Each year the Texas Institute of Letters awards more than $26,000 to recognize outstanding literary works in several categories. Eligibility for the awards requires that the author was born in Texas or has lived in Texas for at least five consecutive years at some time. A work with subject matter that substantially concerns Texas is also eligible. The years below refer to the eligible first publication date of the annual award.
SUBMISSIONS
Instructions to enter the TIL’s Literary Contests for works published in 2022 will be posted here and on the front page of the website in late September of 2022. Check back to download the PDF.
Award Winners for 2020 and 2021
Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction ($6,000)
2021 
2020
Sergio Troncoso Award for Best First Book of Fiction ($4,000)
2021 
2020
Carr P. Collins Award for Best Book of Nonfiction ($5,000)
2021 
2020
Helen C. Smith Memorial Award for Best Book of Poetry ($1,500)
2021 
2020
John A. Robertson Award for Best First Book of Poetry ($1,000)
2021 
2020
Ramirez Family Award for Most Significant Scholarly Book ($2,500)
2021 
2020
Jean Flynn Award for Best Young Adult Book ($1,000)
2021 
2020 co-winner 
2020 co-winner
Deirdre Siobhan FlynnBass Award for Best Middle Grade Book ($1,000)
2021 
2020
Fred Whitehead Award for Best Design of a Trade Book ($1,500)
2019-2020
Brigid Erin Flynn Award for Best Picture Book ($1,000)
2021 
2020
Soeurette Diehl Fraser Award for Best Translation of a Book ($1,000)
2020-2021
Kay Cattarulla Award for Best Short Story ($1,000)
- Dagoberto Gilb, “Two Red Foxes,” ZYZZYVA, 2021.
- David Meischen, “Crossing the Light,” Storylandia, 2020.
Edwin “Bud” Shrake Award for Best Short Nonfiction ($1,000)
- Skip Hollandsworth, “The Notorious Mrs. Mossler,” Texas Monthly, 2021.
- ire’ne lara silva, “A Place Before Words,” Texas Highways, 2020
