DAG Literature FAQs :
Eligibility
What do you mean by "a book of prose"? A book of prose is one in which the language’s formal, metrical, visual, or sonic properties are of secondary importance to the sense or story the words convey. Novels, essay collections, memoirs, and short story collections, whether traditional or experimental, are certainly examples of books of prose, but we are also interested in projects that seek to expand or blur these boundaries, or develop original formal and linguistic approaches. While a book of prose may therefore contain elements of poetry, visual art, or other forms, the writing should be primarily recognized and categorized as prose. (In the case of a previously published book, you might also ask where it is shelved in a bookstore or library, or how it is described on its copyright page or back cover.)
Is poetry eligible for the DAG Prize? No. The DAG Prize for Literature is awarded to writers working on books of prose. Books of poetry are not eligible.
What do you mean by “prominent literary recognition”? The DAG Prize will be awarded to a writer who has not yet won a major national or international prize (see eligibility criteria for a list of the relevant prizes), who has not been the recipient of numerous prestigious grants and/or fellowships, and whose first book was not a bestseller, Oprah pick, major motion picture, etc. Writers who have enjoyed some support or visibility of this kind are eligible for the prize, but the winner will likely be someone for whom the DAG Prize is, to date, their most noteworthy literary achievement.
What does it mean that the proposed project should be “substantially underway”? Your proposed project should be one that you have been working on for some time and for which you have developed a comprehensive vision and work plan. You should be well past the “idea stage” and firmly committed to seeing the project through to completion. Maybe you’ve already written a first draft and are working on revisions, or you have gone through different approaches and are refining the project en route to that first draft. Applicants whose book ideas are new or broadly sketched are unlikely to win the prize.
I have written a first book of prose but it isn’t published yet. Am I eligible for the DAG Prize? No. Only writers who have published a first book of prose by the application deadline are eligible for the DAG Prize.
My first book was a collection of poems / children’s book / technical manual. Am I eligible for the DAG Prize? Your first book must be a book of prose literature intended for an adult audience. By our definition, none of the above examples would qualify or confer eligibility upon an applicant.
Does a chapbook count as a first book? If your first book was published by a nationally distributed press, was not co-authored or self-published, and has its own ISBN number, then it qualifies for eligibility.
My first book is under contract and will be published after the application deadline. Am I still eligible for the DAG Prize? If your first book of prose will not be published by March 18, 2026, you are not eligible for this year’s prize. We encourage you to apply next year.
I am currently submitting my second book to publishers. If it is accepted after the application deadline, will I be disqualified from the DAG Prize? No. As long as your second book of prose is not under contract as of March 18, 2026, you are eligible for the DAG Prize.
I sold my first and second books in a two-book deal, but the second book has not yet been published. Am I still eligible for the DAG Prize? No. If your second book is under contract, you are no longer eligible for the DAG Prize.
I have published a second book in a genre other than literary prose (poetry, children’s literature, technical manual, etc.). Am I still eligible for the DAG Prize? Yes. If your other published book (or books) are not prose literature, as defined above, it does not disqualify you from the DAG Prize. Another way to think about this: If a book would not have qualified you for the prize as a first book, it does not disqualify you for the prize as a second book.
I have published several books of poetry, but only one book of prose. Am I still eligible for the DAG Prize? Yes. As long as you have one, and only one, previously published book of prose, you are eligible for the DAG Prize.
My first book was a hybrid or hard-to-categorize writing project. How will you determine whether I am eligible for the DAG Prize? We will look at such entries on a case by case basis, using the definitions and criteria provided elsewhere on this page, and erring on the side of eligibility. However, a book that is shelved/marketed as something other than prose, or clearly indicates on the back cover that it is not a book of prose, will be considered ineligible.
My first book was co-written. Am I eligible for the DAG Prize? No. Your first book of prose must be a single-author book.
