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Last updated 9th September 2020

Below you will find details of many national and international poetry competitions, contests, awards and prizes from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, England (and the rest of the UK), Ireland and the USA. There are competitions suitable for poets of all ages and levels of capability.

PLEASE NOTE: Most of the poetry competitions listed on this page accept entries from writers living anywhere in the world. The country each publication is run from is listed so you know which global market you are submitting to.

If you run a poetry competition and would like your contest to be included in the lists below, please contact me providing all of the following information (please don't just send me a link - give the full details requested below in an email):

If you spot any mistakes, incorrect information or broken links on this page, please feel free to contact me - I do my best to fix any problems quickly.

This page is updated regularly throughout the year. I add new competitions as I become aware of them and update mistakes users point out. I undertake a full update, checking every link, during January each year.

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Do you run a poetry competition? Would you like it featured on this page? If so, please get in touch. This page attracts thousands of visits a month.

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This list contains information about poem competitions run on a regular basis; daily, weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, tri-annually etc. If you're new to poetry and have not yet been published, this is a good place to start.

Notes on Writers' Forum Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Writers' Forum magazine

Notes on Templar Poetry Awards: They run lots of different competitions - most offer publication and prize money, but check website for current opportunities

Notes on Sentinel Literary Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Sentinel Literary Magazine

Notes on New Millennium Awards: Any style, subject or theme - 3 poems of up to 5 pages in length total - winners published in anthology and online - entry fee includes a copy of the anthology

Notes on Cinnamon Press Poetry Prizes: They run a variety of awards that change regularly - check website for more details

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This list contains details of prestigious poetry contests offering large monetary prizes in excess of £1,000 ($, € or other currency). Competition will be high - big prizes tend to attract more entries.

Notes on WW Wergle Flomp Competition: Any style, subject or theme but must be humorous - winners published online

Notes on WW Wergle Flomp Competition: 2 top prizes of $1,500; 1, Tom Howard Prize for a poem of any style, subject or theme; 2, Margaret Reid Prize for poems that rhyme or have a traditional style - winners published online

Notes on Wigtown Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Southlight Magazine

Notes on Wells Festival Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website

Notes on Poetry Society Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winning poems maybe published - there are details of other prizes in the competition section of their website

Notes on Room Magazine Poetry Contest: Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website

Notes on The New Quarterly Occasional Verse Award: Any style, subject or theme, but poems should be inspired by a specific occasion - entry includes a subscription to TNQ magazine - winner published in The New Quarterly and invited to read at Wild Writers Festival in Ontario - short-listed winners are considered for publication in TNQ (paid at $50)

Notes on Room Magazine Poetry Contest: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Room Magazine - entry fee for writers residing outside of Canada $49 USD - entry includes subsciption to Room Magazine

Notes on Robert Graves Prize: Any style, subject or theme - run by University of Roehampton and Wimbledon BookFest - winners published in Poem Magazine - to find current prize details, click on the link and then go to 'News' in the main navigation of their website - usually closes around July / August time

Notes on The Moth Poetry Prize: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Moth Magazine - they also offer generous prizes for runners up

Notes on Moth Magazine Nature Prize: Any style / genre but themed around nature: check website for full details - in addition to cash, winner receives a week's stay at The Moth Retreat - winning story published in The Moth - also accept fiction and non-fiction

Notes on Manchester Prize: Any style, subject or theme - for best collection of 3 to 5 poems with a collective maximum of 12o lines (£17.50 entry covers up to 5 poems)

Notes on Ledbury Poetry Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners are offered the chance of reading at the Ledbury Poetry Festival - also run comps for children

Notes on Forward Arts Foundation Prize: Prizes: 10K for best collection, 5K for best 1st collection, 1K for best single poem - book entries must be submitted by publisher and single poems by magazine editors

Notes on Troubadour Prize: Any style, subject or theme - top prize varies, but is always thousands of pounds + goodies - highest I've seen top prize is £5,000 - entry fee is usually around the £5/£6 mark but does vary

Notes on Christopher Tower Competition: Themed, so check website for current details - for 16 to 19 year olds in full time education - winners published on website

Notes on Caterpillar Prize: Any style, subject or theme but written for children aged 7 to 11 years of age - winner published in The Caterpillar

Notes on Bridport Prize Poem Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in the Bridport Prize anthology

Notes on McLellan Poetry Prize: Any style, subject or theme - top prize has been up to £1,500 in the past - usually closes around June / July

Notes on Aesthetica Competition: Any style / genre - winning stories (top 60) published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual - winner also receives poetry society membership, books and magazine subscriptions - they also accept short stories

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This table lists details of poetry competitions run yearly.

