Do you have a poem that you think is "publishable" material? Enter it in this contest and find out!
As a frequent reader and occasional writer for e-zines, I'm willing to bet that I can name a publishable poem when I see it, nine time out of ten.
For this contest, I am looking for poems that I would pay money to feature in an e-zine, or print magazine if that's more your style. There are no restrictions on form, but I suggest you say in the Author's Note what kind of magazine you would submit this to (for example, Haiku or Short Form journal, Literary, Spiritual, Gay/Lesbian, Modern or Open Form).
Rules
Do everything you would do if you were actually submitting this poem to an editor. That means:
1. Use perfect grammar, punctuation, and spelling. That goes for your Author's Note as well. If you ever submit to a real editor, they will pay attention to the technical points of your cover letter as well as your story.
2. Be creative. There is no excuse for cliches.
3. Say what you need to say and get out of there. I don't know of a single e-zine that accepts poetry over fourty lines, unless it's a fantasy epic (even then, say what you need to say, don't take longer than needed).
4. Take your time with writing and editing. You'd never submit something for publication that you'd written in less than a minute: don't do it here.
Judging
I will comment on each entry, saying reasons why I would and why I wouldn't publish each poem. Be warned, I will not be gentle to spare your feelings: if harsh criticism bothers you, let me know in the Author Note and I will tone it down. I won't be rude, just honest.
Prize
Now, you're all probably wondering why first place has a lower point number than second. There's a good reason for that:
First Place wins 100 points AND my help in publishing a poem, either in a web-zine or print journal. This poem doesn't have to be the winning poem. Note, there are no guarantees, but I try my hardest to get you in print (and, if you're lucky, make a few bucks while you're at it).
Second Place wins 150 points. I might message you with a few e-zines that might accept your work.
Third Place might not happen. If there are enough good entries, I will create a third place prize at the time of judging.
Now, get out there and write me some publishable poems!
As a frequent reader and occasional writer for e-zines, I'm willing to bet that I can name a publishable poem when I see it, nine time out of ten.
For this contest, I am looking for poems that I would pay money to feature in an e-zine, or print magazine if that's more your style. There are no restrictions on form, but I suggest you say in the Author's Note what kind of magazine you would submit this to (for example, Haiku or Short Form journal, Literary, Spiritual, Gay/Lesbian, Modern or Open Form).
Rules
Do everything you would do if you were actually submitting this poem to an editor. That means:
1. Use perfect grammar, punctuation, and spelling. That goes for your Author's Note as well. If you ever submit to a real editor, they will pay attention to the technical points of your cover letter as well as your story.
2. Be creative. There is no excuse for cliches.
3. Say what you need to say and get out of there. I don't know of a single e-zine that accepts poetry over fourty lines, unless it's a fantasy epic (even then, say what you need to say, don't take longer than needed).
4. Take your time with writing and editing. You'd never submit something for publication that you'd written in less than a minute: don't do it here.
Judging
I will comment on each entry, saying reasons why I would and why I wouldn't publish each poem. Be warned, I will not be gentle to spare your feelings: if harsh criticism bothers you, let me know in the Author Note and I will tone it down. I won't be rude, just honest.
Prize
Now, you're all probably wondering why first place has a lower point number than second. There's a good reason for that:
First Place wins 100 points AND my help in publishing a poem, either in a web-zine or print journal. This poem doesn't have to be the winning poem. Note, there are no guarantees, but I try my hardest to get you in print (and, if you're lucky, make a few bucks while you're at it).
Second Place wins 150 points. I might message you with a few e-zines that might accept your work.
Third Place might not happen. If there are enough good entries, I will create a third place prize at the time of judging.
Now, get out there and write me some publishable poems!
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on July 2, 2007
- Rewards: Gold: 100, Silver: 150, Bronze: 50, Honorable mention: 1 people
- Final notes: First of all, I'm so, so sorry for taking so long to judge this contest. My computer has suddenly turned against Javascript. If you have entered or plan on entering other contests of mine, I have to warn you that this will probably be a pattern.
Now, for the contest. There was a very wide variety of entries: some of them were truly publishable, other ones were not. I was surprised at the number of people who candidly admitted to having written their entries in less than five minutes. But no matter.
The winners were chosen for originality, memorability, and overall "niche" avaliability.
If anyone wants my final judges notes on their poems, complete with suggestions of possible publishing venues, feel free to message me (but make sure I judged your poem "publishable" first).
Thanks again for your patience and for all the wonderful entries. Hope to see you in another contest soon!
Contest Winners
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By myself / I buy myself / Purchase a head / with eyes / and brain / and headaches, too / (I like the pain / it’s one thing I can truly own• Commented on by judge. [remove]
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• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
- Error: Unable to find finalist item 90307, it seems to have been deleted :( [remove]
Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [42]
1 - 42 of 42
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Who am I?
Forever young,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Time on my hands; / slipping through space and thought - / through the wheat fields / of barren farms, across the / landscape of eternal huby EdwardClay 100 words, 2 comments, on Jun 13 11:20 AM 2007. In• Commented on by judge.
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On the battlefield of love and peace, / / The sea strokes the shore tenderly, / / And the moon blows kisses at the sea, / / But the sea doesn't see, / / And we all must agree / / That it's better to be / / Dirt, than a star,by The-bushidoka 100 words, 10 comments, on May 16 10:39 PM 2007. In Poem• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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I'm not really a poet, but I give it a try now and again..• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Remembering clear in my minds eye / That place where I loved to reside / The streets, they were bright and the litter was few / And the aby helennewwriter 300 words, 4 comments, on Jun 13 6:34 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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Our love was the best of that there's no doubt / and now here we are, we're living without / each others kisses, hugs and caress / no longeby helennewwriter 100 words, 3 comments, on Jun 13 6:25 PM 2007. In• Commented on by judge.
