“We owe a special thanks to our dedicated judges who demonstrate their critical acumen and discerning tastes in choosing such accomplished work each year from an ever-growing number of submissions..”

—Peter Godwin, President, PEN American Center

Longlist announced: May 6

Shortlists announced: June 18

Winners announced: July 30

Awards Ceremony: September 29

PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, Founded by Barbara Kingsolver ($25,000): To an author of an unpublished novel that addresses issues of social justice. The prize also includes a publishing contract with Algonquin Books.

JUDGES: Terry McMillan, Nancy Pearl, Kathy Pories 

PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize ($25,000): To an author whose debut work—a first novel or collection of short stories published in 2013—represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise.

JUDGES: Charles Bock, Jonathan Dee, Fiona Maazel, and Karen Shepard 

PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay ($10,000): For a book of essays published in 2013 that exemplifies the dignity and esteem that the essay form imparts to literature.

JUDGES: Geoff Dyer, Stanley Fish, Ariel Levy, and Cheryl Strayed 

PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award ($10,000): For a book of literary nonfiction on the subject of the physical or biological sciences published in 2013.

JUDGES: Akiko Busch, Rivka Galchen, and Eileen Pollack 

PEN Open Book Award ($5,000): For an exceptional book-length work of literature by an author of color published in 2013.

JUDGES: Catherine Chung, Randa Jarrar, and Monica Youn 

PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography ($5,000): For a distinguished biography published in 2013.

JUDGES: James Atlas, Lisa Cohen, and Wendy Gimbel

PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing ($5,000): To honor a nonfiction book on the subject of sports published in 2013.

JUDGES: Joel Drucker, Chad Harbach, and Jackie MacMullan 

PEN/Steven Kroll Award for Picture Book Writing ($5,000): To a writer for an exceptional story illustrated in a picture book published in 2013.

JUDGES: Mac Barnett, Ted Lewin, and Elizabeth Winthrop 

PEN Award for Poetry in Translation ($3,000): For a book-length translation of poetry into English published in 2013.

JUDGE: Kimiko Hahn 

PEN Translation Prize ($3,000): For a book-length translation of prose into English published in 2013.

JUDGES: Ann Goldstein, Becka McKay, and Katherine Silver 

2014 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS AND JUDGES

(The following PEN Awards will not have longlists or shortlists announced but are listed below to announce the participation of those authors who are judging the awards. The winners will be announced in July along with all of the winners for the book awards.)

PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction ($25,000): To a distinguished living American author of fiction.

JUDGES: E.L. Doctorow, Edwidge Danticat, and Zadie Smith

PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry ($5,000): To a poet whose distinguished and growing body of work to date represents a notable and accomplished presence in American literature.

JUDGES: Peg Boyers, Toi Derricotte, and Rowan Ricardo Phillips

PEN/Laura Pels International Foundation for Theater Awards ($7,500 and $2,500): Three awards which honor a Master American Dramatist, American Playwright in Mid-Career, and Emerging American Playwright. This is the inaugural year of the Award for an Emerging American Playwright.

JUDGES: John Lithgow, Elizabeth Streb, and Maria Tucci

PEN/Phyllis Naylor Working Writer Fellowship ($5,000): To an author of children’s or young-adult fiction, who has published at least two books, to complete a book-length work-in-progress.

JUDGES: Kathi Appelt, Johanna Hurwitz, and Padma Venkatraman

PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing ($5,000): To a writer whose body of work represents an exceptional contribution to the field.

JUDGES: Kostya Kennedy, David Rosenthal, and John Schulian

PEN/Edward and Lily Tuck Award for Paraguayan Literature ($3,000): To a living author of a major work of Paraguayan literature not yet translated into English.

JUDGES: Idra Novey, Yvette Siegert, and Mark Statman

PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants ($2,000-$4,000): To support the translation of book-length works into English.

JUDGES: Esther Allen, Barbara Epler, Sara Khalili, Michael F. Moore*, Lorin Stein, Lauren Wein (*Voting Chair of the PEN/Heim Translation Fund Advisory Council)