Silver Winnings

Silver bookmark in poetry prize

 

POET laureate, Carol Ann Duffy (pictured) is to judge the Poetry Business Book & Pamphlet competition as the organisation marks its 25^th anniversary.

The Poetry Business has invited poets to submit a collection of 20-24 pages of poetry and the four first-stage winners will be given the chance to submit a full-length manuscript for book publication. The other winners will be published in pamphlet form.

Aside from this, entrants will be signing up for a chance to win publication by Smith/Doorstep Books; a share of £2,000 donated by NAWE; publication in The North magazine; a poetry reading hosted by the Poetry Business; a place on a Writing Day; one-to-one support from NAWE's Compass Points development agency; a free book from any publisher represented by Inpress Books; and a year's subscription to Ambit Magazine.

The entry fee is £25 though subscribers to The North can enter for a fee of £20, as can Friends of the Poetry Business. A £1 surcharge is applied to online entries.

Poets with a Sheffield post code will also be automatically entered in the Sheffield Prize category for the chance to win £100 and publication in The North magazine. And, top celebrate the silver anniversary of the Poetry Business, the winner will also receive a silver bookmark crafted by Sheffield silversmiths The Assay.

The deadline is 29 November 2011.

Conditions of Entry

Entering the competition

• There is a standard fee of £25 for each entry submitted by post. This is reduced to £20 for entrants who are current North subscribers or Friends of the Poetry Business. A £1 surcharge is applied to entries submitted online
• You may submit as many collections as you wish
• Your real name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript. Choose a pen name and a title for your collection, and write both on every page
• Postal entries must be postmarked on or before Monday 29 November 2011. Online entries can be submitted up to midnight on 1 December
• Entries sent by post must be accompanied by a completed entry form. (Online entrants complete the ‘uploads form’ at www.poetrybusiness.co.uk)
• To be notified of the names of the winners, please enclose an s.a.e. marked ‘results’ or complete the email notification form on our website

Your work

• We ask for small collections of 20 to 24 pages of poems. Poems may be of any length. A long poem may take several pages. More than one poem may be printed on a single page
• The poems should be for adults, in English, and typed on one side only of A4
• Poems may have been published elsewhere, but must not have previously appeared as a published collection
• Copyright remains with the authors but The Poetry Business reserves the right to first UK publication of the collection for 12 months from publication. (This doesn’t prevent publication elsewhere of individual poems)
• We are unable to return manuscripts or offer feedback

The prizes

• First stage winners will have a pamphlet published and receive an equal share of the £2,000 cash prize, whether or not they choose to enter the second stage. First stage winners may choose to enter the second stage by submitting an extended manuscript (another 30-plus pages) at no extra charge, within one month of being asked. The final winner will have a book published, but not a pamphlet
• All winners will have the opportunity to read their work at a poetry reading organised by The Poetry Business shortly before (or after) publication of their title
• Each winning poet will have at least one of their poems published in the issue of The North magazine that immediately follows the announcement of the results
• The Poetry Business will arrange for the prizes donated by NAWE, Inpress and Ambit magazine to be delivered to the winners

The judges

• The judges’ decision is final. If in the judges’ opinion no collection achieves a high enough standard, no prize winner will be chosen
• We reserve the right to change the panel of judges without notice

More information from at www.poetrybusiness.co.uk

MC

Category: COMPETITIONS

Posted in: COMPETITIONS,NEWS,PLUGGED