Honors
Stories, poems, and essays from Ploughshares have appeared over 150 times in The Best American Poetry, The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Essays, The O. Henry Prize Stories, The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses, Best Spiritual Literature, Best New Poets, and more! Explore our award-winning contributors’ work below.
Best American Essays
2024: Austin Woerner, As Big As You Make It Out To Be / Fall 2023
2016: Francisco Cantu, Bajadas / Winter 2015-16
2013: Charles Baxter, What Happens in Hell / Fall 2012
2012: Ewa Hryniewicz-Yarbrough, Objects of Affection / Spring 2011
Notable
2026: Corinna Cook, Chooutla / Spring 2025
2026: Diane LeBlanc, Fourteen Specimens / Spring 2025
2026: Brenda Miller, Altars / Spring 2025
2026: Dinty W. Moore, I Am the Walrus / Spring 2025
2026: Elizabeth Sims, A Ritual for the End of the World / Spring 2025
2025: Jesse Lee Kercheval, Minerva / Winter 2023-24
2025: J.D. Mathes, On the Origin of Time: A Meditation / Winter 2023-24
2025: Farah Abdessamad, Blood Antiquities, Arab Tears / Spring 2024
2024: Mihaela Moscaliuc, Extractions / Spring 2023
2024: Anthony David, Seized by Insanity / Fall 2023
2019: Laura Price Steele, These Bodies Will Undo Us / 2018 Emerging Writers’ Contest Nonfiction Winner
2019: Kechi Nomu, The End of Love is a Thing of Ugly Brilliance / Ploughshares Blog
2018: Ellen Adams, The Something I Am Telling You / Winter 2017-18
2018: Jodie Noel Vinson, Transparent / Winter 2018
2014: Robert Anthony Siegel, Unreliable Tour Guide / Winter 2013-14
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
Best American Mystery and Suspense
2015: Tomiko Breland, Rosalee Carrasco / Winter 2014-15
Best American Nonrequired Reading
2017: Viet Dinh, Lucky Dragon / Summer 2016
2016: Xuan Juliana Wang, Algorithmic Problem Solving for Father-Daughter Relationships / Summer 2015
2016: Rebecca Makkai, The Miracle Years of Little Fork / Summer 2015
2014: V.V. Ganeshananthan, K Becomes K / Fall 2013
2014: Andrew Foster Altschul, Embarazada / Winter 2013-14
Notable
2019: Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum, Endlings / Fall 2018
2015: Brian Evenson, Maternity / Fall 2014
2014: Nancy Welch, Pretty / Fall 2013
2013: Phillip Lopate, Why I Remain a Baseball Fan / Fall 2012
Best American Poetry
2025: Mosab Abu Toha, Two Watches / Spring 2024
2025: Emily Schulten, Nocturnal / Spring 2024
2020: Jennifer L. Knox, The Gift / Spring 2019
2019: Amy Gerstler, Update / Winter 2017-18
2018: Terrance Hayes, American Sonnet for My Past and Future Assassin / Spring 2018
2017: Michael Collier, A Wild Tom Turkey / Spring 2016
2017: Reginald Gibbons, Canasta / Spring 2016
2017: Sharon Olds, Ode to the Glans / Spring 2016
2017: Stanley Plumley, Poliomyelitis / Spring 2016
2014: Jamaal May, Masticated Light / Spring 2013
2014: Mark Doty, Deep Lane / Spring 2013
2013: Major Jackson, Why I Write Poetry / Spring 2012
2012: Larissa Szporluk, Sunflower / Winter 2010-11
2012: Michael Morse, Void and Compensation / Spring 2011
2012: Jane Hirshfield, In a Kitchen Where Mushrooms Were Washed / Fall 2011
2012: Maxine Kumin, Either Or / Fall 2011
2011: Bridget Lowe, The Pilgrim Is Bridled and Bespectacled / Spring 2010
2011: Katha Pollitt, Angels / Spring 2010
2010: Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Rome / Spring 2009