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Your eyes would twinkle in the light,
In the moonlight ever so bright• Commented on by judge. -
put me on a pedestal and kiss my dainty toes / find yourself in love with me you know the goddess knows / put your head onto the ground and• Commented on by judge.
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In the night here I cry, / Yet no tears come in my spite, / I have nothing to shed, / Even if I try... / I am lost in my head, / Yet the pa• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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And through the stormy brink of night / The fog and mist do slowly rise / Where love once lived, along with life / Now darkness covers land with strife / Founded for a common cause / To live• Commented on by judge.
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The wind soared / The trees bowed / The grass wept / as a duck cringed / lurking the pond / for endless blessed / The clouds dangled / The sky colored / as arrays burnedby kkatie55 <100 words, 1 comment, on Jun 14 2:09 PM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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Why am I feeling this way?
Was everything all a lie?
This gap between is just too long,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
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You’ve always been told / You weren’t good enough / Not smart enough / Not social enough / Not perfect enough / So you believed them / You listened to the lies, / Thby travis34dietC 100 words, 3 comments, on Jun 18 5:55 AM 2007• Commented on by judge.
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There is a warning on the bottle / "May cause heart ache" / yet you down / my sweet pills / "Go ahead" seduces the snake / give it up / I'm• Commented on by judge.
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It's been Too Dark for Too Long, So I'm Giving Up and Coming Clean.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Come with me, my dear angel, / these walls will not hinder me / Take my hand, and we will escape together, / to a land where our love can be free / But I can see your fate, / it burns in the air / I can see t• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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For all but a child, the connection of love comes to you.1 / Love thaby skye01 200 words, 6 comments, on Jun 22 2:22 AM 2007. In Death, First person, Inspirational, Love, Poem, Spiritual• Commented on by judge.
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Light dispels the darkness in my soul, / illuminating self-inflicted pain / and suffered illusions. / Which I thought to be / my afflictedby Veritaserum 200 words, 21 comments, on Jun 22 11:45 AM 2007. In , Depression, First person, Healing, Inspirational, Other, Spiritual• Commented on by judge.
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It's all in vain I try to change... / One step forward, two steps back / make some progress, but you pull / me back... / Only you can bringby Veritaserum 100 words, 8 comments, on Jun 22 1:00 PM 2007. In Angst, Dark, Depression, First person, Pain, Personal, Poetry, Sad• Commented on by judge.
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by Veritaserum 200 words, 9 comments, on Jun 22 2:31 PM 2007. In Fantasy, First person, Inspirational, Mystery, Other, Poetry, Spiritual• Commented on by judge.
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I have no name. / I'm just a stranger, / alone in a world of fear. / It's all the same, / a world of misbehavior, / drowning in its own tears. / All I see is rain / falling down this world, / that th• Commented on by judge.
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She was my path, / my way to grace. / My eternal friend, / bound by fate. / On her heart, / the mark of trust, / but I didn’t know, / it was all for not. / Her innocent tone, / her gentle embrace,• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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YOU ARE..... You are the rain inside the roots, that makes the timbers grow. You are the little creeks and streams that makes the rivers fl• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Please death come to me, / I’ll trade you for the one you’ve taken. / Please hear what I say, / all this time I cried, / wishing the darkness to come to me, / yet you denied me everything.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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How many times may I enter?
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For this contest, there's no limit. Later on, if one author has more than three poems, I'll remove the ones that are least likely to win.
For now, write as much as you want--but I suggest you read my comments on your current entries before you add anymore, just to see what I like and don't like in each. -
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Okay, cool, thanks, and good idea
And, b.t.w., cool contest (:
-SARAH -
awesome!
I really like your reviews, so I'm glad there's no limit at the moment. They're very helpful! :-)
Such a great contest!
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I was wondering if two poems that went together would work? I have them submitted on the same page and an explanation of why they're together. But before I entered them, I wanted to make sure that would be okay.
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Sure, that would be fine. You might want to explain in your Author Note how you would publish them, though: I'm not sure how easily you would find a 'zine willing to buy two poems. But then again, I haven't read them yet. :-) Go ahead and enter.
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Why do you have this here and not at the sister site on All Poetry ? This site does do some poems but it's mainly for stories
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Quite frankly, I don't like the layout of All Poetry very much at all. I know, I know, people say it's exactly the same as StoryWrite, but it isn't. Also, I plan on having a sister contest to this one, "Publishable Prose," which would make most sense on StoryWrite.
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Yeah, I agree about SW and AP being totally different
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Can I enter a song lyrics?
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Yes, but only if they can pass for poetry. The theme is publishable poems, and it's obviously going to be a challenge for me to help you publish song lyrics as such if you win. :-)
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Seems like a pretty good contest. Hope you get a lot of entries.
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Judging? Already?
Well, yes, BUT...
You can still enter and possibly secure a place on the finalists' list! The order the current finalists are in is not necessarily how the prizes will all filter out, and I still have points for honerable mentions for any poems that particualrily blow me away!
Anyone wondering how I did the judging? Let me explain.
I started by rereading every poem I judged "publishable." If the poem still really hit me the second time around, I added it to a list. 10 poems wound up on that list.
Next, I let the list sit for a day. When I came back and reread it, I erased all the poems that I couldn't remember much about 24 hours later. This narrowed the list down to 5.
Then, I realized that two of the poems on the list were written in a very similar style, and thus were probably written by the same author. I kept the best of the two on the list and erased the other one.
That's how I would up with the current list. Wondering why your poem isn't on there? Read the review I gave you, the hint is probably in there somewhere. Otherwise, feel free to message me and I'll give you some of my personal "post-viewing" comments.
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1 - 13 of 13
