National Poetry Competition
Rules 

We recommend all potential entrants read the rules carefully before entering. If you have any questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions page. Once you've read the rules, click here to enter.

Rules: General

1. The competition is open to anyone aged 17 or over. International entries are welcome.
2. The closing date of the competition is midnight, 31 October 2010.
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 covers 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 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 file.
9. The competition organisers 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’ decision is final and neither the judges nor Poetry Society staff will enter into any correspondence. 
11. No employee or member of the General Council of the Poetry Society is eligible to enter the National Poetry Competition.

Rules: Poems

12. All entries are judged anonymously and the poet’s name must not appear on the poem itself.
13. All poems must have a title and must not exceed 40 lines in length (excluding title). Entries can be on any subject.
14. Poems must be the original work of the entrant.
15. Entries must not have been published, self-published, published on a website or broadcast before March 2011.
16. Hand-written entries cannot be accepted. Entries should be typed in black ink on one side of A4 only. Entries can be double or single spaced.  Please do not staple printed entries.
17. Entries must be written in English. 

Rules: Fees

18. The first poem submitted costs £6. Subsequent entries in the same submission cost £3 per poem. Poetry Society members (including those joining now) get a free second entry, with subsequent poems at £3. 
19. Payments must be made in £ sterling. Cheques, credit/debit cards, postal orders and money orders are accepted. Cheques should be made payable to the Poetry Society. Please write your name and phone number on the back of cheques. 

Rules: Winners 

20. Winners and commendations will be notified by 31 January 2011 and invited to an award ceremony in spring 2011. All winners will be asked to provide a biography and photograph. 
21. The copyright of each poem remains with the author. However, authors of the winning poems, by entering the competition, grant the Poetry Society the right to publish and/or broadcast their poem for one year from March 2011. Use of the poems elsewhere during this time is subject to permission from the Poetry Society.