About the Prize

Established in 2022, the Changes Book Prize awards $10,000 and publication by Changes to the author of a first or second collection of poems. The winning poet receives a generous publishing contract with national distribution, extensive publicity, and a book launch event in New York City. This year's winning manuscript will be selected by poet Eileen Myles.

Eligibility
 

1. The Changes Book Prize is open to residents of the United States who have not published (or committed to publishing) more than one book-length collection of poetry with a registered ISBN.
2. Manuscripts must be submitted via Submittable by November 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.
3. Current or former students, colleagues, employees, family members, and close friends of the judge are not eligible for the prize.

Standards & Commitments
 

1. From year to year, The Changes Book Prize book series aims to reflect the variousness of what is possible in poetry. To that end, we are committed to publishing work from the widest possible range ofpractices and perspectives.
2. Criteria for selecting a winning manuscript are broad; the judge and first readers do not screen submissions with a preference for any particular “style” or type of poetry, and emphatically are not looking for work that bears an affinity to their own.
3. The Changes Book Prize is administered in accordance with the Code of Ethics developed by the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP). The judge will use an anonymous review process to select the winning manuscript.

Submission Guidelines
 

1. Submissions must be original poetry manuscripts written in the English language. Poems published in print or online periodicals, anthologies, or chapbooks may be included, but the manuscript itself must be unpublished. Translations and works by multiple authors are not accepted.
2. Manuscripts must be a minimum of 48 numbered pages and a maximum of 80 numbered pages in length, including the title page and table of contents. All manuscripts must be paginated. Each new poem must start on a new page.
3. Manuscripts should be formatted using a standard typeface in 12-point font. Manuscripts may be single-spaced, 1.5-spaced, or double-spaced.
4. Upload your manuscript as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file. Include a title page with the title only and a table of contents. Author’s name should not appear on any pages within the uploaded document.
5. Where indicated on Submittable, include a brief bio (no more than 200 words) and a list of acknowledgments of previously published poems. Do not include acknowledgements, biographical information, or any other cover letter within the document of the manuscript.
6. Submitting more than one manuscript to the prize is not allowed. Manuscripts that do not adhere to submission guidelines will not be considered.
7. Revisions or corrections are not permitted once your manuscript has been submitted. The prizewinner will have an opportunity to edit their manuscript prior to publication.
8. You may simultaneously submit your manuscript elsewhere, but please notify us immediately if it is accepted for publication.
9. The Changes Book Prize reserves the right of the judge to not choose a winner for any given year of the competition.

About Us:

Changes is an independent publisher and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York City, supporting poets through grant-making programs and book sales/publishing.
 

Job Description:

We’re looking for a new Managing Editor. The ideal candidate is someone who has the experience and skills required to act as a conductor for our small operation, overseeing production on various books and projects as well as the press and its operations as a whole. The Managing Editor will liaise between Changes staff and the various professionals who make it possible to do what we do (e.g., Editors, Contributing Authors, Printers, Designers, Distributors, Accountants, Publicists, Event Planners, and other professionals in the field), creating project timelines and tracking progress toward deadlines across multiple workflows, and providing updates & reminders as needed on the status of our various work products.
 

Our Ideal Candidate:

Professionalism, good communication skills, and a high level of attention to detail are required. The ideal candidate will also have a four-year degree and at least one year of work experience as a Managing Editor for a literary publisher or publication. Job duties may also include assisting with everyday operations of the press as needed (e.g., running outreach to bookstores, posting to social media channels, creating address labels and managing the shipment of books, press mailers, and merchandise). For the candidate who is self-directed in their work and able to drive their own growth in their role, this is a position with many opportunities for advancement. It would be our strong preference to find someone local for the role but we are open to discovering that the Managing Editor of our dreams lives somewhere other than New York City.
 

Job Structure and Pay:

This is a part-time role, designed to fit with the schedule of someone who may have other work, studies, or responsibilities to attend to throughout the week. Pay is $25-50/hour depending on the applicant's skills and experience. Our expectation is that it should take 4-8 hours of work each week to fulfill the duties of the role. Most of this time will be flexible, remote, and unsupervised, with the exception of one hour-long weekly team meeting which the Managing Editor will run. The Managing Editor will be expected to monitor inboxes and project management software regularly throughout the work week, and respond to emails promptly (i.e., at least once daily).
 

Work Experience:

Project Management (required)

Managing Editor (preferred)

Publishing (preferred)

Skills:

Project Management

Time Management

Communication

Attention to detail

Scheduling

Deadlines