Notes on Writers Bureau Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Freelance Market News - £5 entry is for up to 4 Limericks - they run other competitions throughout the year, so the focus of the competition page changes, depending on what is currently running

Notes on London Magazine Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in London Magazine and online - usually closes around May / June

Notes on The Bedford Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winning and shortlisted entries published in print and Kindle eBook - after winners have been paid, excess money is donated to charity - usually closes around September / October - top prize has been up to £500 in the past

Notes on SaveAs Writers Competition: Any style or subject, but themed, so check website for current details - winners published in anthology - top prize has been up to £500 in the past

Notes on Poetry Quarterly Contest: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Poetry Quarterly - entry fee includes 1 year's subscription to magazine

Notes on Oxford Festival of the Arts Prize: Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - no permanent link, so go to the 'Become a Sponsor' section of the website and look in the 'Participation Projects' section - deadline for subs is usually around April / May

Notes on Overton Prize: Any style, subject or theme - run through Loughborough University in memory of professor Bill Overton - first place published in chapbook, runners up receive book tokens

Notes on Mslexia Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in magazine and on website - doesn't run every year as they run loads of different writing contests so check website for current details

Notes on Jane Martin Prize: Any style, subject or theme - for those aged between 18 and 30 years of age, living in the UK

Notes on Canterbury Festival Competition: Any style, subject or theme - all shortlisted and longlisted entries published in an anthology - no dedicated page on website, so check 'what's on' section (usually under 'performance') and 'News' section

Notes on Boston Review Contest: Any style, subject or theme - winner published in the Boston Review - enter up to 5 poems, 10 pages max in total

Notes on Battered Moons Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Battered Moons Poetry Pamphlet - run as part of the Poetry Swindon Festival - usually closes around May/June/July

Notes on Ageless Authors Contest: Any style or subject but sometimes themed, so check website for current contest details - entrants must be aged 50 years or older - winning poems published in anthology

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This table lists different poetry competitions specifically for young adults and children.

Notes on Wimbledon Bookfest Competition: Any style or subject but themed so check website for current details - winners published in Bookfest Book of Stories anthology - up to 6 age categories that are subject to change, so check website for current details - no dedicated page on website, so check 'children' section for news

Notes on Ledbury Poetry Competition: Any style, subject or theme - 2 categories: 12 to 17 years and under 11 - prizes vary but have been up to £100 in the past

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This table will list one-off poetry contests.

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There are other websites that supply poetry competition calendars. They are listed below (if you run one on your site, please get in touch):

This table will contain a history of previously listed poetry contests that have closed.

Competition Country Closing Date Winners Announced Max Lines Entry Fee Top Prize

A Poem For Europe UK 31st July 2019 October 32 lines £6 £500

Notes on A Peom For Europe: Themed around Europe - winners published online and in print - CLOSED, was a one-off

Artificium Poetry Competition UK Varies Varies 40 lines £5 Varies

Notes on Artificium Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Artificium - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, removed from lists 2019

Association of Christian Writers Writing Competitions UK Varies Varies Varies £3 See notes

Notes on ACW Competitions: They run a variety of competitions (flash fiction, short story and poetry), so check website for current details - winners published in Christian Writers (circulation 700) - top prize: £25 book voucher - CLOSED, but they still run the odd one-off comp

Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival Poetry Competition UK 31st July 2017 September 600 words FREE £1,000

Notes on Budleigh Salterton Competition: Any style or genre but competition is themed, so check website for details - CLOSED, was a one-off

Caerphilly Scribes Free Verse Competition Wales Bi-Annually Bi-Annually 30 lines £5 £100

Notes on Caerphilly Scribes Competition: Any style, subject or theme, but no purple prose or schmaltz - winners published in Caerphilly Scribes Poetry Collection - each entry receives a short commentary from the judges - CLOSED 2016

Cafe Aphra Poem of the Month UK Varies Varies 25 lines FREE None

Notes on Cafe Aphra: Any style / genre - they feature at least one new poem on the first Monday of every month - always open to submissions - CLOSED 2019

Cariad Marketing Living Well Poetry Competition UK 30th September 2019 6th December 2019 30 lines £5 £100

Notes on Cariad Marketing Competition: Any style, subject but themed around 'living well' - winning and shortlisted poems will be printed in ‘Living Well Poetry’ which will be sold in aid of the Isabel Hospice - winner and finalists receive a copy of the book and be invited to read their work at an awards evening - CLOSED, was a one-off

