PEN Center USA is now accepting submissions to the 2011 Literary Awards!

Since 1982, PEN USA has sponsored a unique regional literary awards competition to recognize outstanding works published or produced by writers who reside in the western United States. Winners are selected in ten categories—Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Research Nonfiction, Poetry, Children's & Young Adult Literature, Translation, Literary Journalism, Drama, Teleplay and Screenplay—by panels of judges comprised of writers, editors, critics and booksellers.

Who Is Eligible? Authors, journalists, playwrights and screen and television writers whose primary residence is in the United States west of the Mississippi River, including all of Minnesota and Louisiana. For works by two writers or more, the majority of the writers must reside west of the Mississippi River, or in Minnesota or Louisiana. Works may be submitted by writers, their publishers, producers, agents or publicists.

Literary Award winners are granted PEN USA membership for one year, a cash prize of $1,000 and 2 tickets to the Literary Awards Festival in Los Angeles, where winners are honored.

Submissions must have been published or produced between January 1st and December 31st of the year 2010.

To apply, see the official guidelines and submission form below and download the pdf. Please return the completed form with four non-returnable copies and a $35 entry fee for each submission.

For more information, email awards@penusa.org.