The Porch Prize

‍Established in 2019 and open to published and unpublished writers over the age of 18, The Porch Prize honors fresh voices and excellent writing. In years past, our judges have included the notable writers Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Cecily Parks, John T. Edge, Megan Stielstra, Tiana Clark, Silas House, Edgar Kunz, Kristen Arnett, Margaret Renkl, David James Poissant, Maggie Smith, Aimee Nezukhumatathil, Natalie Lima, Marianne Worthington, and Kevin Wilson.

We award a $500 cash prize and $500 Porch gift certificate to one winner in each category, and all finalists are acknowledged at our annual fundraiser. Winning entries are also published in SWING, The Porch's biannual literary print journal.

Congratulations to last year's final winners: Eli Harvey (fiction), Beth Kephart (creative nonfiction), and Aaron Herschel Shapiro (poetry).

Submissions are now open through October 15, 2026