Honors

Ploughshares publishes writers who go on to achieve major accolades and awards within the literature community. Since its founding in 1971, stories, poems, and essays from Ploughshares have appeared over 150 times in the following award series anthologies: The Best American Poetry, The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Essays, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses. From these anthologies to Best New Poets and more, below is a comprehensive list of major awards Ploughshares contributors have received.

Pushcart Prize

Poetry 1977: Eugenio Montale, Xenia / Fall 1975

Poetry 1977: Carlos Drummond de Andrade, The Elephant / Fall 1975

Fiction 1978: Meredith Steinbach, Vestiges / Spring 1976

Fiction 1978: Tim O’Brien, Going After Cacciato / Spring 1976

Poetry 1979: Maura Stanton, Bathroom Walls / Spring 1977

Poetry 1979: Lorrie Goldensohn, Letter for a Daughter / Fall 1978

Poetry 1980: Mona Duyn, Letters from a Father / Fall 1978

Poetry 1981: Jorie Graham, I Was Taught Three / Spring 1979

Fiction 1981: Gina Berriault, The Infinite Passion of Expectation / Fall 1979

Poetry 1982: Elizabeth Spires, Blame / Summer 1980

Fiction 1982: Benedict Kiely, Fionn in the Valley / Spring 1980

Poetry 1983: Michael Harper, Chief / Spring 1981

Poetry 1984: Joe-Anne McLaughlin, Great-Aunt Francesca / Summer/Fall 1982

Fiction 1984: Janet Desaulniers, Age / Winter 1982

Fiction 1984: Raymond Carver, A Small, Good Thing / Summer/Fall 1982

Fiction 1986: Tim O’Brien, Quantum Jumps / Winter 1983

Fiction 1987: Andre Dubus, Rose / Fall 1985

Fiction 1987: Gina Berriault, The Island of Ven / Fall 1985

Poetry 1988: George Starbuck, Oyster Bar on the Road to Mururua / Fall 1986

Nonfiction 1988: David Reid, The Secret Sharer / Spring 1986

Fiction 1988: C.E. Poverman, Beautiful / Spring 1986

Nonfiction 1988: Phillip Lopate, Against Joie de Vivre / Spring 1986

Poetry 1989: Dan Masterson, Heron / Spring 1987

Poetry 1991: Lynda Hull, Hospice / Spring 1989

Poetry 1991: John Balaban, For the Missing in Action / Spring 1988

Fiction 1992: Carol Rog-Spaulding, Waiting for Mr. Kim / Fall 1990

Fiction 1992: Eileen Pollack, Past, Future, Elsewhere / Spring 1990

Poetry 1992: Mary Jo Oliver, Little Owl Who Lives in the Orchard / Winter 1989

Poetry 1993: Ed Ochester, Oh, By the Way / Winter 1990-91

Poetry 1993: Richard Jackson, Circumstances / Winter 1990-91

Poetry 1993: T.R. Hummer, Worldly Beauty / Winter 1990-91

Fiction 1994: Barbara Selfridge, Monday Her Car Wouldn’t Start / Spring 1992

Fiction 1994: Dennis Johnson, Forrest in the Trees / Spring 1992

Poetry 1994: Lynn Emanuel, The Dig / Winter 1990-1991

Fiction 1994: Rick Bass, Days of Heaven / Fall 1991

Poetry 1995: Thomas Rabbitt, Over All / Winter 1993-94

Nonfiction 1996: Debra Spark, Last Things / Fall 1994

Nonfiction 1996: Frederick Busch, Bad / Fall 1994

Fiction 1996: Eileen Pollack, Milk / Spring 1994

