The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) holds poetry contests for its annual poetry festival. This may include multiple individual contests, a special call for submissions, or some combination, at the discretion of the PST Board. Contest winners receive monetary prizes, and first place poems are published in PST's anthology, Tennessee Voices. Additional poems may be published at PST's discretion. See publications page for information on past and forthcoming editions and how to purchase a copy.
Poetry Society of Tennessee welcomes all poets to submit poetry for our 67th Annual Contests. Entrants may use mail or email to submit their contest packets. Online payment is also available. Entries must be either postmarked or submitted by December 15, 2023.
67TH ANNUAL POETRY FESTIVAL CONTESTS
BEST OF THE FEST AWARD
SPONSOR: PST Board / PRIZE: $250
The first-place winners of all Festival Contests soliciting unpublished poems will be sent to an outside judge who will select a single poem for the Best of Fest Award. Decision of the judge will be final.
1. Tennessee Voices Award
SPONSOR: PST Board / PRIZES: 1st $150/ 2nd $100 / 3rd $50
SUBJECT: Any FORM: Any
LINE LIMIT: Max 40
ELIGIBILITY: Tennessee residents and PST members only
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: This contest is equivalent to a "Call for Submissions" for Tennessee Voices Anthology. An editorial panel will select finalists and an outside judge will select winners. All finalists and winners will be published in Tennessee Voices Anthology.
2. Play it Again, Sam
SPONSOR: PST Board / PRIZES: Prizes depend on the number of entries in this contest
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
ELIGIBILITY: PST Members only
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: A previously published poem. Note where published. Members may enter as many times as they like. $2 per entry.
3. President’s Award
SPONSOR: Lisa Kamolnick / PRIZES: 1st $55 / 2nd $30 / 3rd $15
SUBJECT: “Little big things” / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 50
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Sometimes "little" things turn out to be a BIG deal. Is it magic? Divine? Human nature to shift perspective? Share a poem about one or more "little big things" in life.
4. Reflections
SPONSOR: Ruby Jones / PRIZES: 1st $40 / 2nd $25 / 3rd $15
SUBJECT: Reflections / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: Min.10 – Max 50
5. Found in the Text
SPONSOR: Deborah-Zenha Adams / PRIZES: 1st $ 40 / 2nd $10 / 3rd $5
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Erasure / LINE LIMIT: Max 50
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Poems must be drawn from the book A Handy Guide for Beggars: Especially Those of the Poetic Fraternity by Vachel Lindsay. The ebook is available free of charge at Project Gutenberg: gutenberg.org/ebooks/67947. Entries should include text from which the erasure poem is drawn. Poems may be as simple or elaborate as you wish, but note that the final determination will be made based on the erasure poem itself.
6. I’ll Take the French Form, S’il Vous Plait
SPONSOR: Harry and Rita Moritz / PRIZES: 1st $ 40 / 2nd $ 20/ 3rd $15
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Any French Form / LINE LIMIT: As dictated by form
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Make sure your poem meets the specific requirements of the form.
Name the form used.
7. The Diane M. Clark Award
SPONSOR: Dr. Diane M. Clark
SUBJECT: A Billboard / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 32 Max
PRIZES: 1st $30 / 2nd $20 / 3rd $10
8. Fishing Tales
SPONSOR: Howard Carman / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Fishing / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
9. Jane West Memorial
SPONSOR: Gail Denham / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Fibonacci / LINE LIMIT: None
10. Haiku
SPONSOR: Connie Jordan Green / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Haiku sequence
LINE LIMIT: The haiku sequence should be a minimum of 15 lines (5 haiku) and maximum of 21 lines (7 haiku)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: The sequence should consist of haiku that are linked thematically.
11. Grands
SPONSOR: Dr. Emory D. Jones / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $ 15/ 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Grandparents or Grandchildren / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
12. Tennessee Etheree
SPONSOR: Pat Hope / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: anything Tennessee-related / FORM: Etheree / LINE LIMIT: 10 or 20 per form
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Follow Form, can have one etheree followed by a second etheree reversed (20 lines total)
13. Memory Bank
SPONSOR: Janet Qually
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Tap into your memory banks and write an ekphrastic poem in response to this psychologically based artwork.
PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
14. Tennessee Heroes
SPONSOR: Anna’s Pet Sitting / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: The greatest Tennessean, past or present / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
15. Tennessee Villains
SPONSOR: William Hill Art and Poetry / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: The worst Tennessean, past or present / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
16. Bobbie Drobeck Memorial Award
SPONSOR: Russell H. Strauss / PRIZES: 1st $20 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: any humorous subject / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: Min. 6 – Max. 20
17. Joan T and Sheron B Strauss Memorial Award
SPONSOR: Russell H. Strauss / PRIZES: 1st $20 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Across the Border / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: Min. 10 – Max. 40
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: a poem about any of the eight states that border Tennessee
CONTEST RULES
DEADLINE AND ENTRY FEES
General contest fee is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Please note: some contests may have additional entry fees. Review contests carefully.
