SQN Awards

The annual SQN Awards recognize emerging writers and critics whose work reflects the values of Sine Qua Non: writing that transforms human experience into compelling literary form, and criticism that helps us understand how such writing works.

SQN Emerging Writer Award

The SQN Emerging Writer Award recognizes an emerging writer whose work demonstrates exceptional skill in creating a coherent and compelling literary experience for the reader.

The award is open to work across literary forms and genres. SQN is not interested in whether a work follows a particular style or tradition, but in how successfully the writer's choices work together to create the experience of the work as a whole.

SQN Emerging Critic Award

The SQN Emerging Critic Award recognizes an emerging critic whose work helps readers understand not only what literature means, but how and why it works.

No particular school of criticism or critical approach is preferred. What matters is that the literary work remains at the center of the critic's attention.

Eligibility

For purposes of the SQN Awards, emerging does not mean young, unpublished, or previously unrecognized. It refers to a writer or critic who has demonstrated significant achievement but has not yet attained sustained recognition as an established figure in contemporary literature or literary criticism.

There is no age limit.

The Emerging Writer Award is open to writers of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and hybrid literary forms. Traditionally published and self-published writers are eligible.

The Emerging Critic Award is open to literary criticism including essays, reviews, review essays, long-form criticism, and academic or public-facing critical work.

The awards are international. Works in translation are eligible.

Nominations

Candidates may be recommended by publishers, editors, writers, critics, booksellers, translators, educators, literary organizations, past SQN contributors, and others engaged with contemporary literature.

Self-nominations are not accepted.

A formal nomination is not required for consideration. SQN may also identify candidates through its own reading and research.

Nomination form

Selection

Candidates are considered according to the criteria for each award by SQN editors, with additional readers and advisors invited.

A longlist and shortlist will be announced for each award, followed by the selection of one recipient in each category.

Final award decisions are made by Sine Qua Non.