Fiction 1997: Caroline Langston, The Dissolution of the World / Fall 1995

Poetry 1998: Thomas Sayers Ellis, Atomic Bride / Spring 1996

Poetry 1998: Rane Arroyo, Breathing Lessons / Spring 1996

Fiction 1998: Andrea Barrett, The Forest / Winter 1996-1997

Poetry 1999: Toi Derricotte, Invisible Dreams / Spring 1997

Fiction 1999: Maxine Swann, Flower Children / Fall 1997

Poetry 1999: Martin Espada, Thanksgiving / Spring 1997

Fiction 1999: Patricia Hampl, The Bill Collector’s Vacation / Fall 1997

Fiction 1999: Meg Wolitzer, Tea at the House / Fall 1997

Poetry 1999: Barbara Tran, from Rosary / Spring 1997

Fiction 2000: Charles Baxter, Harry Ginsberg / Fall 1998

Poetry 2001: Lucille Clifton, Jasper, Texas, 1998 / Spring 1999

Poetry 2001: Jonah Winter, Sestina: Bob / Spring 1999

Fiction 2001: Joan Silber, Commendable / Fall 1999

Fiction 2001: Fanny Howe, Gray / Winter 1998-1999

Poetry 2001: Jonathan David Jackson, The Spell / Winter 1999-2000

Fiction 2002: Pamela Painter, Grief / Fall 2000

Fiction 2002: Jess Row, The Secrets of Bats / Fall 2000

Fiction 2002: Elizabeth Graver, The Mourning Door / Fall 2000

Poetry 2003: Ellen Bryant Voigt, Autumn in the Yard We Planted / Fall 2001

Fiction 2003: Julie Orringer, Pilgrims / Spring 2001

Fiction 2003: Cornelia Nixon, Lunch at the Blacksmith / Fall 2001

Poetry 2003: Mary Jo Bang, The Beauties of Nature / Spring 2001

Fiction 2004: Joan Silber, The High Road / Fall 2002

Fiction 2004: Valerie Laken, Before Long / Winter 2002-2003

Fiction 2005: Sue Standing, Fast Sunday / Fall 2003

Fiction 2005: Pamela Painter, Reading in His Wake / Fall 2003

Fiction 2005: Alice Mattison, I Am Not Your Mother / Fall 2003

Poetry 2005: David St. John, from The Face / Spring 2003

Poetry 2006: Daisy Fried, Shooting Kinesha / Spring 2004

Fiction 2006: Cynthia Weiner, Boyfriends / Spring 2004

Poetry 2007: R.T. Smith, Dar He / Spring 2005

Fiction 2007: Laura Kasischke, If a Stranger Approaches You about Carrying a Foreign Object with You onto the Plane / Fall 2005

Fiction 2007: Karen Bender, Refund / Spring 2005

Poetry 2008: Edward Hirsch, Soutine: A Show of Still Lifes / Winter 2005-2006

Fiction 2008: Lauren Groff, Lucky Chow Fun / Fall 2006

Poetry 2009: Chris Forhan, Love, Or Something / Spring 2007

Fiction 2009: Charles Baxter, Ghosts / Spring 2007

Fiction 2010: Christie Hodge, Tom & Jerry / Spring 2008

Fiction 2010: William Lychack, Stolpestad / Spring 2008

Poetry 2010: Peter Everwine, Rain / Spring 2008

Poetry 2011: L.S. Asekoff, Hither & Yon / Winter 2009-2010

Poetry 2011: Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Rome / Spring 2009

Nonfiction 2011: Martin Moran, Analphabet / Fall 2009

Fiction 2012: Sandra Leong, We Don’t Deserve This / Fall 2011

Poetry 2012: Joy Katz, December, Fever / Winter 2010-2011

Poetry 2013: Jane Hirshfield, In a Kitchen Where Mushrooms Were Washed / Fall 2011

