The Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation jointly award the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, a competition for newly-published books. The prize commemorates the life, legacy and intentions of William Saroyan - author, artist, dramatist, composer - and is intended to encourage new or emerging writers, rather than to recognize established literary figures.

Two prizes of $5,000 will be awarded, one each in fiction and non-fiction. Poetry and other literary forms will not be considered.

Only works published in book form between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009, available for individual purchase by the general public, and primarily in English are eligible for the Saroyan Prize in 2010.