The National Poetry Competition

One of the biggest single poem competitions in the world, the National Poetry Competition is open to anyone aged 17 or older. The competition is for previously unpublished poems of up to 40 lines in length.

General Rules

1. The competition is open to anyone aged 17 or over at the time of entering. International entries are welcome.
2. The closing date of the competition is midnight (UK time), 31 October 2019.
3. There is no limit on the number of entries a single entrant can make. All entries will be considered anonymously by the judges.
4. Postal entries will only be accepted when accompanied by an entry form (forms may be photocopied). One entry form may cover multiple entries.
5. Entries will not be returned, so please keep a copy.
6. Under no circumstances can alterations be made to poems once entered.
7. If you would like confirmation that your postal entry has been received, please include a stamped addressed envelope/postcard with your entry. Online entries made via the website will receive an automatic confirmation at the time of submission.
8. Telephone or email confirmation of receipt is not available. Poetry Society staff are unable to confirm the content of documents submitted online, so please ensure you send the correct version.
9. The competition organizers reserve the right to change the judging panel without notice and not to award prizes if, in the judges’ opinion, such an action is justified.
10. The judges read all the entries; their decision is final. Neither the judges nor Poetry Society staff will enter into any correspondence.
11. No current employee or Trustee of The Poetry Society is eligible to enter the National Poetry Competition.

Poem Rules

1. All entries are judged anonymously and the poet’s name must not appear on the poem itself.
2. All poems must have a title and must not exceed 40 lines in length (excluding title). Entries can be on any subject.
3. Poems must be the entrant’s original work.
4. Entries must not have been published, self-published, published on a website, broadcast or featured among the winners in another competition before 31 March 2020.
5. Handwritten entries cannot be accepted. Postal entries should be typed and printed in black ink on A4 paper at a minimum type size of 12pt. Poems may span two pages but pages must not be double-sided. Entries can be double or single spaced. Please do not staple pages.
6. Entries must be written in English.

Fees

1. The first poem submitted costs £7. Subsequent entries in the same submission cost £4 per poem. Poetry Society members (including those joining at time of submission) get a free second poem, with subsequent poems at £4.
2. Payments must be made in £ sterling. Entries accompanied by payment in a currency other than £ sterling will not be accepted. Cheques, credit/debit cards, and postal orders are accepted. Cheques should be made payable to The Poetry Society. Please write your name and phone number on the back of cheques.