As any published poet can attest, publishing poetry isn’t easy. Poetry readers are a select, and some might say shrinking, group, and poetry publishers are increasingly hard to find. In fact, very few dedicated poetry publishers exist, and most publishing houses produce only a few poetry titles each year.
Would-be poets shouldn’t let this discourage them, however. The obstacles to publishing a poetry collection are steep, but there is a way around them. The key is to first publish individual poems, and one way to do this is to enter poetry contests.
Most literary magazines and poetry journals run contests on an annual basis. Not only do these provide an opportunity for hopeful poets to get their work read and possibly published, but they also often offer monetary prizes for the winners.
Of course, most poetry contests require entrants to pay an entry fee for each submission, usually between 20 and 50 dollars. However, most literary magazines or journals include a one-year subscription to the publication as part of the fee.
Online Poetry Contests
The advent of the Internet has provided author-hopefuls with a new outlet for their efforts: the World Wide Web. Most literary magazines or journals have websites, and some publish exclusively online. In addition, there are many online poetry contests, not all of which are affiliated with a publication.
It is important for would-be poets to be especially cautious when considering online poetry contests. Unlike print publications, which can be traced or investigated fairly easily, online contests can be set up by just about anyone. Unfortunately, the Internet is a popular medium for scams, so before paying any kind of entry fee for an online contest, make sure there is a legitimate publication or organization behind it. Also, unless there’s a subscription involved, don’t pay more than 20 dollars to enter an online contest.
Where to Find Poetry Contests
With the proper precautions, the Internet can be a great place to find out about poetry contests. The League of Canadian Poets advertisers a number of contests and their website, and the Winning Writers website maintains a database of over 750 contests, profiled and ranked. Poets must pay a small quarterly fee for the latter service, though a free 10-day trial is available.
Contests are also usually advertised in the literary magazines and journals, as well as on their websites. Would-be poets are well advised to check these out regularly, not only for contest information, but also to keep in touch with the type of poetry being published in such magazines.
How to Submit a Winning Contest Poem
Submitting a winning poem depends on much more than just talent, although that never hurts, of course. A winning poem is more than just a good poem, too. Most of the poems submitted to contests are good poems, but they can’t all win. Here are some tips for submitting a winning poem:
- Find out who the judge is and read some of his or her work, as well as any other materials (interviews, biographies, reviews) and the work of his or her influences.
- Read the contest rules carefully and make sure the poem conforms to them. If a theme or topic has been identified, make sure the poem clearly fits it. Also respect length requirements.
- Follow the submission guidelines exactly; often, submissions not in the proper format are automatically disqualified without being read.
- Submit the best possible poem. Workshop it with friends or a writing group if possible.
- Have someone proofread the poem; typos are unprofessional and may ruin the reading experience for the judge.
- Respect deadlines. Late entries are rarely accepted. Mark the deadline a week early on your calendar, just to be sure.
- Follow the prescribed entry procedures. Some contests now accept electronic submissions, but most still require entries to be mailed in hard copy. Check if the entry must be received by the deadline, or simply postmarked by then, and be sure to get it in on time.
Of course, sometimes, a person can do everything right, submit a wonderful poem, and still not win. Poetry is extremely subjective, and in the end, it’s up to the judge. The best anyone can do is try, and keep trying until he or she succeeds.
One drawback to entering poetry contests is that judges rarely provide feedback on the entries. Even winners know nothing more than that their poem has won — they aren’t told why or what worked about it. Judges will sometimes write a general note that is published with the winning poem. Read this carefully to see what the judge had to say about what made the poem stand out and use the information to guide future efforts. Do not, however, sacrifice originality and personal expression for something merely imitative. Authenticity is necessary for a truly winning poem.
Finding the right poetry contest and publication, submitting the best possible poem, following all rules and guidelines carefully, and persevering even through numerous rejections is the best, and perhaps the only, way to win a poetry contest.
Emily Jones - Emily Jones began her writing career by practising the alphabet on her mother's newly papered kitchen walls. She was promptly given a ...
