Alternating Current is dedicated to nurturing and promoting the independent press and its authors. We want to see great authors get paid and recognized for their crafts. We proudly honor our authors and other authors from the independent press with eight annual writing awards, sponsored by some incredible patrons of the indie arts.
The Coil Book Award recognizes an outstanding published book of merit from an independent press other than our own. All published books are eligible. The Coil Book Award annually awards a certificate, a cash honorarium, a trophy, and a full publicity package to one book of incredible merit from the indie press. FIND OUT MORE.
2015: Above All Men by Eric Shonkwiler
The Electric Book Award recognizes an unpublished manuscript of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid work, as a full-length collection or as a full-length whole. The Electric Book Award annually awards certificates, cash honorariums, print and digital publication, complimentary copies, and full publicity packages, plus royalties, to two unpublished manuscripts. SUBMIT YOUR UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT HERE.
2016: The Girl Wakes by Carmen Lau
The Spark Book Award recognizes an unpublished manuscript of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid work, as a full-length collection or as a full-length whole, that is geared toward young adults (yet does not talk down to the reader) and focuses on themes of science, mathematics, engineering, computing, invention, or history in a fresh, unique way. The Spark Book Award annually awards a certificate, a cash honorarium, print and digital publication, complimentary copies, and a full publicity package, plus royalties, to one unpublished manuscript. SUBMIT YOUR UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT HERE.
2017: Forthcoming
The Luminaire Award recognizes individual pieces of prose and poetry of a general theme submitted to Alternating Current Press. The Luminaire Award for Best Prose annually awards certificates, cash honorariums, online and print publication, and complimentary anthology copies to a first, a second, and a third place, and online publication to nine notable-mention places, for the best pieces of prose submitted to us. The Luminaire Award for Best Poetry rewards the same for the best poetry submissions. SUBMIT YOUR SHORT STORIES & POEMS HERE.
2015 Poetry: “mob of one” by normal
2015 Prose: “Chindi” by Eric Shonkwiler
2014 Poetry: [Being updated.]
2014 Prose: [Being updated.]
2013 Poetry: “No Sad Songs in the House of the Sun” by Shauna Osborn
2013 Prose: “Vandals” by Nathan Graziano
2012 Poetry: “Kind to a Spider” by Tim Staley
2011 Poetry: “Quality Time” by Tim Scannell
2010 Poetry: “Contagious” by Stephanie Hiteshew
2009 Poetry: [Being updated.]
2008 Poetry: “Cleaning Up at the Hamtramck Burger Chef” by Don Winter
The Charter Oak Award recognizes individual pieces of prose and poetry of a historical theme submitted to Alternating Current Press. The Charter Oak for Best Historical annually awards certificates, cash honorariums, online and print publication, and complimentary anthology copies to a first, a second, and a third place, and online publication to nine notable-mention places, for the best piece of writing submitted to us that focuses on a person, place, idea, or event in history in a universal, personal, and non-scholarly way. SUBMIT YOUR HISTORICAL PIECES HERE.
2015: “My Father Tells Us about Leaving Vilnius” by Lyn Lifshin
The Oblaye Award recognizes individual pieces of prose or poetry submitted to Alternating Current of, by, about, or for Great Plains residents and Great Plains Native Americans and their immediate surrounding neighbors or those with any ties thereof. Oblaye is a Lakota Sioux word for a prairie, a plain, or a level place. The Great Plains Native American nations and rural residential region is near and dear to our hearts and is sorely underrepresented in “non-cowboy” contemporary literature. The Oblaye Award annually awards a certificate, cash honorarium, online and print publication, and complimentary anthology copies to a first place, and online publication to eleven notable-mention places, for the best universal pieces that evoke the prairie and Plains regions. SUBMIT YOUR GREAT PLAINS WRITING HERE.
2017: Forthcoming
The Coil Book Award recognizes an outstanding published book of merit from an independent press other than our own. All published books are eligible. The Coil Book Award annually awards a certificate, a cash honorarium, a trophy, and a full publicity package to one book of incredible merit from the indie press. FIND OUT MORE.
2015: Above All Men by Eric Shonkwiler
The Electric Book Award recognizes an unpublished manuscript of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid work, as a full-length collection or as a full-length whole. The Electric Book Award annually awards certificates, cash honorariums, print and digital publication, complimentary copies, and full publicity packages, plus royalties, to two unpublished manuscripts. SUBMIT YOUR UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT HERE.
2016: The Girl Wakes by Carmen Lau
The Spark Book Award recognizes an unpublished manuscript of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid work, as a full-length collection or as a full-length whole, that is geared toward young adults (yet does not talk down to the reader) and focuses on themes of science, mathematics, engineering, computing, invention, or history in a fresh, unique way. The Spark Book Award annually awards a certificate, a cash honorarium, print and digital publication, complimentary copies, and a full publicity package, plus royalties, to one unpublished manuscript. SUBMIT YOUR UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT HERE.
2017: Forthcoming
The Luminaire Award recognizes individual pieces of prose and poetry of a general theme submitted to Alternating Current Press. The Luminaire Award for Best Prose annually awards certificates, cash honorariums, online and print publication, and complimentary anthology copies to a first, a second, and a third place, and online publication to nine notable-mention places, for the best pieces of prose submitted to us. The Luminaire Award for Best Poetry rewards the same for the best poetry submissions. SUBMIT YOUR SHORT STORIES & POEMS HERE.
2015 Poetry: “mob of one” by normal 2015 Prose: “Chindi” by Eric Shonkwiler 2014 Poetry: [Being updated.] 2014 Prose: [Being updated.] 2013 Poetry: “No Sad Songs in the House of the Sun” by Shauna Osborn 2013 Prose: “Vandals” by Nathan Graziano 2012 Poetry: “Kind to a Spider” by Tim Staley 2011 Poetry: “Quality Time” by Tim Scannell 2010 Poetry: “Contagious” by Stephanie Hiteshew 2009 Poetry: [Being updated.] 2008 Poetry: “Cleaning Up at the Hamtramck Burger Chef” by Don WinterThe Charter Oak Award recognizes individual pieces of prose and poetry of a historical theme submitted to Alternating Current Press. The Charter Oak for Best Historical annually awards certificates, cash honorariums, online and print publication, and complimentary anthology copies to a first, a second, and a third place, and online publication to nine notable-mention places, for the best piece of writing submitted to us that focuses on a person, place, idea, or event in history in a universal, personal, and non-scholarly way. SUBMIT YOUR HISTORICAL PIECES HERE.
2015: “My Father Tells Us about Leaving Vilnius” by Lyn Lifshin
The Oblaye Award recognizes individual pieces of prose or poetry submitted to Alternating Current of, by, about, or for Great Plains residents and Great Plains Native Americans and their immediate surrounding neighbors or those with any ties thereof. Oblaye is a Lakota Sioux word for a prairie, a plain, or a level place. The Great Plains Native American nations and rural residential region is near and dear to our hearts and is sorely underrepresented in “non-cowboy” contemporary literature. The Oblaye Award annually awards a certificate, cash honorarium, online and print publication, and complimentary anthology copies to a first place, and online publication to eleven notable-mention places, for the best universal pieces that evoke the prairie and Plains regions. SUBMIT YOUR GREAT PLAINS WRITING HERE.
2017: Forthcoming