Clochoderick Poetry Competition UK January March 35 lines £5 £500

Notes on Clochoderick Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Clochoderick bi-annual literary journal - WEBSITE NOT updated in ages and social media profiles gone, so removed listing 2019

Cozy Cat Press Poetry Contest USA 1st July 2019 1st August 2019 2 pages FREE $100

Notes on Cozy Cat Press Contest: Any style or subject but themed so check website for full details - CLOSED, was a one-off

Craigleigh Press Poetry Contest Canada 30th April 2016 ? 40 lines $5 $50

Notes on Craigleigh Press Competition: Any or subject but the theme - 3 categories: A. Free Verse, B. Traditional Verse, C. Haiku - CLOSED, was a one-off

Creative Future Spotlight Books Competition UK 24th February 2019 1st April 2019 40-45pp. at 20 lines per page FREE See notes

Notes on Creative Future Competition: Any style or genre except erotica or children's - open to writers from under-represented backgrounds (those who face barriers due to mental health, disability, identity or social circumstance) so see website for full guidelines - six writers will begiven 1:1 editorial support to shape their manuscripts and will be published in individual small books with international distribution - CLOSED, was a one-off

Crooked Quill Magazine Poetry Competition England 15th February 2015 March 20 lines FREE £20

Notes on Crooked Quill Competition: Any or subject but the theme is 'beginnings and time' - 1st prize is a £20 Amazon voucher - winners published in The Crooked Quill literary magazine -CLOSED, was a one-off

Crowvus Poetry Prize UK March April 50 lines £3 See notes

Notes on Crowvus Prize: Any style, subject but themed or inspired by pictures, so see website for full details - 25 shortlisted poems published in an anthology - top prize is 40% of the total entry fees - they run short story comps too - NO LONGER MENTIONED on website, so removed listing 2019

David Burland Poetry Prize UK July August 40 lines £8 £200

Notes on David Burland Prize: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in anthology Poetic Art / L’Art Poétique - didn't run in 2018, but plan to run 2019, so check website for updates - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2020

Fire River Poets Open Poetry Competition UK October January 40 lines £4 £200

Notes on Fire River Poets Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners invited to take part in a reading event held in Taunton- WESBITE DISAPPEARED 2017

First Writer International Poetry Competition England October ? 30 lines £3 £200

Notes on First Writer Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in First Writer Magazine - CLOSED 2016 after running for 15 years

Five Aspects Poetry Competition UK December February 40 lines £4 £150

Notes on Five Aspects Competition: Any style or subject bu themed, so check website for current details - many cash prizes, including awards for younger writers - all winners invited to attend workshops with young people, to share their creative processes - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019

Fly on the Wall Press 'Planet in Peril' Poetry, Photography and Art Competition UK 28th April 2019 May See notes See notes £50

Notes on Fly on the Wall Competition: Any style or subject - no max, but 40 lines recommended - entry: adult £5, student £3, free sponsored entries for anyone under 18 or unwaged - winners published in the anthology Planet in Peril which will support charity - CLOSED, was a one-off

Fun Palaces: WriteScience Poem Competition UK July September 250 FREE See notes

Notes on Fun Palaces Poem Competition: Any style / genre but themed around science - open to residents of the UK only - winners published on website and performed at reading events - competition is judged by a very prestigious panel - they also accept short stories - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018

Geraldine Taylor's 'Words of Inspiration' Poetry Contest UK Quarterly Quarterly 40 lines £4.99 £250

Notes on Words of Inspiration Contest: Any style / subject but themed around inspiration - winners published on website and in Creative Collective Anthology Series - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing Jan 2018

Grindstone Poetry Competition UK Quarterly Quarterly 40 lines Varies Varies

Notes on Grindstone Competition: Any style / subject but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on website CLOSED, replaced by annual competition - see lists above

Horse Rider Poetry International Poetry Competition Republic of Serbia Varies Varies 26 lines $8 Varies

Notes on Horse Rider Competition: Any style, subject or theme - prizes vary from cash to cameras to T-shirts and more - winners published in printed anthology and receive a free copy - run on Facebook rather than a website, so link takes you to their FB page - PAGE INACTIVE, so removed listing during 2020 update

Hourglass Literary Magazine Best Poem Award Bosnia April September 3,500 words $15 $1,000

Notes on Hourglass Contest: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Hourglass Literary Magazine - entry fee covers up to 3 poems - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2019

Humanaagerie Anthology from Eibonvale Press UK 31st May 2018 September 60 lines FREE £5

