National Literary Awards
The Department of English co-sponsors three national literary prizes: the Cabell First Novelist Award, the Levis Reading Prize, and the Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize.
Cabell First Novelist Award
To recognize a rising new talent in the literary world who has successfully published a first novel, nominations are solicited nationwide from publishers, editors, agents, and writers. The award includes a $5,000 cash prize, annual festivities, and a public reading celebrating the award-winning book and writer.
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![Cabell First Novelist Award - Virginia Commonwealth University](/media/english/misc-images/11/cabellFirst1x1.jpg)
Levis Reading Prize
This annual prize is awarded to the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Winners receive an honorarium of $5,000 and are brought to Richmond all expenses paid for a reception and public reading.
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![A sketch of Larry Levis holding a cigarette](/media/english/misc-images/11/levisLarry1x1.jpg)
Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto Short Fiction Prize
The $2,000 awarded periodically is to the best work of short fiction published by Blackbird, with a particular emphasis on work by an emerging or underappreciated writer. No application form or fee is required; all short fiction submitted to the journal is eligible.
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![Blackbird journal logo: a stylized blackbird perched on the K of the word Blackbird overlaying the image of a photorealistic moon with a dark blue sky behind. The bird has a red berry in its beak the dot from the letter I in Blackbird.](/media/english/misc-images/11/blackbird1x1.jpg)