Grid Books / Off the Grid Press

As the open submission period continues for the 2027 Off the Grid Poetry Prize, we're highlighting Grid Books authors--some of which have gone on to publish second titles with Grid after winning the OTG Prize.

Dicko King is one of those poets. His book 𝐷𝑜𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑 won the 2014 prize, and last fall his second book of poems, 𝐴 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝐴𝑚𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑦 𝐺𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑑, was published.

To learn more about Dicko, and to purchase his books of poetry, head to the Grid Books website today:
https://www.grid-books.org/dicko-king-1
https://www.grid-books.org/amnesty

Take a look back towards all of our previous Off the Grid Prize-winners as we prepare to enter the second month of open submissions for the 2027 Off the Grid Poetry Prize. Thanks to all of those who have submitted their full-length manuscripts thus far. Submissions are open until August 31, 2026. Winning collection will be chosen by poet Elise Paschen.

For submission guidelines on this year's contest, and links to get your copies of print and audiobook editions of winning collections, head to the Grid Books website today: https://www.grid-books.org/off-the-grid-press

Subscribe to the Grid Books Substack page and learn more about Elaine Sexton's "opera in poems" 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒, a libretto written in collaboration with composer Laura Kaminsky, newly published by Grid Books.

https://gridbooks.substack.com/p/a-letter-from-the-editor

In this newest "Letter from the Editor," Grid Books Director Liz Murphy discusses Sexton's work, including recent and upcoming performances of 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒.

You can also find links to order your copy of Sexton's newest book through Substack, as well as directly through the Grid Books website: https://www.grid-books.org/post-office

Submissions are now open for the 2027 Off the Grid Poetry Prize! From today until August 31st, poets over 60 are eligible to submit their full-length manuscripts, via submittable.

Head to our website for submission guidelines: https://www.grid-books.org/off-the-grid-press

This year's contest judge is poet Elise Paschen, author of six collections of poetry and recipient of numerous accolades and awards: https://elisepaschen.com/

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 until submissions open for the 2027 Off the Grid Poetry Prize. 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟎 can send full-length manuscript submissions for consideration. Winner receives $1,000 and publication, promotion, and distribution of their book in print and audio formats.

Head to our website today to learn more about 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 as well as this year's contest judge Elise Paschen.

https://www.grid-books.org/off-the-grid-press

Thank you to Jimin Han at Poets & Writers for including the Off the Grid Poetry Prize in her article "A Win Right on Time: Contests for Older Writers." The article will appear in the May/June 2026 print issue of P&W, but you can read it now on their website through the following link:
https://www.pw.org/content/a_win_right_on_time_contests_for_older_writers

Stay tuned for more information regarding the 2027 Off the Grid Poetry Prize, which opens for submissions on May 1st!

A Win Right on Time: Contests for Older Writers The author of Dreamt I Found You talks to editors and writers about a growing number of prizes honoring debuts at age 50, 60, 70, or beyond, recognizing that there is no one timeline for being a writer.

The 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐎𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞 opens for submissions in two weeks, from 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏-𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟑𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. The contest is open for 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟎 years old. Winner receives $1,000 and publication, promotion, and distribution in print and audiobook formats. Entry fee is $25.

Head to the Grid Books website for more information on 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 and previous contest winners:
https://www.grid-books.org/off-the-grid-press

We are excited to announce that the 2027 contest judge is poet 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/elise-paschen
https://elisepaschen.com/

Stay tuned for more information, and good luck to those poets submitting their manuscripts to the contest!

Tonight in Beacon NY!

Next Friday, April 17, Editor in Chief of Grid Books Liz Murphy will reader her poetry, as part of the upcoming LiveWriting event at the Howland Cultural Center, featuring four poet-publishers from the New York area.

The reading also includes 2026 Off the Grid Prize judge John Yau as well as poets Stephen Motika and Michael Broder. The event begins at 7:30, with doors opening at 7:00.

Reserve your spot by getting a ticket from the Howland Cultural Center website today!

https://www.howlandculturalcenter.org/events_whats_happening.html

Next Friday, April 17, Editor in Chief of Grid Books Liz Murphy will reader her poetry, as part of the upcoming LiveWriting event at the Howland Cultural Center, featuring four poet-publishers from the New York area.

The reading also includes 2026 Off the Grid Prize judge John Yau as well as poets Stephen Motika and Michael Broder. The event begins at 7:30, with doors opening at 7:00.

Reserve your spot by getting a ticket from the Howland Cultural Center website today!

https://www.howlandculturalcenter.org/events_whats_happening.html

Congratulations to Elaine Sexton, whose first opera, developed in collaboration with composer Laura Kaminsky, debuts at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) this spring. This week's shout-out in the New Yorker helps kick things off! Grid Books is excited to be publishing the libretto in book form--𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒: 𝐴𝑛 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑒𝑚𝑠 (May 2026). Preorder your copy today!!

To preorder your copy of 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑒, head to the Grid Books website today: https://www.grid-books.org/post-office

And to buy tickets to the opera at BAM, head to their website: https://www.bam.org/opera/2026/the-post-office