How to Be Considered for a Pulitzer Prize

The Pulitzer Prize is one of the highest honors in the world for writers, playwrights and composers. Here's how to be considered for one.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oxford English Dictionary
• Photography Classes
• Writing Classes
• Journalism Classes
• Musical Composition Classes
• Computers
• Cameras
• Word-processing Software
• Cameras

1. Distinguish yourself as a writer, particularly in journalism - the main category of the Pulitzer Prize. Other categories include the novel, poetry, biography, political cartooning, news photography and musical composition.

2. Get an entry form from The Pulitzer Prize Office, 709 Journalism, Mail Code 3865, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027. Or call [phone].

3. Get your entry together. Guidelines differ for each of the categories, but for all categories, you'll need to include a $50 entry fee.

4. Prepare the following for a journalism entry: an entry form, an "exhibit" (in scrapbook form), including clippings from your publications in the relevant newspaper, a personal photograph and a personal biography.

5. Prepare the following for a book entry: an entry form, a personal photograph, a personal biography and four copies of the book.

6. Prepare the following for a drama entry: an entry form, a personal photograph, a personal biography, dates and places of production and six copies of the manuscript.

7. Prepare the following for a music entry: an entry form, a personal photograph, a personal biography, a score of the work, a recording of the work and a note describing the length and instrumentation of the work.

8. Send your materials by the deadline, which varies from category to category, to the address given on the entry form. Don't forget to include the $50 handling fee.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the Pulitzer Prize Web site (see Related Sites) for more information on submitting entries and to download entry forms.
• In the final selection process, works by individuals are generally favored.
• Congratulate yourself heartily if you win - only about 1 percent of yearly submissions receive awards.