The Helena Whitehill Book Award

Submission period: August 15th – October 31st (postmark or online submission date).

About the Award

The Helena Whitehill Book Award honors Helena Whitehill, a lover of words and poetry who believed creative expression should be accessible to everyone. Established by her daughter, Sally Whitehill—an author, screenwriter, and Tupelo Press Board member—this prize replaces the Sunken Garden Chapbook Award and is open to manuscripts of poetry (any length) and creative nonfiction, including memoir, essays, and hybrid work.

Sally Whitehill writes: “My mother, Helena Whitehill, loved words, and in particular, poetry. She believed creative expression should and could be for everybody, and passed this belief on to me and to my sisters. In Tupelo Press and Jeffrey Levine, I am excited to find partners who share this doctrine. The anonymous nature of the submission process for the Helena Whitehill Book Award is one way we have put this belief into action. I can think of no better way to honor my mother than to support this prize and other writers.”

An author and screenwriter, Sally Whitehill holds an MFA from NYU and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Creative Writing at King’s College, London.

Prize

• $1,000 cash award
• Publication by Tupelo Press
• Book launch event
• National and international distribution by the University of Chicago Press
• One-week residency at Gentle House on the Olympic Peninsula

All finalists will be considered for publication. Unlike other Tupelo Press prizes, this award has no page limit and is open to both poetry (chapbook or full-length) and creative nonfiction.

Eligibility

• Open to writers in English, regardless of residency or prior publication history
• Translations and previously self-published books are not eligible
• Employees of Tupelo Press and authors with books previously published by Tupelo Press are ineligible
• Poets with personal, student-teacher, or mentoring relationships with the contest judge, or those whose work is reasonably likely to be recognized by the judge, are ineligible

Submissions are judged anonymously. Writers may submit the same manuscript to multiple contests or publishers, provided Tupelo Press is notified promptly if the work is accepted elsewhere.

Manuscript Requirements

• Previously unpublished full or chapbook-length poetry manuscripts or creative nonfiction manuscripts (no page limit)
• Individual poems or essays may have been previously published, but the manuscript as a whole must be unpublished
• Include a table of contents
• For paper submissions:
  • Two cover pages: one with the manuscript title only, the other with title, name, address, telephone number, and email address
  • Optional: acknowledgments page for prior publications
  • No cover letters or biographical notes (these will not be read until the contest concludes)
• For online submissions:
  • Single cover page with the manuscript title only (contact information entered separately in Subfolio)

Tupelo Press values technical virtuosity, vivid imagery, musical language, risk-taking, and insight into human experience. Manuscripts are read with full respect, regardless of length.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Tupelo Press does not accept writing or translations generated by AI software, as it prioritizes intentional human creativity. If AI-generated content is quoted or referenced, it must be clearly acknowledged. Work exploring AI technologies will only be considered if the means of generation are explicitly disclosed.

Notification

• Results announced in spring
• Entrants notified via:
  • Postal mail (if a SASE is included)
  • Email (if provided)
  • Website posting

To confirm receipt of paper manuscripts, include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Online submissions receive automatic confirmation via Subfolio. Due to volume, individual acknowledgments beyond these methods are not provided.

Deadline

All entries must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight (EST) on October 31st, 2026.

Reading Fee

A $30 (U.S.) reading fee is required per submission. Multiple submissions are accepted, each with a separate fee.

Reading fees support Tupelo Press’s nonprofit operations, including community outreach, mentorship programs, free educational materials, scholarships, and funded writing retreats.

Submission Instructions

• Online: Submit via Subfolio beginning August 15th. Ensure the manuscript is complete and formatted correctly before uploading.
• Postal Mail:
  • Domestic: Tupelo Press, Berkshire Prize, PO Box 1767, North Adams, MA 01247
  • International: Tupelo Press, Berkshire Prize, 60 Roberts Drive, Ste 307, North Adams, MA 01247 USA
  • Include a check or money order payable to Tupelo Press for the reading fee

Email or fax submissions are not accepted.