The Emily Clark Balch Prizes and the Staige D. Blackford Prize were created to honor the best writing to appear in the pages of VQR each year. Past recipients include John Berryman, Philip Caputo, Pauline W. Chen, Carolyn Forché, Natasha Trethewey, and Kevin Young. The VQR Prize for Photography was created to recognize the best photo portfolio to appear in our pages. Each prize includes a monetary award of $1,000.
Emily Clark Balch Prize for Fiction
Anum Asi, “Litter” (Fall)
Emily Clark Balch Prize for Poetry
Alan Michael Parker, “Don’t Hate Your Daddy Bingo”; “Jewish Christmas Eve Bingo”; “Change Your Life Bingo”; “Greek Diner Coffee Bingo”; “Community Garden Bingo”; “High School Reunion Bingo” (Spring)
Staige D. Blackford Prize for Nonfiction
Essay: Peter Trachtenberg, “My Father at the Border” (Winter)
Reporting: Lois Parshley, “Cold War, Hot Mess” (Fall)
The VQR Prize for Photography
Alicja Wróblewska, “Strange Gardens” (Fall)