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The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) sponsors contests through the year.

MONTHLY MEMBERS-ONLY CONTESTS


2022/2023 Members-Only Contests
 
  • September: sponsor Florence Bruce. Requirements: a humorous poem, 40-line limit. Any subject. $25 for 1st place, $15 for 2nd place and $10 for 3rd place.  
  • October: sponsor Howard Carman. Requirements: a cinquain or cinquain sequence. Line limits 5 (single cinquain) to 25 (29 if lines between cinquains are counted). Any subject. $25 for 1st place, $15 for 2nd place and $10 for 3rd place.  
  • November: sponsor JoAn Howerton: a Shakespearean sonnet (example Shakespeare's sonnet #73). The subject is autumn. $25 for 1st place, $15 for 2nd place, $10 for 3rd place. 
  • December: sponsor Anna"s Pet Sitting. Requirements: a Limerick. Subject: pets. $20 for 1stplace, $15 for 2nd place and $5 for 3rd place.  
  • January: sponsor Lisa Kamolnick. Requirements: any form, 40-line limit. Subject: a fresh start. $25 for 1st place, $15 for 2nd place and $10 for 3rd place.
  • February: sponsor Russell H. Strauss. Requirements: a cowboy poem, either lyric or narrative. Most good cowboy poems are rhymed and metered. Line limits 10-40. $25 for 1stplace, $15 for 2nd place and $10 for 3rd place. 
  • March: sponsor William Hill Art and Poetry. Requirements: a minute.  Subject: "bad art."   (You probably want to make this a humorous poem.) $20 for 1st place, $15 for 2nd place and $5 for 3rd place.
  • April: sponsor Janet Qually. An ekphrastic poem in response to this artwork. Line limits 5-30. ONE AWARD: $25 first place.​
  • May: sponsor Dr. Diane Clark. Requirements: any form poem about the subject "The Ace of Spades." 40-line limit. $25 for first place, $15 for second place, $10 for 3rd place. 

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Become a Contest Sponsor
 
Our monthly members-only contests are full, but stay tuned for more sponsorship opportunities.
 
When sponsoring a contest, please use this sponsorship form and return form and check to the addresses indicated. 
 
 
Contest Rules
 
  • PST members may enter.  Not a member?  Join us.
  • Submit 2 copies: one with the name of the contest in the upper left; the second with the name/month of the contest in the upper left, and the poet's ID information in the upper right (name, address, phone, email).  An address label/sticker is acceptable.  Poems two pages or longer must be stapled, and must have ID on both pages of the IDed copy.
  • Only one poem, per member, per month.  The poem must be typed or computer generated in 12-point font, Times New Roman or similar font preferred.  Single spaced.  No onion skin paper.  No hand-written poems.
  • We do not accept previously published poems.  Please, no simultaneous submissions.
  • All poems must be postmarked no later than the 15th of the prior month; for example, if you are submitting a poem for the January contest, poems must be postmarked no later than December 15th.  
  • We are very sorry, but we do not accept electronic submittals at this time; all monthly entries must be submitted in hardcopy as described above.  Submitting in a regular business envelope is fine.
  • Send all entries to the Monthly Contest Chair: Russell Strauss, 18 S. Rembert Street Memphis, TN 38104.

Questions on poetic forms?  You’ll find member-expert Florence Bruce's Blogspot and several other resources on our resources page.


Contest Winners
 
Congratulations to our most recent monthly contest winners and thank you to all entrants for your participation!
   
First place contest winners are published in our anthology, Tennessee Voices.  See our publications page for information on past and forthcoming editions and how to purchase a copy!

OTHER PST CONTESTS
 
PictureSunset over Hyde Lake, Shelby Farms; Photo Credit, Lori Goetz
National Federation of State Poetry Societies
  • PST also encourages its members to participate in contests sponsored by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS).
  • The main NFSPS Contest is held annually, with submittals due March 15.  Contests and rules may be found here.  Note that long-time PST member Russell Strauss sponsors critiquing challenges to help PST members prepare for 6-7 of these contests.  These challenges are posted in August and are ongoing from September-March.
  • NFSPS's Blackberry Peach Award, offered in parallel with the annual NFSPS Contest, focuses on spoken word/oral/performance poetry.  
  • NFSPS also encourages members to participate in contests sponsored by our sister societies across the country.  Links to these contests may be found here.
  • NFSPS also sponsors the Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest for middle and high school students.  See the link here for further information.​

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