Skip to Content

Best Spiritual Literature Awards Orison Books

Each year from May 1 – August 1 we accept entries of unpublished single works in three genres (fiction, nonfiction, & poetry) for consideration for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards. The winner in each genre will receive a $500 cash prize as well as publication in Best Spiritual Literature, an annual collection of the finest spiritually engaged writing from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives that appeared in periodicals the preceding year. (The unpublished work selected for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards will be featured alongside the reprinted material.)

Submit up to 3 poems (10 pp. max), 1 story (up to 8,000 words), or 1 work of nonfiction (up to 8,000 words). Simultaneous submissions are accepted. You may submit in multiple genres, and/or submit multiple entries in each genre.

Entry Fee: $12
Submission Period: May 1 – August 1
Judges: Diamond Forde (poetry), Jacinda Townsend (fiction), and Kazim Ali (nonfiction)

Best Spiritual Literature Award - Fiction

Temp Closed

Opens on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:00 AM EDT (in 43 days)

Each year from May 1 – August 1 we accept entries of unpublished single works in three genres (fiction, nonfiction, & poetry) for consideration for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards. The winner in each genre will receive a $500 cash prize as well as publication in Best Spiritual Literature, an annual collection of the finest spiritually engaged writing from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives that appeared in periodicals the preceding year. (The unpublished work selected for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards will be featured alongside the reprinted material.)

Submit up to 3 poems (10 pp. max), 1 story (up to 8,000 words), or 1 work of nonfiction (up to 8,000 words). Simultaneous submissions are accepted. You may submit in multiple genres, and/or submit multiple entries in each genre.

Entry Fee: $12
Submission Period: May 1 – August 1
Judges: Diamond Forde (poetry), Jacinda Townsend (fiction), and Kazim Ali (nonfiction)

Electronic submissions through Duosuma only.

Do not include any identifying information in your manuscript or file name. Original English work only; no translations. Finalists will be selected by the editorial staff at Orison Books, and a winner will be selected in each genre by the anthology editors. Current or former students of the judge in the genre in which they are submitting, or anyone with a close personal relationship with that judge, are not eligible to submit. The editors also reserve the right to select no finalists, in which case all entry fees will be refunded to contest entrants.

Best Spiritual Literature Award - Nonfiction

Temp Closed

Opens on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:00 AM EDT (in 43 days)

Each year from May 1 – August 1 we accept entries of unpublished single works in three genres (fiction, nonfiction, & poetry) for consideration for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards. The winner in each genre will receive a $500 cash prize as well as publication in Best Spiritual Literature, an annual collection of the finest spiritually engaged writing from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives that appeared in periodicals the preceding year. (The unpublished work selected for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards will be featured alongside the reprinted material.)

Submit up to 3 poems (10 pp. max), 1 story (up to 8,000 words), or 1 work of nonfiction (up to 8,000 words). Simultaneous submissions are accepted. You may submit in multiple genres, and/or submit multiple entries in each genre.

Entry Fee: $12
Submission Period: May 1 – August 1
Judges: Diamond Forde (poetry), Jacinda Townsend (fiction), and Kazim Ali (nonfiction)

Electronic submissions through Duosuma only.

Do not include any identifying information in your manuscript or file name. Original English work only; no translations. Finalists will be selected by the editorial staff at Orison Books, and a winner will be selected in each genre by the anthology editors. Current or former students of the judge in the genre in which they are submitting, or anyone with a close personal relationship with that judge, are not eligible to submit. The editors also reserve the right to select no finalists, in which case all entry fees will be refunded to contest entrants.

Best Spiritual Literature Award - Poetry

Temp Closed

Opens on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:00 AM EDT (in 43 days)

Each year from May 1 – August 1 we accept entries of unpublished single works in three genres (fiction, nonfiction, & poetry) for consideration for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards. The winner in each genre will receive a $500 cash prize as well as publication in Best Spiritual Literature, an annual collection of the finest spiritually engaged writing from a broad and inclusive range of perspectives that appeared in periodicals the preceding year. (The unpublished work selected for The Best Spiritual Literature Awards will be featured alongside the reprinted material.)

Submit up to 3 poems (10 pp. max), 1 story (up to 8,000 words), or 1 work of nonfiction (up to 8,000 words). Simultaneous submissions are accepted. You may submit in multiple genres, and/or submit multiple entries in each genre.

Entry Fee: $12
Submission Period: May 1 – August 1
Judges: Diamond Forde (poetry), Jacinda Townsend (fiction), and Kazim Ali (nonfiction)

Electronic submissions through Duosuma only.

Do not include any identifying information in your manuscript or file name. Original English work only; no translations. Finalists will be selected by the editorial staff at Orison Books, and a winner will be selected in each genre by the anthology editors. Current or former students of the judge in the genre in which they are submitting, or anyone with a close personal relationship with that judge, are not eligible to submit. The editors also reserve the right to select no finalists, in which case all entry fees will be refunded to contest entrants.

Other Related Projects

Best Spiritual Literature Editorial Nominations
The Orison Chapbook Prize
The Orison Prizes in Poetry & Fiction