The $2000 Bob Hicok Fellowship for Poets by ONLY POEMS
The $2000 Bob Hicok Fellowship for Poets Is Now Open: A Year-Long Opportunity to Write, Grow, and Connect
The literary platform Only Poems has announced its inaugural $2000 Bob Hicok Fellowship for Poets, open to submissions until August 31, 2025, at 5:00 a.m. (GMT). This year-long fellowship is designed to support one emerging or established poet writing in English with financial aid, mentorship, community, and publication opportunities.
Named in honor of celebrated poet Bob Hicok, this fellowship offers a rare chance for poets to focus on their work while being supported by a network that values both craft and spirit.
Benefits of the $2000 Bob Hicok Fellowship?
- $1000 cash prize
- $1000 worth of poetry workshop credits
- A 1:1 mentorship conversation with Bob Hicok himself
- Lifetime membership to Only Poems
- A year to build a fresh portfolio of poems
- Opportunity to publish:
- A quarterly column documenting your process
- A post-fellowship interview
- A featured portfolio on the Only Poems website and social media
In addition to the primary fellowship recipient, they will award five finalists:
- $200 in workshop credits
- Lifetime Only Poems membership
This fellowship values sincerity, creativity, and experimentation. Whether you are writing from a bakery or a research lab, if you are passionate about poetry, your voice is welcome.
Submission Guidelines for the $2000 Bob Hicok Fellowship
- Submit 5–10 pages of poetry, with each poem starting on a new page.
- At least one poem must be recent and unpublished.
- Other poems may be previously published — just indicate where they first appeared.
- Use the cover letter field on Submittable to include a brief personal note or statement of intent (optional but encouraged).
- The document itself should contain no identifying information.
- Do not withdraw your work if it gets published elsewhere while under consideration.
All applicants will receive a 1-year membership to Only Poems, with access details to be provided alongside the submission decision. Results will be announced in November 2025, and the fellowship will run throughout 2026.
Submit your work here: Apply on Submittable
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