publish chapbooks during the annual MWCP cycle if there are no manuscripts judged suitable for publication.)

Cooperative Press Procedures

As participants in the Cooperative Press, authors are expected to participate in the initial editing, public readings, book signings, and other activities necessary to successfully promote their books. They will also be required to share the design and printing costs—which depends on the number of books the author orders. MWCP pays for half of the initial print run, up to 100 copies. Authors retain copyright and may include any portions of the work in future publications, provided that they acknowledge MWCP. Please send questions to: [email protected].

Judges

The chapbook contest has always followed strict guidelines for blind review and selection. All author names/identities are concealed from judges until winners are selected. Manuscripts undergo two rounds of judging: the first involves local readers—volunteers or Michigan Writers board members who have written, published, or taught in the pertinent literary genre. The second round includes outside judges who are renowned masters of the craft.

In 2010 and 2011, outside judges were Stephen Dunn, Judith Kitchen, Thomas Lynch, Patricia Ann McNair, and Lia Purpura. The 2012 judges will be announced in October.

Calendar of Events

December 15: Deadline for submission

February 1: MW chapbook committee decisions

March 1: Outside judges’ decisions

March 15-30: Winners notified and announced

April: Editing, design, and layout

May 1: Books to printer. Publicity Begins

TBA: Public reading and book launch