What is joyce carol oates prize?

The Joyce Carol Oates Prize is an annual literary prize awarded to a writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry or drama who has shown outstanding promise in the early stages of their career. The prize was established in 2019 by the Simpson family, in honor of Joyce Carol Oates, a prolific author and educator who has published over 100 books and has been honored with numerous literary awards, including the National Book Award, the PEN/Malamud Award, and the Bram Stoker Award.

The prize is administered by the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, a literary award that recognizes books focused on racism and diversity. The winner of the Joyce Carol Oates Prize receives $50,000 and is invited to give a reading at the Cleveland Public Library as part of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards ceremony. The goal of the prize is to support and encourage emerging writers, and to continue the legacy of Joyce Carol Oates, who is known for her powerful and critically acclaimed writing.