South Atlantic Review publishes four issues annually: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. The SAR Prize Committee reviews the issues from the year prior to the annual convention and selects one essay recognizing exceptional scholarship and contribution to the journal. The writer is awarded a $500 honorarium and complementary registration to attend the convention to receive the award. The selected essay is announced in August before the November convention. Nominations are not required – all SAR essays are considered for the annual prize.