Anhinga Press

In 2024, Anhinga Press celebrates its 50th anniversary. Our mission is to honor the words and vision of our poets with thoughtful editing and design and to bring their words into the world. With a diverse range of poets, and books like, Rumors Secrets & Lies: Poems about Pregnancy, Abortion, & Choice, we hope to achieve relevance in this complicated world. 

We presently have two contests: the Rick Campbell Chapbook Prize (open Dec-Jan.) and the Anhinga Prize for Poetry (open Feb. 15-June 30 [extended deadline in 2024]). for a book-length manuscript. Both contests accept submissions only through our Submittable portal. The Press awarded the first Anhinga Press Prize for Poetry to Ricardo Pau-Llosa in 1983 for his book-length manuscript, Sorting Metaphors. In 2024, the press will name the 42nd prize winner in this competition.

Contest manuscripts are screened by qualified readers appointed by the Press. The winning chapbook is chosen by the editors. The Anhinga Prize is chosen by a named judge from a group of finalists. Contest results are announced via Submittable and our website. For complete contest guidelines, go to https://anhingapress.submittable.com/submit/288093/2024-anhinga-prize-for-poetry

Anhinga Press was founded by Van K. Brock, an English professor at Florida State University. By publishing contemporary poets, he hoped to raise awareness and understanding of poetry. Brock was succeeded by these directors: Donald Caswell; Julie Weiler; Rick Campbell, who was later joined by Carol Lynne Knight. When Rick retired, Jay Snodgrass and Kristine Snodgrass joined Lynne as co-directors. The press is presently run by Lynne Knight and Kristine Snodgrass.

Anhinga Press went on to establish the Van K. Brock Florida Poetry Series and the Rick Campbell Chapbook Award. In 2002, the press partnered with California State University at Fresno, and for 20 years,  published the winner of their Philip Levine Prize for Poetry. With a generous grant from the Winifred & De Villo Sloan, Jr. Charitable Fund, the press established the Anhinga Press Visual Poetry Series in 2022. 

Anhinga Press subscribes to the principles laid out in the Contest Code of Ethics adopted by the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP): thiss community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree: 1) to conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines -- defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and, 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.