{"id":2737,"date":"2019-02-06T09:09:57","date_gmt":"2019-02-06T14:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regalhousepublishing.com\/?page_id=2737"},"modified":"2026-02-15T09:46:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T14:46:17","slug":"the-w-s-porter-prize","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/regalhousepublishing.com\/the-w-s-porter-prize\/","title":{"rendered":"The W.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The W.S. Porter Prize is awarded to recognize a masterfully written short story collection, while also honoring William Sydney Porter, a native born son of North Carolina and an accomplished short story writer who wrote under the pseudonym O. Henry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2025 winner of the W.S. Porter Prize: Jessica Roeder <\/a>for The Bones of the Mouse Make the Cat<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2025 W.S. Porter Prize Longlist<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are delighted to introduce a guest judge for our 2025 W. S. Porter Prize: Heather Bell Adams<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heather Bell Adams will select a winner for the 2026 W.S. Porter Prize on February 15, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner Receives:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book publication by Regal House Publishing in 2027\/8 and $1000 prize<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Timeline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regal House Publishing will announce the longlist on January 30, 2026, and our judge will select a winner on February 15, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous winners:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winner of the 2024 W.S. Porter Prize<\/strong> : Itoro Bassey <\/a>for Ajebutter Women<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 Winner of the W. S. Porter Prize<\/strong>: Stephen Pett <\/a>for This Impossible Vertical World<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2022 W.S. Porter Prize winner:<\/strong> Robert Shapard <\/a>for Bare Ana and Other Stories<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2021 W.S. Porter Prize winner: Nina Schuyler<\/a> for In this Ravishing World<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2020 W.S. Porter Prize winnner: Lisa Cupolo<\/a> for Have Mercy on Us<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2019 W.S. Porter Prize winner: Louise Marburg<\/a> for No Diving Allowed<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electronic Submissions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Submissions are invited only through Submittable<\/a>. We do not have the staff capacity to read or respond to manuscripts that are submitted by fax or email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Submission fee: $25<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Please note that, without the submission fee, we would not be able to accept contest submissions, or to offer a $1000 prize to the winner. As Regal House Publishing is a small press with limited staff capacity, contest submission fees allow us to maintain sufficient editorial resources for careful review of each and every manuscript. We understand that submission fees can be difficult to accommodate, but rest assured that because of them, your submission will be carefully read, reviewed, and considered for this prize. Thank you for your understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eligibility:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entrants must be at least 18 years of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previously published and collaborative manuscripts are not eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Employees and volunteers of Regal House Publishing, Pact Press, \nFitzroy Books or The Regal House Initiative, their partners or spouses, \ntheir immediate families, or immediate family of the judge are not \neligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manuscript Format:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n