The PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing, which was conferred for the first time in the fall of 2011, is given to one living American or U.S.-based writer each year to celebrate their body of work and long-time contributions to the field of literary sports writing. Eligible candidates may work in short- or long-form prose. The winner of this $5,000 award is decided by a panel of three judges, who consider letters of nomination submitted by PEN Members to PEN’s Awards Committee.

Winners are selected at the discretion of a panel of three judges, selected by the PEN Awards Committee, who make their decision based on their knowledge of sports writing, as well as letters of nomination from PEN Members. Judges will also be permitted to supplement the list of candidates with nominations of their own.

Authors and nominators interested in nominating a single book, please see the PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing.

Past winners: Roger Angell.

Deadline:
Nominations must be received between October 1, 2011 and February 1, 2012

Who is eligible:
Candidates for the award must be living American or U.S.-based writers. Authors may not apply on their own behalf. They must be nominated by their peers who are Awards Judges or PEN Members—publishers, editors, agents, critics, or other writers.

Nominations:
PEN Members are expected to write a letter of support (one to two pages in length), describing in some detail the literary character of the candidate’s work and long term contribution to the field, accompanied by a list of the candidate’s work. All letters of nomination will supplement internal nominations made by the panel of judges.
Send nominations between October 1, 2011 and February 1, 2012 to:

PEN/ESPN Lifetime Award for Literary Sports Writing
PEN American Center
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012

For more information, please contact awards@pen.org or (212) 334-1660, ext. 126.