The 5th Annual Arthur Smith Poetry Prize (2025)

• September 1, 2025, submission deadline.
• Winners will be announced in January 2026 
• The winning poet receives a $1,000 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 10 copies of the published book. 
• Finalists will also be considered for future publication.
• Learn about the history of the Arthur Smith Poetry Prize and previous winners here: https://madvillepublishing.com/3rd-annual-arthur-smith-poetry-prize-2/ 

2025 Final Judge: 

Jeff Hardin is the author of seven collections of poetry, most recently Watermark,  A Clearing Space in the Middle of Being, No Other Kind of World, and Small Revolution. His work has been honored with the Nicholas Roerich Prize, the Donald Justice Poetry Prize, and the X. J. Kennedy Prize. Originally from Savannah, Tennessee, he has taught for almost three decades at Columbia State Community College in Columbia, Tennessee.

Author Photo: A. J. Holmes

2025 Preliminary Readers: 

Karen George and Brian Griffin 

Competition Guidelines

• Eligibility: We will be happy to receive work by any poet writing in English. Poems published in print or online periodicals, anthologies, or chapbooks may be included, but the manuscript itself must be unpublished. Original work only; translations are ineligible.
• Format: Minimum of 48 pages. There is no maximum length, but we expect manuscripts not to be much more than 90 pages. Pages should be numbered with no more than one poem per page. Please include a title page with title only, a table of contents, and an acknowledgments page.
• Simultaneous Submissions: Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. Please notify Madville Publishing immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.
• Multiple Submissions: Submission of more than one manuscript is acceptable, but each manuscript must be submitted separately and include a separate entry fee.
• International Submissions: We accept international submissions.
•  Revisions: The winner will have the opportunity to revise the manuscript before publication. No revisions will be considered during the reading period.
• SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE BLIND. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE AUTHOR NAME ANYWHERE ON THE MANUSCRIPT.
• Entry Fee: $25
• Deadline: September 1, 2025
• Winner will be announced January 2026.