2010: Maurice Manning, A Man with a Rooster in His Dream / Spring 2009
2010: Tim Seibles, Allison Wolff / Spring 2009
2009: Alice Friman, Getting Serious / Winter 2007-08
2009: Bruce Bond, Ringtone / Spring 2008
2008: John Casteen, Night Hunting / Winter 2006-07
2008: Garrett Hongo, Cane Fire / Spring 2007
2008: Debra Nystrom, Every Night / Spring 2007
2008: John Rybicki, Three Lanterns / Spring 2007
2007: Jane Hirshfield, Critique of Pure Reason / Winter 2006-07
2005: Beth Ann Fennelly, I Need to Be More French. Or Japanese. / Spring 2004
2004: Mary Jo Bang, The Eye Like a Strange Balloon Mounts Toward Infinity / Spring 2003
2003: Joshua Clover, Aeon Flux: June / Winter 2001-02
2002: James Richardson, Vectors: 45 Aphorisms and Ten-Second Essays / Spring 2000
2002: Frank Bidart, Injunction / Fall 2001
2002: Timothy Liu, Felix Culpa / Fall 2001
2002: Sharon Olds, Frontis Nulla Fides / Fall 2001
2002: Charles Wright, Nostalgia II / Fall 2001
2001: Susan Wood, Analysis of the Rose as Sentimental Despair / Spring 1999
2000: David Mamet, A Charade / Winter 1997-98
1999: Martin Espada, Rednecks / Spring 1995
1999: David Wagoner, Thoreau and the Crickets / Spring 1998
1996: Rafael Campo, The Battle Hymn of the Republic / Spring 1994
1996: Reginald Shepherd, Skin Trade / Spring 1995
1995: Jeffrey McDaniel, Following Her to Sleep / Winter 1992-93
1994: Killarney Clary, An Unlikely One Will Guide Me… / Winter 1992-93
1993: Paul Hoover, Theory / Winter 1991-92
1992: Thom Gunn, The Beautician / Winter 1989-90
1991: Josephine Jacobsen, The Woods / Winter 1989-90
1991: Robyn Selman, Past Lives / Winter 1989-90
1991: Laurie Sheck, Living Color / Spring 1990
1990: Susan Mitchell, Havana Birth / Spring 1989
Best American Short Stories
2026: Eliot Fox, The Women’s Hospital / Winter 2024-25
2026: Nathan Blum, Here Now / Spring 2025
2026: Carolyn Ferrell, The Horror / Summer 2025
2025: Andrew Porter, Angelo / Spring 2024
2025: Andre Dubus III, The Collector / Fall 2024
2019: Deborah Eisenberg, The Third Tower / Spring 2018
2018: Carolyn Ferrell, A History of China / Solo 5.4
2015: David Wong Louie, Displacement / Fall 1988
2012: Angela Pneuman, Occupational Hazard / Spring 2011
2012: Jennifer Haigh, Paramour / Winter 2011-12
2010: Rebecca Makkai, Painted Ocean, Painted Ship / Winter 2009-10
2009: Alex Rose, Ostracon / Fall 2008
2008: Allegra Goodman, Closely Held / Spring 2007
2007: Mary Gordon, Eleanor’s Music / Spring 2006
2007: Aryn Kyle, Allegiance / Fall 2006
2007: Kate Walbert, Do Something / Winter 2006-07
2006: Katherine Bell, The Casual Car Pool / Fall 2005
2006: Maxine Swann, Secret / Winter 2005-06
2004: Jill McCorkle, Intervention / Fall 2003
2003: ZZ Packer, Every Tongue Shall Confess / Fall 2002
2003: Sharon Pomerantz, Ghost Knife / Fall 2002
2002: Alice Mattison, In Case We’re Separated / Fall 2001
2001: Claire Davis, Labors of the Heart / Spring 2000
2001: Peter Ho Davies, Think of England / Fall 2000
2001: Elizabeth Graver, The Mourning Door / Fall 2000
2001: Jess Row, The Secrets of Bats / Fall 2000
2000: Michael Byers, The Beautiful Days / Fall 1999
2000: Geoffrey Becker, Black Elvis / Winter 1999-00
1999: Aleksandar Hemon, Islands / Spring 1998
1998: Bliss Broyard, Mr. Sweetly Indecent / Fall 1997
1998: Maxine Swann, Flower Children / Fall 1997
1998: Meg Wolitzer, Tea at the House / Fall 1997
1997: Alyson Hagy, Search Bay / Fall 1996
1996: William Henry Lewis, Shades / Fall 1995