Poetry 2013: Bruce Bennett, The Thing’s Impossible / Fall 2011

Poetry 2014: Claudia Rankine, That Once Were Beautiful Children / Spring 2012

Nonfiction 2014: Eric Fair, Consequence / Spring 2012

Nonfiction 2014: Charles Baxter, What Happens In Hell / Fall 2012

Poetry 2015: Afaa Michael Weaver, Visit #1 / Winter 2012-13

Fiction 2015: Xuan Juliana Wang, Days of Being Mild / Winter 2012-13

Fiction 2016: Dan Chaon, What Happened to Us? / Spring 2014

Fiction 2017: Daniel Peña, Safe Home / Summer 2016

Fiction 2017: Vladislava Kolosowa, Taxidermy / Summer 2016

Nonfiction 2018: Fransisco Cantú, Bajadas / Winter 2015-16

Fiction 2020: Allen Gee, Old School / Fall 2018

Fiction 2020: Patricia Foster, Eulogy / Winter 2017-18

Nonfiction 2020: Serene Taleb-Agha, A Hiker’s Guide to Damascus / Summer 2018

Fiction 2022: Elaine Hsieh Chou, Skinfolk, Winter 2020-21

Fiction 2022: Marcela Fuentes, The Observable World / Summer 2021

Poetry 2023: G. C. Waldrep, Tarry / Spring 2022

Poetry 2023: Andy Chen, Where I Am White / Winter 2021-22

O.Henry Award

1978: John Clayton, Bodies Like Mouths / Spring 1977

1979: Mary Peterson, Travelling / Spring 1978

1982: Ivy Goodman, White Boy / Winter 1979

1983: Raymond Carver, A Small, Good Thing / Summer/Fall 1982

1985: Tobias Wolff, Sister / Winter 1983

1985: Joyce Carol Oates, The Seasons / Winter 1983

1987: Robert Boswell, The Darkness of Love / Fall 1985

1987: Gina Berriault, The Island of Ven / Fall 1985

1988: Ann Beattie, Honey / Winter 1986

1989: Starkey Flythe Jr., CV10 / Winter 1986

1993: Jennifer Egan, Puerto Vallarta / Fall 1991

1994: Helen Fremont, Where She Was / Winter 1992-93

1996: David Wiegand, Buffalo Safety / Fall 1995

1997: Mary Gordon, City Life / Spring 1996

1998: Maxine Swann, Flower Children / Fall 1997

1999: Sheila M. Schwartz, Afterbirth / Fall 1998

2000: Michael Byers, The Beautiful Days / Fall 1999

2001: Elizabeth Graver, The Mourning Door / Fall 2000

2003: Joan Silber, The High Road / Fall 2002

2009: Paul Yoon, And We Will Be Here / Fall 2007

2013: Jamie Quatro, Sinkhole / Spring 2012

2018: Viet Dinh, Lucky Dragon / Summer 2016

2018: Tristan Hughes, Up Here / Winter 2016-17

2019: Rachel Kondo, Girl of Few Seasons / Ploughshares Solo

2019: Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, Julia and Sunny / Summer 2017

2024: Jai Chakrabarti, The Import / Spring 2023

2024: E. K. Ota, The Paper Artist / Fall 2022

2024: Jess Walter, The Dark / Summer 2023

Best American Poetry

1990: Susan Mitchell, Havana Birth / Spring 1989

1991: Patricia Storace, War Movie: Last Leave, 1944 / Winter 1989

1991: Laurie Sheck, Living Color / Spring 1990

1991: Robyn Selman, Past Lives / Winter 1989-90

1991: Josephine Jacobsen, The Woods / Winter 1989-90

1992: Thom Gunn, The Beautician / Winter 1989-90

1993: Paul Hoover, Theory / Winter 1991-92

1994: Killarney Clary, An Unlikely One Will Guide Me… / Winter 1992-93

1995: Jeffrey McDaniel, Following Her to Sleep / Winter 1992-93

1996: Rafael Campo, The Battle Hymn of the Republic / Spring 1994

1996: Reginald Shepherd, Skin Trade / Spring 1995

1999: Martin Espada, Rednecks / Spring 1995

1999: David Wagoner, Thoreau and the Crickets / Spring 1998

2000: David Mamet, A Charade / Winter 1997-98

2001: Susan Wood, Analysis of the Rose as Sentimental Despair / Spring 1999

2002: James Richardson, Vectors: 45 Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays / Spring 2000

2002: Charles Wright, Nostalgia II / Fall 2001

2002: Sharon Olds, Frontis Nulla Fides / Fall 2001

2002: Timothy Liu, Felix Culpa / Fall 2001

2002: Frank Bidart, Injunction / Fall 2001

2003: Joshua Clover, Aeon Flux: June / Winter 2001-02

2004: Mary Jo Bang, The Eye Like a Strange Balloon Mounts Toward Infinity / Spring 2003

