I’m only listing free-to-enter competitions as, if you are just starting out, you can otherwise spend a fortune. If you have anything poetry-related to share (free-to-submit listings only), please get in touch via email: rosiesandler@talktalk.net – thank you!
Please note: publication on this site does not mean publications/competition organisers have been vetted – please do your own checks before submitting.
Happy writing!
Rosie
Copied from website: “The poem should be metrical, and should be no longer than 100 lines, though extracts from longer work are permitted. There are no formal or thematic restraints, and so long as it is written in a discernible metre (or several!), we encourage you to follow your fancy, whether that lead you to the outlandish, the passionate, or even the dull.” There are links to the poetry of Milton and Shakespeare, plus lessons on poetry technique. Deadline is 1 December 2020. https://anglica.co.uk/poetry-competition/
The John Byrne Award is an online monthly and annual award. Entrants must be over 16 and living or studying in Scotland. See full details.
Copied from website:
From Brunel University, London: “The Prize is open to poets who were born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African. It is for ten poems exactly in order to encourage serious poets. These poems may, however, have already been published. Only poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published are eligible. Poets who have self-published poetry books or had chapbooks and pamphlets published are allowed to submit for this prize.” More info is here, but there is more than one set of entry dates on the web page, referring to previous years! I will add correct dates to this post, once I hear back from the university.
Truth Serum Press is looking for poems that somehow encompass ‘blue’ for a new anthology, inspired by the Impressionists’ love of the colour. Copied from the website: “All poems must somehow encompass / include / mention blue … or its variants.” Submit no more than 5 poems by 30 November 2019. More information here.
The Eric Gregory Awards are for a collection of poems by a writer under the age of 30 as of 31 March 2020. Closing date: 31 October 2019. Open only to British-born writers, resident in the UK. Full details here.
Vending machines that dispense stories and poems. Full information here. Note there is a maximum number of characters (including spaces) for both stories and poems, all of which must be previously unpublished, including on personal websites.
The next window is open. Write a poem in one hour, inspired by the image. You have until 15th September 2019. Read the full details before you begin.
Another one from fab Dawn Vincent of Mindfizz: For anyone who is training to work in/already works in/has worked in the NHS. Deadline is 14 September 2019. From the Fair Acre Press website: ‘The aim is to give a voice and reflect the experiences of NHS staff and celebrate their creativity and talent, while at the same time raising money to support the NHS.‘ Full details here.
Thanks to Dawn Vincent of Mindfizz for this one. Open to poets from around the world, this poetry competition on the theme of ‘where I’m from’ is free to enter for under-18s (over-18s can enter for a small fee). Winning and commended poems will be published in an anthology. Deadline: Monday 7 October 2019, midnight UK time. https://pctothepowerof2.wordpress.com/enter/