1995: Gish Jen, Birthmates / Winter 1994-95
1995: Stephen Dobyns, So I Guess You Know What I Told Him / Winter 1994-95
1994: Carolyn Ferrell, Proper Library / Spring 1993
1994: Laura Glen Louis, Fur / Fall 1993
1994: Jonathan Wilson, From Shanghai / Fall 1993
1992: Rick Bass, Days of Heaven / Fall 1991
1990: Christopher Tilghman, In a Father’s Place / Fall 1989
1986: Tess Gallagher, Bad Company / Fall 1985
1983: Carol Bly, The Dignity of Life / Summer/Fall 1982
1983: Carolyn Chute, Ollie, Oh… / Summer/Fall 1982
1977: Tim O’Brien, Going After Cacciato / Spring 1976
Notable
2026: Tom Noyes, Kids’ Corner / Winter 2024-25
2026: Valerie Sayers, Havener / Winter 2024-25
2026: Joanna Pearson, The Joke / Summer 2025
2026: Andrea Thurairatnam Imdacha, Seven Urns / Fall 2025
2026: Eric McMillan, Gripped / Fall 2025
2018: Steven Schwartz, The Bad Guest / Winter 2017-18
2018: Claire Luchette, New Bees / Winter 2017-18
2018: Alice Hoffman, The Witch of Chelsea / Winter 2017-18
2018: Jamel Brinkley, I Happy Am / Spring 2018
2018: Ron Rash, L’ Homme Blessé / Summer 2018
2018: Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum, Endlings / Solos 6.3
2014: Anna Solomon, Alan at the Kirschbergs’ / Spring 2013
2014: Nancy Welch, Pretty / Fall 2013
2014: Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, Tell Me My Name / Fall 2013
2014: Randi Beck, By Morning, New Mercies / Winter 2013-14
2014: Andrew Foster Altschul, Embarazada / Winter 2013-14
2013: Steve Almond, Gondwana / Spring 2012
2013: Matthew Neil Null, Telemetry / Winter 2012-13
2013: Timothy Schaffert, Lady of the Burlesque Ballet / Solos 1.1
2013: Megan Mayhew Bergman, Phoenix / Solos 1.3
2010: Sasha Troyan, Hidden Works / Spring 2009
2008: Ehud Havazelet, Law of Return / Winter 2007-08
2008: William Lychack, Stolpestad / Spring 2008
2008: Mark Brazaitis, The Incurables / Fall 2008
2007: Valerie Laken, Spectators / Spring 2006
2007: John Casey, Rapunzel / Winter 2006-7
2004: Ann Beattie, The Garden Game / Spring 2003
2004: Devika Mehra, The Garden / Spring 2003
2004: Elizabeth Berg, The Party / Fall 2003
2004: Karl Harshbarger, Train to Chinko / Fall 2003
2004: Alexandra Marshall, Child Widow / Fall 2003
2004: Antonya Nelson, Rear View / Fall 2003
2004: Alice Mattison, I Am Not Your Mother / Fall 2003
2004: Brittani Sonnenberg, Tierney’s Gourmet / Winter 2003-4
2004: Ted Weesner Jr., Tuscaloosa / Winter 2003-4
Best Canadian Stories
2012: Shaena Lambert, The War Between the Men and the Women / Spring 2011
Best Small Fictions
2018: Carrie Cooperider, Fawn / Summer 2018
Best Spiritual Literature
2026: Pádraig Ó Tuama, The Death of Eve / Winter 2024-25
Blair Prize (New Stories from the South)
2026: Deesha Philyaw, She No Longer Fears Him / Summer 2026
O. Henry Prize (The Best Short Stories)
2025: Ehsaneh Sadr, Mornings at the Ministry / Spring 2024
2024: Jai Chakrabarti, The Import / Spring 2023
2024: Jess Walter, The Dark / Summer 2023
2024: E. K. Ota, The Paper Artist / Fall 2022
2019: Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, Julia and Sunny / Summer 2017
2019: Rachel Kondo, Girl of Few Seasons / Ploughshares Solo
2018: Viet Dinh, Lucky Dragon / Summer 2016
2018: Tristan Hughes, Up Here / Winter 2016-17
2013: Jamie Quatro, Sinkhole / Spring 2012
2009: Paul Yoon, And We Will Be Here / Fall 2007
2003: Joan Silber, The High Road / Fall 2002
