The North Carolina Poetry Society (NCPS) invites submissions to its 2014 adult poetry contests, open to NCPS members and non-members and, except for the Poet Laureate contest, to both North Carolina residents and non-residents. The deadline for submission is Jan. 10, 2014. For the first time, poems may be submitted online. Winning poems will receive cash prizes and publication in the annual contest anthology, Pinesong. Winning poets will be invited to read at Awards Day in May 2014.
2014 adult poetry contest categories include:
• Thomas H McDill Award: any form, any style; maximum 70 lines.
• Caldwell Nixon Jr. Award: written for children ages 2-12, any form, any style; maximum 36 lines.
• Joanna Catherine Scott Award: traditional forms (except sestinas); maximum 36 lines.
• Ruth Morris Moose Sestina Award: On any theme.
• Mary Ruffin Poole American Heritage Award: any form, any style on theme of American heritage, brotherhood/sisterhood, nature; maximum of 36 lines.
• Katherine Kennedy McIntyre Light Verse Award: any form, any style; maximum 36 lines.
• Griffin-Farlow Award: Haiku.
• Poetry of Courage Award: any form, any style on theme of courage or crisis; maximum 36 lines
• Carol Bessent Hayman Poetry of Love Award: any form, any style; maximum 36 lines.
For the contests above, prizes are: first place: $50; second place: $25; third place: $15. Up to three honorable mentions will be awarded.
In addition, the Poet Laureate Award is for a serious poem, any subject, any style, maximum of 110 lines. The contest is open to poets currently living in North Carolina. The winning poem will be selected by the North Carolina Poet Laureate for a single prize of $100.
For complete rules and guidelines: http://www.ncpoetrysociety.org/adultcontests/.
The North Carolina Poetry Society is an all-volunteer organization especially for poets and friends of poetry. It has approximately 370 members from North Carolina and numerous locations beyond. The Poetry Society offers a variety of programs, including adult and student contests, readings, panels, workshops, special presentations and an annual poetry festival. Regular meetings are held in Southern Pines at the Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities.