Shadow Dog Press is a safe place for you and for all writers, poets, and artists, no matter who you love, how much money you have in your pocket, the color of your skin, your educational background, or what you have going on in your pants.

Rules, Restrictions, Terms, and Conditions

The 2026 Editor’s Choice Award adheres to the Shadow Dog Literary Inc. Mission Statement and the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics. The contest is organized and administered in a three-phase format.

Phase I— Submission period. Submissions run from 4pm Et April 10th, 2025 through 11:59 pm EST November 10th, 2025.

Phase II— The Selection Process. Reading of manuscripts may commence no earlier than November 11th, 2025, however, in adherence with Shadow Dog Literary Inc.’s nonprofit mission statement of commitment to Publishing Excellence and maintaining high editorial standards, a minimum threshold of submissions must be met to commence the selection process. In the event that the threshold is not met by the end of the submission window, the window will be extended in 30-day increments until the threshold is met. At least one submission will be selected. The number of additional selections is based on the overall quality of the submissions received and the total volume of submissions received within the current prize cycle submission window.

Phase III- Notification Period— Decision notifications are to be sent out no later than the 25th of February 2026 provided the submission window runs as scheduled. Should the submission window need to be extended in accordance with the rules above, this date will also be adjusted. All submissions will be answered. Decisions are delivered via email. If you would also like to receive a physical decision letter, please send a S.A.S.E. to
Shadow Dog Press
P.O. Box 39
North Adams, MA 01247
before the 1st of February 2026. Selections will be announced on Shadow Dog Group’s social media channels. The Shadow’s Call newsletter, and in The SDL review. Selected manuscripts will be slated for release throughout the second half of 2026.

The Prize Packages— Each selected manuscript’s author will be awarded a transparent and competitive publishing contract with Shadow Dog Press Independent Publishing House that includes a cash advance, (payable upon signing,) royalties, and 25 author copies; marketing & promotions, a multi-page feature in The SDL Review. Up to 2 prize packages will be awarded, though every manuscript submitted is considered for alternate offers of publication.  Should a selected manuscript’s author decline our offer to publish, the prize package will default to the runner-up.

For the Editor’s Choice Awards, in furtherance of our quest to publish rising underrepresented, disadvantaged, and otherwise disenfranchised writers from beyond the academic sphere, we do not separate the creator from the creation by blind reading manuscript submissions. 

If you have any questions not answered here, please send an email to editors@ShadowDogPress.com 

Shadow Dog Press does not solicit work and only publishes work received through our submission system.

All fees collected go to paying and elevating writers and the transaction, platform, and administration fees associated with doing so. Shadow Dog Press is a small independent publishing house and is the primary funding source of Shadow Dog Literary Inc. and associated programs and grants.

NOTICE: Abuse, threats, harassment, and mistreatment directed toward any member of our staff or our contributors on or off our platforms will result in being permanently banned by Shadow Dog Literary Group, all its holdings, and partner programs, including but not limited to its current and future holdings, publications, platforms, events, social media pages, outreach and support programs, grants, scholarships, contracts, prizes, awards, etc. and reported to the authorities as necessary.