2005: Beth Ann Fennelly, I Need to Be More French. Or Japanese. / Spring 2004

2007: Jane Hirshfield, Critique of Pure Reason / Winter 2006-07

2008: John Rybicki, Three Lanterns / Spring 2007

2008: Debra Nystrom, Every Night / Spring 2007

2008: Garrett Hongo, Cane Fire / Spring 2007

2008: John Casteen, Night Hunting / Winter 2006-07

2009: Alice Friman, Getting Serious / Winter 2007-08

2009: Bruce Bond, Ringtone / Spring 2008

2010: Tim Seibles, Allison Wolff / Spring 2009

2010: Maurice Manning, A Man with a Rooster in His Dream / Spring 2009

2010: Brigit Peegan Kelly, Rome / Spring 2009

2011: Katha Pollitt, Angels / Spring 2010

2011: Bridget Lowe, The Pilgrim Is Bridled and Bespectacled / Spring 2010

2012: Larissa Szporluk, Sunflower / Winter 2010-11

2012: Michael Morse, Void and Compensation / Spring 2011

2012: Maxine Kumin, Either Or / Fall 2011

2012: Jane Hirshfield, In a Kitchen Where Mushrooms Were Washed / Fall 2011

2013: Major Jackson, Why I Write Poetry / Spring 2012

2014: Mark Doty, Deep Lane / Spring 2013

2014: Jamaal May, Masticated Light / Spring 2013

2017: Stanley Plumley, Poliomyelitis / Spring 2016

2017: Sharon Olds, Ode to the Glans / Spring 2016

2017: Reginald Gibbons, Canasta / Spring 2016

2017: Michael Collier, A Wild Tom Turkey / Spring 2016

2018: Terrance Hayes, American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin / Spring 2018

