| Aspen Words Literary Prize | |
|---|---|
| Sponsored by | Aspen Words |
| Country |  United States |
| Status | Active |
| First award | 2018 |
The Aspen Words Literary Prize, established in 2018, is an annual literary award presented by Aspen Words, a literary center in Aspen, Colorado. The prize is presented to an author for "an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.” [1] Winners receive a US$ 35,000 prize. [2]
The award is open to authors of any nationality whose novels or short story collections are published by a U.S. trade publisher. The judging process specifically focuses on works that address vital social issues, such as violence, racial injustice, immigration, gender, and the environment. [3] The prize money has consistently been US$35,000, making it one of the largest literary prizes in the United States focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include the inaugural recipient Mohsin Hamid (2018) for his novel Exit West, Tayari Jones (2019) for An American Marriage, and Tommy Orange (2025) for Wandering Stars. [4]