Black Lawrence Press, an independent publisher with a longstanding commitment to literary fiction and poetry, administers the Black River Chapbook Competition twice annually. The contest is open to new, emerging, and established writers, reflecting the press's interest in work that operates outside the commercial mainstream. A chapbook—typically a short, focused manuscript—offers a form for writers to present a cohesive body of prose that may be too brief for a full-length collection but demands more space than a single story. The competition thus serves as a vital platform for the novella, the linked story cycle, and other hybrid prose forms. The winner receives book publication under the Black Lawrence Press imprint, a $500 cash award, and ten copies of the published chapbook. This combination of publication and modest prize money underscores the press's investment in the writer's career: the chapbook becomes a tangible artifact, distributed and reviewed, rather than a mere contest credit. The press's catalogue includes numerous chapbooks that have gone on to garner wider attention, suggesting that the competition is a meaningful step for writers seeking to build an audience. Submissions are judged by the press's editorial team, who bring a discerning eye for voice, structure, and emotional resonance. The 16–36 page limit encourages concision and coherence, favoring manuscripts that are unified in theme or narrative arc. There is no restriction on genre within prose—fiction, creative nonfiction, and hybrid forms are all eligible—provided the work is unpublished. The entry fee of $20 supports the press's operations and the production of the winning chapbook, a standard model for independent literary contests.