2019: Amy Gerstler, Update / Winter 2017-18

2020: Jennifer L. Knox, The Gift / Spring 2019

Best American Short Story

1977: Tim O’Brien, Going After Cacciato / Spring 1976

1983: Carolyn Chute, Ollie, Oh… / Summer/Fall 1982

1983: Carol Bly, The Dignity of Life / Summer/Fall 1982

1986: Tess Gallagher, Bad Company / Fall 1985

1990: Christopher Tilghman, In a Father’s Place / Fall 1989

1992: Rick Bass, Days of Heaven / Fall 1991

1994: Jonathan Wilson, From Shanghai / Fall 1993

1994: Laura Glen Louis, Fur / Fall 1993

1994: Carolyn Ferrell, Proper Library / Spring 1993

1995: Stephen Dobyns, So I Guess You Know What I Told Him / Winter 1994-95

1995: Gish Jen, Birthmates / Winter 1994-95

1996: William Henry Lewis, Shades / Fall 1995

1997: Alyson Hagy, Search Bay / Fall 1996

1998: Meg Wolitzer, Tea at the House / Fall 1997

1998: Maxine Swann, Flower Children / Fall 1997

1998: Bliss Broyard, Mr. Sweetly Indecent / Fall 1997

1999: Aleksandar Hemon, Islands / Spring 1998

2000: Michael Byers, The Beautiful Days / Fall 1999

2000: Geoffrey Becker, Black Elvis / Winter 1999-00

2001: Jess Row, The Secrets of Bats / Fall 2000

2001: Elizabeth Graver, The Mourning Door / Fall 2000

2001: Claire Davis, Labors of the Heart / Spring 2000

2001: Peter Ho Davies, Think of England / Fall 2000

2002: Alice Mattison, In Case We’re Separated / Fall 2001

2003: Sharon Pmerantz, Ghost Knife / Fall 2002

2003: ZZ Packer, Every Tongue Shall Confess / Fall 2002

2004: Jill McCorkle, Intervention / Fall 2003

2006: Maxine Swann, Secret / Winter 2005-06

2006: Katherine Bell, The Casual Car Pool / Fall 2005

2007: Aryn Kyle, Allegiance / Fall 2006

2007: Mary Gordon, Eleanor’s Music / Spring 2006

2007: Kate Walbert, Do Something / Winter 2006-07

2008: Allegra Goodman, Closely Held / Spring 2007

2009: Alex Rose, Ostracon / Fall 2008

2010: Rebecca Makkai, Painted Ocean, Painted Ship / Winter 2009-10

2012: Angela Pneuman, Occupational Hazard / Spring 2011

2012: Jennifer Haigh, Paramour / Winter 2001-12

2015: David Wong Louie, Displacement / Fall 1988

2018: Carolyn Ferrell, A History of China / Solo 5.4

2019: Deborah Eisenberg, The Third Tower / Spring 2018

Notable

2004: Alice Mattison, I Am Not Your Mother / Fall 2003

2004: Ted Weesner Jr., Tuscaloosa / Winter 2003-4

2004: Brittani Sonnenberg, Tierney’s Gourmet / Winter 2003-4

2004: Antonya Nelson, Rear View / Fall 2003

2004: Devika Mehra, The Garden / Spring 2003

2004: Alexandra Marshall, Child Widow / Fall 2003

2004: Karl Harshbarger, Train to Chinko / Fall 2003

2004: Elizabeth Berg, The Party / Fall 2003

2004: Ann Beattie, The Garden Game / Spring 2003

2007: Valerie Laken, Spectators / Spring 2006

2007: John Casey, Rapunzel / Winter 2006-7

2008: Ehud Havazelet, Law of Return / Winter 2007-8

2008: William Lychack, Stolpestad / Spring 2008

2008: Mark Brazaitis, The Incurables / Fall 2008

2010: Sasha Troyan, Hidden Works / Spring 2009

2013: Timothy Schaffert, Lady of the Burlesque Ballet / Solos 1.1

2013: Matthew Neil Null, Telemetry / Winter 2012-13

2013: Megan Mayhew Bergman, Phoenix / Solos 1.3

2013: Steve Almond, Gondwana / Spring 2012

2014: Andrew Foster Altschul,  Embarazada / Winter 2013-14

2014: Randi Beck, By Morning, New Mercies / Winter 2013-14

2014: Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, Tell Me My Name / Fall 2013

2014: Anna Solomon, Alan at the Kirschbergs’ / Spring 2013

2014: Nancy Welch, Pretty / Fall 2013

2018: Jamel Brinkley, I Happy Am / Spring 2018

2018: Alice Hoffman, The Witch of Chelsea / Winter 2017-18

2018: Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum, Endlings / Solos 6.3

2018: Claire Luchette, New Bees / Winter 2017-18

2018: Ron Rash, L’ Homme Blessé / Summer 2018

2018: Steven Schwartz, The Bad Guest / Winter 2017-18

Best American Essay

2012: Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough, Objects of Affection / Spring 2011

2013: Charles Baxter, What Happens in Hell / Fall 2012

2016: Francisco Cantu, Bajadas / Winter 2015-16

Notable

2013: Maria Venegas, The Devil’s Spine / Spring 2012

2013: Mark Slouka, The Academy of Sciences / Fall 2012

2013: Mary Gordon, The Taste of Almonds / Fall 2012

2014: Robert Anthony Siegel, Unreliable Tour Guide / Winter 2013-14

2018: Jodie Noel Vinson, Transparent / Winter 2018

2018: Ellen Adams, The Something I Am Telling You / Winter 2017-18

2019: Laura Price Steele, These Bodies Will Undo Us / 2018 Emerging Writer’s Contest Nonfiction Winner

2019: Kechi Nomu, The End of Love is a Thing of Ugly Brilliance / Ploughshares Blog

Best American Non-Required Reading

2014: V.V. Ganeshananthan, K Becomes K / Fall 2013

2014: Andrew Foster Altschul, Embarazada / Winter 2013-14

2016: Rebecca Makkai, The Miracle Years of Little Fork / Summer 2015

2016: Xuan Juliana Wang, Algorithmic Problem Solving for Father-Daughter Relationships / Summer 2015

2017: Viet Dinh, Lucky Dragon / Summer 2016

Notable

2013: Phillip Lopate, Why I Remain a Baseball Fan / Fall 2012

2014: Nancy Welch, Pretty / Fall 2013

2015: Brian Evenson, Maternity / Fall 2014

2019: Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum, Endlings / Fall 2018

Best Canadian Stories

2012: Shaena Lambert, The War Between the Men and the Women / Spring 2011

Pen Literary Awards

2011: David Stuart Maclean, The Answer to the Riddle is Me / Winter 2009

2017: Helen Oyeyemi, “Sorry” Doesn’t Sweeten Her Tea / Summer 2015

2020: Ilya Kaminsky, Deafness, an Insurgency, Begins / Spring 2017

2020: Xuan Juliana Wang, Algorithmic Problem Solving for Father-Daughter Relationships / Summer 2015

Best American Mystery

2015: Tomiko Breland, Catastropher / Spring 2015

2015: Tomiko Breland, Rosalee Carrasco / Winter 2014-15

Best Small Fiction

2018: Carrie Cooperider, Fawn / Summer 2018