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The award:
The Southern Prize for Literature advances the work of writers engaged in the development of book-length manuscripts. The award is designed to provide timely support at a critical juncture in a project’s evolution, when dedicated time and resources can materially strengthen the manuscript and help bring it to completion.
Award Funds May Support
Time Replacement and Support
Lost wages or reduced hours, childcare/eldercare coverage, household help during intensive drafting/revision periods
Research, Access, and Archival Work
Travel (transportation, lodging, meals), museum/archive/library fees, copying/scanning, FOIA fees, database subscriptions, books, maps, materials, transcription, translation
Workspace and Equipment
Coworking/desk rental, internet, phone, printing, postage, computer repairs, software (Word/Scrivener/Adobe), backups/drives, recording gear for interviews
Professional Services
Manuscript consultation, developmental editing, coaching, dramaturgical support, workshop/mentorship fees, sensitivity/subject-matter readers, legal consultations for permissions/fair use/questions of libel
Fellows are not required to complete or publish the manuscript during the award period.
Eligibility
Individual writers who:
Are 18 years or older
Are full-time residents of South Arts’ nine-state region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee) and will remain a full-time resident for the duration of the award.
Are not enrolled in a degree-granting program
Are in the research or creation stages of an original literary work
Are the sole author of the submitted work
Important Dates and Deadlines
Applications Open: August 12, 2026
Application Deadline: October 7, 2026
Award Notifications: November 2026
Final Report Due: June 30, 2027
South Arts reserves the right to adjust announcement dates based on application volume and review timelines. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications are ineligible and will not be considered.
Application Components
Project Description – Include a 250-word project description that describes the book as succinctly and concretely as possible. Articulate the form of the project, the ideas it explores, and how it will ultimately manifest.
Statement of Intent – Applicants submitting work in progress should include a brief, 500-word Statement of Interest addressing:
The current stage of the manuscript
Artistic questions or challenges being explored
How award supports would advance the work
This statement is used to contextualize the sample, not to evaluate feasibility or timelines.
Work Samples – Submissions should be no more than 5,000 words from the work in progress and should demonstrate a distinctive voice, artistic intent, and command of craft. In‑progress submissions are evaluated with the same seriousness and discernment as completed work. Panelists are instructed not to penalize applicants for unfinished work, unresolved elements, or exploratory passages when those qualities are integral to the work’s developmental stage.
Review Criteria
Panelists assess writing samples based on:
Artistic Excellence (50%)
Quality, originality, and strength of work sample
Command of language, form, and structure
Strength and clarity of the writer’s voice
Artistic Merit (50%)
Artistic vision, originality, and risk‑taking
Evidence of a coherent and compelling creative direction
The work’s promise for continued development
Award Structure
awards will be as follows:
One (1) Winner will receive an unrestricted award of $25,000
Two (2) Runners-Up will each receive an unrestricted awards of $10,000
All awards are intended to support the artist’s creative practice and may be used flexibly to advance works in progress, including time for writing, revision, research, and artistic development.
Reporting Expectations
Final reporting focuses on process and impact, not completion. Writers may reflect on:
How the award supported their creative practice
Progress made on the manuscript
New directions or insights that emerged
Next steps in the work’s development
Completion or publication of the manuscript is not required for final reporting. However, once completed, Fellows agree to credit South Arts in all marketing and publications. Literary Arts Fellows will have the option of being published in a special edition of the Oxford American Summer 2027 issue. They may also be invited to participate in readings, publications, or other engagement opportunities. Participation is designed to be supportive and developmental and may include excerpts or selected portions of a work-in-progress.
Who to Contact
Please contact [email protected] for technical assistance with Salesforce or application issues.
For all other inquiries, Applicants are encouraged to contact Lisa Smalls, Director, Arts Access and Learning at [email protected]. You may also use this link to schedule a meeting.
