Imagine getting a $100,000 award
 

It must be encouraging to live in a country where such stupendous prizes are available.

http://www.poets.org/academy-america...ets%20Pr izes

Though I've no idea of how these selections are made or by what judges on what criteria.

Alas, all I can ever aspire to be is the writer-in-my-residence. :confused:

Encouraging? Hmmmm. I can't understand why they keep badgering poor peasant poets to pay dues so the esteemed poets can mysteriously give grand prizes to one another.

See this thread: http://www.ablemuse.com/erato/showthread.php?t=23388