My second project is a collaboration. Can I still apply for the DAG Prize? No. The DAG Prize will be awarded to an individual working on a book of which they are the sole author. We cannot consider collaborative projects.
Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or legal resident to be eligible for the DAG Prize? No. Applicants must reside in the United States as of March 18, 2026, but we don’t consider your legal status.
Can I apply for the DAG Prize in more than one category? Yes, you can apply for the DAG Prize in any category for which you meet the eligibility requirements.
I applied for the DAG Prize last year but didn’t win. Can I apply again? Yes, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.
I have a question about eligibility that isn’t addressed here. What should I do? Please email literature@dagfoundation.org with your question. You will receive a reply within two business days. Leave yourself enough time–we cannot guarantee that questions asked very close to the deadline will be answered before the deadline passes.
Application Materials
What kind of writing does the DAG Foundation like best? The DAG Foundation was formed to support artists whose work challenges convention, tradition, and vogue. The work that interests us is work that offers significant innovation–for example, at the level of form, content, or genre. While there are still many impressive books of conventional prose published every year, we hope for the recipients of the DAG Prize to add something new and unique to that overall picture. Please see the list of previous winners and finalists for examples of work that has caught our eye in the past.
What file formats do you accept? All required files must be submitted in PDF format.
What font and margins should I use in my documents? Please use a standard, readable font that you would use in professional communication, such as Times New Roman, Georgia, Calibri, or Geneva. Margins should be at least 1” on the left, right, top, and bottom.
I can’t fit all of my publications and accomplishments in a 250-word bio. What should I do? Please submit a bio of 250 words or less. Many applicants will have extensive professional histories, but these should be shortened to convey only the most relevant information about your activities as a writer.
My CV is much longer than 3 pages. Can I send it anyway? Please abridge your CV to a maximum length of 3 pages. Many applicants will have extensive professional histories and longer CVs; these should be shortened to convey only the most relevant information about your activities as a writer. CVs in excess of 3 pages will not be read and may disqualify your application.
I have so much to say about my new project! Can I send a description that is longer than 500 words? Please submit a project description of 500 words or less. Descriptions in excess of 500 words will not be read and may disqualify your application.
I have written only 10 pages of my new project. Will that be a sufficient excerpt? We will read all excerpts up to 25 pages in length. However, we are only interested in projects that are significantly underway. If you have written only 10 pages of the new project, it is extremely unlikely to win the prize.
My new project is finished. Can I submit the entire manuscript? Please submit a maximum of 25 pages from the proposed project. Longer submissions will not be read and may disqualify your application.
Can I submit an excerpt from my first book or a writing sample from another project, instead of an excerpt from the proposed project? The excerpt you submit should be from the project for which you are requesting support from the DAG Foundation. Submissions of previously published work or excerpts from manuscripts other than the proposed project will not be read.
My agent has started shopping my new manuscript. Can she send you her pitch letter? No. We do not accept pitches, nominations, or letters of support. Please do not ask anyone to contact DAG on your behalf.
Can I send my application materials by email or street mail? No. We only accept applications via the application platform.
General Submission
I am having problems with the application platform. What should I do? Please email info@dagfoundation.org and describe the problem. You will receive a reply within two business days. Leave yourself enough time–we cannot guarantee that problems reported very close to the deadline will be addressed before the deadline passes.
Can you make an exception to the deadline so that I can submit my application after March 18? We cannot make exceptions to the application deadline.
I’m working on several new projects. May I submit applications for each of them? No. We can accept only one application from any individual writer. Writers who submit more than one application will be disqualified.
I already submitted my application but I have changed my mind and would like to submit a different project. Is that ok? We are unable to make changes to an application once it has been submitted.
Will you give me feedback on my submission? No. The DAG Foundation cannot provide feedback or suggestions regarding submissions to the DAG Prize for Literature.
When will I find out the results of the contest? Finalists for the 2026 DAG Prize for Literature will be announced in early May, 2026. All applicants will be notified of their status at that time. The winner will be announced in July.