2001: Elizabeth Graver, The Mourning Door / Fall 2000
2000: Michael Byers, The Beautiful Days / Fall 1999
1999: Sheila M. Schwartz, Afterbirth / Fall 1998
1998: Maxine Swann, Flower Children / Fall 1997
1997: Mary Gordon, City Life / Spring 1996
1996: David Wiegand, Buffalo Safety / Fall 1995
1994: Helen Fremont, Where She Was / Winter 1992-93
1993: Jennifer Egan, Puerto Vallarta / Fall 1991
1989: Starkey Flythe Jr., CV10 / Winter 1986
1988: Ann Beattie, Honey / Winter 1986
1987: Gina Berriault, The Island of Ven / Fall 1985
1987: Robert Boswell, The Darkness of Love / Fall 1985
1985: Joyce Carol Oates, The Seasons / Winter 1983
1985: Tobias Wolff, Sister / Winter 1983
1983: Raymond Carver, A Small, Good Thing / Summer/Fall 1982
1982: Ivy Goodman, White Boy / Winter 1979
1979: Mary Peterson, Travelling / Spring 1978
1978: John Clayton, Bodies Like Mouths / Spring 1977
PEN Emerging Writers Award
2011: David Stuart Maclean, The Answer to the Riddle is Me / Winter 2009
Pushcart Prize
Fiction
2025: Richard Bausch, The Widow’s Tale / Winter 2023-24
2025: Jane Delury, Goodbye, Raymond Carver / Summer 2024
2025: Randy F. Nelson, Hover O’er Me With Your Wings / Summer 2024
2024: Ea Anderson, I Want to be This Girl / Summer 2023
2024: Andre Dubus III, Gary’s Way / Summer 2023
2022: Elaine Hsieh Chou, Skinfolk / Winter 2020-21
2022: Marcela Fuentes, The Observable World / Summer 2021
2020: Patricia Foster, Eulogy / Winter 2017-18
2020: Allen Gee, Old School / Fall 2018
2017: Vladislava Kolosowa, Taxidermy / Summer 2016
2017: Daniel Peña, Safe Home / Summer 2016
2016: Dan Chaon, What Happened to Us? / Spring 2014
2015: Xuan Juliana Wang, Days of Being Mild / Winter 2012-13
2012: Sandra Leong, We Don’t Deserve This / Fall 2011
2010: William Lychack, Stolpestad / Spring 2008
2010: Christie Hodge, Tom & Jerry / Spring 2008
2009: Charles Baxter, Ghosts / Spring 2007
2008: Lauren Groff, Lucky Chow Fun / Fall 2006
2007: Karen Bender, Refund / Spring 2005
2007: Laura Kasischke, If a Stranger Approaches You about Carrying a Foreign Object with You onto the Plane / Fall 2005
2006: Cynthia Weiner, Boyfriends / Spring 2004
2005: Alice Mattison, I Am Not Your Mother / Fall 2003
2005: Pamela Painter, Reading in His Wake / Fall 2003
2005: Sue Standing, Fast Sunday / Fall 2003
2004: Joan Silber, The High Road / Fall 2002
2004: Valerie Laken, Before Long / Winter 2002-2003
2003: Julie Orringer, Pilgrims / Spring 2001
2003: Cornelia Nixon, Lunch at the Blacksmith / Fall 2001
2002: Elizabeth Graver, The Mourning Door / Fall 2000
2002: Jess Row, The Secrets of Bats / Fall 2000
2002: Pamela Painter, Grief / Fall 2000
2001: Fanny Howe, Gray / Winter 1998-1999
2001: Joan Silber, Commendable / Fall 1999
2000: Charles Baxter, Harry Ginsberg / Fall 1998
1999: Meg Wolitzer, Tea at the House / Fall 1997
1999: Patricia Hampl, The Bill Collector’s Vacation / Fall 1997
1999: Maxine Swann, Flower Children / Fall 1997
1998: Andrea Barrett, The Forest / Winter 1996-1997
1997: Caroline Langston, The Dissolution of the World / Fall 1995
1996: Eileen Pollack, Milk / Spring 1994
1994: Rick Bass, Days of Heaven / Fall 1991
1994: Dennis Johnson, Forrest in the Trees / Spring 1992
1994: Barbara Selfridge, Monday Her Car Wouldn’t Start / Spring 1992
1992: Eileen Pollack, Past, Future, Elsewhere / Spring 1990
1992: Carol Rog-Spaulding, Waiting for Mr. Kim / Fall 1990
