Syracuse Sun

Syracuse University Press, alongside the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), is currently accepting submissions for the 2025 Veterans Writing Award. Interested participants must submit their manuscripts by February 15, 2025, via email to vwasubmissions@syr.edu.

The award offers a $1,000 cash prize and a publication contract with Syracuse University Press. Manuscripts that show high merit but are not selected for the final award may receive honorable mention.

Established in 2019, the Veterans Writing Award aims to acknowledge veterans' contributions to literature, highlight diverse veteran experiences, and provide a platform for military writers who have yet to be recognized.

Eligible entries include unpublished, full-length manuscripts. This biennial contest alternates between fiction and nonfiction; for 2025, it is open to novels and short story collections.

Eligibility extends to U.S. veterans and active-duty personnel from any branch of the U.S. military and their immediate family members, including spouses, domestic partners, siblings, parents, and children. Submissions from women veteran writers, veterans of color, Native American veterans, LGBTQ veterans, and those identifying as having a disability are particularly encouraged.

Submissions do not need to focus on direct military experience; however, original voices offering fresh perspectives that broaden readers' understanding of veterans' lives are sought after. Posthumous submissions will also be considered.

Maurice Decaul—a writer and United States Marine Corps veteran—will read the finalists' works. The winner will be announced in November 2025.

Further details regarding rules and submission guidelines can be found on the Syracuse University Press website.