Notes on Humanaagerie Anthology: For 'liminal' work; pieces that would be classed as 'Slipstream'; work that has a speculative or surreal element - edited by Sarah Doyle and Allen Ashley - selected works will be published in the Humanaagerie anthology CLOSED, was a one-off

Inexsilio (The Exiles) - The Lost Country Poetry Competition USA Varies Varies 150 lines* FREE $50

Notes on The Exiles Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in The Lost Country Journal - sometimes run annually, sometimes bi-annually - 150 lines is a soft limit, if the editors receive an excellent 200 line poem (for example), they will consider publishing it - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED FOR 2 YEARS, so removed from lists 2018

Info 4 Writers Poetry Competition UK Monthly Monthly 125 lines FREE £15

Notes on Info 4 Writers Competition: Any style / genre but themed so check website for current details - winners published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, removed from lists 2019

Irish Arts & Writers Festival Writing Competition USA September October 50 lines $10 $600

Notes on Irish Arts & Writers Competition: Any style / genre - winners published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019

Link Age Southwark Writing Competition UK 31st August 2018 October 40 lines See notes £200

Notes on Link Age Competition: Any style or subject but themed, so check website for details - free entry for ages 11 to 17, £5 for adults - winners published on blog and invited to award ceremony in London CLOSED, was a one-off

Magic Oxygen Poetry Prize UK December February 50 lines £5 £1,000

Notes on Magic Oxygen Prize: Any style, subject or theme - winners publsihed in anthology - CLOSED 2019

MK LitFest Poetry Competition UK 31st May 2020 31st August 2020 14 lines FREE £25

Notes on MK LitFest Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for details - entrants must live in Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire or Bedfordshire UK - two age categories: 14 to 19 and over 20 - also open to flash fiction - at least 20 poems and 20 stories published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off

Newcastle Univerity International Poetry Prize UK Varies Varies 40 lines Varies £1,000

Notes on Basil Bunting Prize: Any style, subject or theme - large cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place winners - prizewinners invited to award ceremony at Newcastle Poetry Festival - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2019

Nothing in the Rulebook's 'Haikus for the NHS' UK 20th February 2017 28th February 2017 Haiku FREE £25

Notes on Nothing in the Rulebook Competition: Any style or subject but the theme is the UK's National Health Service and the tradition of poetry as protest - long and shortlisted haikus published on website - winning haikus will also be printed and distributed at NHS demonstration in London on 4 March - CLOSED, was a one-off



Nowhere.Ink's $100 Weekly Writing Contest USA Weekly Weekly 500 words $2 $100

Notes on Nowhere.Ink Contest: Any style / subject but themed, so check website for current details - winner published on website - winner also receives a copy of The Literary Hack, a quarterly magazine, and considered for publication in mag - WEBSITE not updated since June 2018, so removed listing 2019

Poetic Republic Poetry Competition England April ? 42 lines £7 £2,000

Notes on Poetic Republic Competition: Any style, subject or theme - participants read each other's work and effectively judge the competition, see link for details - winners and published in eBook containing 48 poems and most interesting comments from website - NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing Jan 2018

Poetry Pulse Annual Poetry Competition UK June August 42 lines £5 £300

Notes on Poetry Pulse Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and in Poetry Pulse Annual Review - they also run monthly comps - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020

Published Fantasy Authors Poetry/Song Competition USA 20th December 2019 20th February 2020 40 lines FREE $250

Notes on Published Fantasy Authors Poetry/Song Competition: This competition is a unique opportunity to have your literary work set to music and released on a professional album, including a cash prize and a royalty arrangement - open to published authors in the fantasy genre, whose works include original song lyrics - CLOSED, was a one-off

READ Foundation Writing Competition UK 10th October 2018 13th October 2018 500 FREE See notes

Notes on READ Foundation Competition: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winner publicly displayed across hundreds of schools and read by tens of thousands of children, plus feedback from writer Qaisra Shahraz - also accept flash fiction and non-fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off

Sentinel Annual Poetry Competition England January March 60 lines £5 £700

Notes on Sentinel Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners pubished in anthology - lots of runner-up cash prizes - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED SINCE 2015, so listing removed 2017

Spilling Cocoa Over Martin Amis Humorous Poetry Competition UK Varies Varies no max stated FREE See notes

Notes on Spilling Cocoa Competition: Any style, subject or theme but dedicated to the serious art of writing funny poems - no monetary prize, but winners published on the website - NO NEW POSTS SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020

Streetcake Experimental Writing Prize UK 14th June 2019 Summer 2019 3 x A4 pages £1 See notes