1987: Gina Berriault, The Island of Ven / Fall 1985
1987: Andre Dubus, Rose / Fall 1985
1986: Tim O’Brien, Quantum Jumps / Winter 1983
1984: Raymond Carver, A Small, Good Thing / Summer/Fall 1982
1984: Janet Desaulniers, Age / Winter 1982
1982: Benedict Kiely, Fionn in the Valley / Spring 1980
1981: Gina Berriault, The Infinite Passion of Expectation / Fall 1979
1978: Tim O’Brien, Going After Cacciato / Spring 1976
1978: Meredith Steinbach, Vestiges / Spring 1976
Poetry
2025: John Okrent, Nashville, 1999 / Winter 2023-24
2023: Andy Chen, Where I Am White / Winter 2021-22
2023: G. C. Waldrep, Tarry / Spring 2022
2015: Afaa Michael Weaver, Visit #1 / Winter 2012-13
2014: Claudia Rankine, That Once Were Beautiful Children / Spring 2012
2013: Bruce Bennett, The Thing’s Impossible / Fall 2011
2013: Jane Hirshfield, In a Kitchen Where Mushrooms Were Washed / Fall 2011
2012: Joy Katz, December, Fever / Winter 2010-2011
2011: Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Rome / Spring 2009
2011: L.S. Asekoff, Hither & Yon / Winter 2009-2010
2010: Peter Everwine, Rain / Spring 2008
2009: Chris Forhan, Love, Or Something / Spring 2007
2008: Edward Hirsch, Soutine: A Show of Still Lifes / Winter 2005-2006
2007: R.T. Smith, Dar He / Spring 2005
2006: Daisy Fried, Shooting Kinesha / Spring 2004
2005: David St. John, from The Face / Spring 2003
2003: Mary Jo Bang, The Beauties of Nature / Spring 2001
2003: Ellen Bryant Voigt, Autumn in the Yard We Planted / Fall 2001
2001: Jonah Winter, Sestina: Bob / Spring 1999
2001: Lucille Clifton, Jasper, Texas, 1998 / Spring 1999
2001: Jonathan David Jackson, The Spell / Winter 1999-2000
1999: Barbara Tran, from Rosary / Spring 1997
1999: Martin Espada, Thanksgiving / Spring 1997
1999: Toi Derricotte, Invisible Dreams / Spring 1997
1998: Rane Arroyo, Breathing Lessons / Spring 1996
1998: Thomas Sayers Ellis, Atomic Bride / Spring 1996
1995: Thomas Rabbitt, Over All / Winter 1993-94
1994: Lynn Emanuel, The Dig / Winter 1990-1991
1993: T.R. Hummer, Worldly Beauty / Winter 1990-91
1993: Richard Jackson, Circumstances / Winter 1990-91
1993: Ed Ochester, Oh, By the Way / Winter 1990-91
1992: Mary Jo Oliver, Little Owl Who Lives in the Orchard / Winter 1989
1991: John Balaban, For the Missing in Action / Spring 1988
1991: Lynda Hull, Hospice / Spring 1989
1989: Dan Masterson, Heron / Spring 1987
1988: George Starbuck, Oyster Bar on the Road to Mururua / Fall 1986
1984: Joe-Anne McLaughlin, Great-Aunt Francesca / Summer/Fall 1982
1983: Michael Harper, Chief / Spring 1981
1982: Elizabeth Spires, Blame / Summer 1980
1981: Jorie Graham, I Was Taught Three / Spring 1979
1980: Mona Duyn, Letters from a Father / Fall 1978
1979: Maura Stanton, Bathroom Walls / Spring 1977
1979: Lorrie Goldensohn, Letter for a Daughter / Fall 1978
1977: Carlos Drummond de Andrade, The Elephant / Fall 1975
1977: Eugenio Montale, Xenia / Fall 1975
Nonfiction
2024: Mihaela Moscaliuc, Extractions / Spring 2023
2020: Serene Taleb-Agha, A Hiker’s Guide to Damascus / Summer 2018
2018: Fransisco Cantú, Bajadas / Winter 2015-16
2014: Eric Fair, Consequence / Spring 2012
2014: Charles Baxter, What Happens In Hell / Fall 2012
2011: Martin Moran, Analphabet / Fall 2009
1996: Frederick Busch, Bad / Fall 1994
1996: Debra Spark, Last Things / Fall 1994
1988: Phillip Lopate, Against Joie de Vivre / Spring 1986
1988: David Reid, The Secret Sharer / Spring 1986