Notes on Streetcake Prize: Any style or subject - two age bands (18-21 and 22-26) - winners receive personalised mentoring sessions - other prizes include personalised feedback and book bundles - winners published online and in a hardcopy anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off

The Enfield Poets’ Poetry Competition UK 7th March 2020 by 31st March 2020 50 lines £4 £500

Notes on Enfield Poets' Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and invited to read their poems at prize giving ceremony - CLOSED, was a one-off

The Woolf Poetry Competition Switzerland September December 500 words 10 CHF 150 CHF

Notes on The Woolf Competition: Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - 150 CHF is about £115 or $150 - three winning poems published in The Woolf - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020

These Fragile Lilacs 2018 Chapbook Competition USA 1st April 2018 14th April 2018 16 pages $12 $100

Notes on Fragile Lilacs Competition: Any style or subject - winner also receives 20 free printed copies of their chapbook - good prizes for 2nd and 3rd place entries too - CLOSED was a one off

Thinkerbeat 'Reels' and 'Spinners' Awards USA Bi-Annually Bi-Annually Varies FREE $25

Notes on Thinkerbeat Awards: For song lyrics and animations (poets encouraged to enter, hence it's listed here) - winning lyrics will be recorded as a song, and winning scripts annimated - CLOSED 2015

Torbay Festival of Poetry Open Poetry Competition UK Varies Varies Varies Varies Varies

Notes on Torbay Festival Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winner also receives free weekend pass for the poetry festival including accommodation - check 'competitions' section of the website for current details as it seems to change every year - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019

Torriano Poetry Competition England January March 40 lines £3 £250

Notes on Torriano Competition: Any style, subject or theme - Winning poets will be offered featured readings at prize-giving ceremony in April - CONTEST NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so listing removed 2017

Vênoor Living - Poetry in Design Award UK 31st August 2018 9th September 2018 25 lines FREE £50

Notes on Vênoor Living Award: Any style or subject but themed, so check website for details - winner receives cash and vouchers - CLOSED, was a one-off

Victorina Press Poetry Award 'Voices' (Voces) UK 5th October 2018 10th November 2018 40 lines £5 £300

Notes on Victorina Press Award: Any style or subject or theme - winners published by Victorina Press - entries accepted in English and Spanish CLOSED, was a one-off

Voice of the Poet, Africa Nigeria November November 200 words FREE None listed

Notes on Voice of the Poet Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published in anthology and online - for African poets only, see website for full definition - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019

Wanton Fuckery Poetry Competition UK Varies Varies 1 page FREE See notes

Notes on WFP Competition: Any style or subject but themed, so check website for details - winner receives a packet of Hobnobs and a drawing - winners published on website - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED since 2018, so removed listing 2019 I designed their logo for them. I received a packet of hobnobs as payment. It's below, because: I'm very proud of it A packet of biscuits is the most I've ever been paid for designing anything

Wenlock Poetry Festival Children & Young People's Poetry Competition UK March April ? ? ?

Notes on Wenlock Festival Competition: Any style or subject but themed so check website for current details - winners published on website - 3 age groups; under 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12 - NO LONGER mentioned on website, so removed listing 2019

Wenlock Poetry Festival Competition UK Varies Varies 40 lines £5 £500

Notes on Wenlock Festival Competition: Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and invited to perform their poems at the festival - NO LONGER mentioned on website, so removed listing 2019

Woven Tale Press Poetry Competition USA 15th September 2018 October 2018 5 poems $25 See notes

Notes on Woven Tale Press Competition: Any style, subject or theme - top prize is a week long writing retreat in the Hamptons, NY - cash prizes for runners up - winners published in Woven Tale Press magazine CLOSED, was a one-off

Writing Maps A3 Review Poetry Contest UK Monthly Monthly 150 words $5 £250

Notes on Writing Maps Competition: Any style, subject or theme - each month, two entries win publication in the magazine - three overall winning entries receive cash prizes - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2020

Writing Times Poetry Competition UK December March 80 lines £3 £50

Notes on Writers Bureau Competition: Any style, subject but themed, so check website for current theme - winners published in the Writing Times along with an author feature - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2017

Wundor Editions Poetry Contest UK Varies Varies no max stated £5 £500

Notes on Wundor Editions Contest: Any style or subject - no line limit on poems - winner strongly considered for print publication - usually runs once a year, but dates change and they sometimes run photography competitions too - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020

Year of Listening Competition Scotland 28th October 2016 11th November 2016 40 lines FREE See notes