A poet may submit only one packet of entries. Entries must be postmarked or emailed by Friday, December 15, 2023. Please do not call or email to verify receipt. Follow instructions carefully.
If you have questions, contact Deborah-Zenha Adams, Contest Coordinator, at pstsubmissions@gmail.com.
PRIZES AND PUBLICATION
1. PST publishes first-place poems in Tennessee Voices Anthology. Second and third place winners may be published on a space-available basis. For the Tennessee Voices Award contest, PST publishes all finalists.
2. In addition to prizes, honorable mentions are given as merited by the number of entries in each individual contest and the quality of the material submitted. Published poets, sponsors, and non-sponsor judges will receive a complimentary anthology copy.
3. By submitting an entry, you agree to give PST first publishing rights should your poem be selected for publication. Following publication, all rights revert to the author. You also grant PST non-exclusive electronic permission to post this work in archives and share it through social media and/or live presentations. We ask that you credit Tennessee Voices Anthology if the work is published elsewhere in the future.
4. The Tennessee Voices Anthology Editorial Board reserves the right to alter line breaks in poems having more than 50 characters per line, including punctuation marks and spaces. We reserve the right to make minor revisions to works (e.g., spacing conventions for em-dashes, correction of typographical errors, and the like).
5. Pseudonyms or pen names of winning poets will be honored in Tennessee Voices Anthology and on winner’s lists; however, legal names are required for issuing checks.
ELIGIBILITY
1. Unless otherwise indicated, contests are open to all poets. Please review each contest carefully to ensure you are eligible to participate in a particular contest.
2. Unless otherwise specified, all poems must be the original work of the contestant, unpublished in any form, including electronically and placed on exhibition, and not under consideration or accepted for publication elsewhere. Your work must be created without use of Artificial Intelligence assisted technologies. Your entries must not have won first prize in any poetry contest prior to PST’s 67th Annual Festival (to be held spring 2024). NOTE: Prize requirements are exempted for contests seeking previously published poems.
3. The same poem may not be entered in more than one contest.
4. Unless otherwise specified, a poet may not enter more than one poem in a single contest.
5. Entries which do not conform to these rules will be disqualified:
a. Poets who violate publication and/or simultaneous submission rules will be disqualified and will be asked to refund any prize money that has been issued.
b. Poems which do not meet membership or other criteria specified in specific contest instructions will be disqualified from that contest. Poets will not be notified if poems are disqualified.
FORMAT AND SUBMISSION
1. Entries must be single spaced, typed or computer generated in 12-point Times New Roman or similar font. (11 pt is also acceptable.)
2. No graphics unless specifically required by contest instructions or integrated into the poetry form. If submitting a poem style with integrated art (e.g., tanka art, erasure poetry) please specify form for judge. Do not submit original art as entries will not be returned (color copies are acceptable).
3. Unless otherwise specified, line count does not include the title or one space below the title. All other lines, including blank lines, epigraphs and supplemental information are included.
4. We do not accept hand-written poems or poems on onion skin paper.
5. We accept these formats for digital entries: .doc. .docx, .pdf and .txt.
6. Prepare your submission packet with each of the following:
a. Summary Sheet: on a separate piece of paper (you may use the body of your email if submitting via email) include an entry summary with your name, address, phone, and email address and a list of contests you are entering. In the list, note contest number and name, and the title of the poem you are submitting for the contest.
b. ID Copy of Poem: In the upper right, show the poet’s name, mailing address, email address (if available) and note if PST Member or Non-Member. Include ID information on all pages of the ID copy. In the upper left list contest title, contest number and form of poem (e.g., Free Verse, Blank Verse, Villanelle).
c. Blind Copy of Poem: In the upper left of each entry list contest title, contest number and form of poem (e.g., Free Verse, Blank Verse, Villanelle). Do not place any identifying information on this copy or (if submitting by email) in the file name
ENTRIES BY MAIL (Also see “Format and Submission”)
Mail your submission packet and check for entry fees to:
Deborah-Zenha Adams, Contest Chair
232 Morning Glory Way
Waverly TN 37185
1. Poems 2 pages or longer must be stapled.
2. No paperclips with submissions.
3. Separate originals from duplicates and stack in numerical order (1-20) with originals on top.
4. Submit in 8 1/2 x 11 or 9 x 12 envelope; folded submissions will not be accepted.
ENTRIES BY EMAIL (Also see “Format and Submission”)
Email your submission packet to pstsubmissions@gmail.com
1. Include your Summary Sheet in a separate document or in the body of your email.
2. Attach two documents (ID Copy and Blind Copy) for each contest you enter. Do not consolidate your entries.
3. For the ID Copy we recommend a file name of contest number_Last Name_Title (e.g., 10_Manning_Tree to Sawdust).
4. For the Blind Copy we recommend a file name of contest number_Title (e.g., 10_Tree to Sawdust).
5. Ensure no identifying information appears in the document or file of your Blind Copy.
Pay your entry fee online: www.poetrytennessee.org/pstpayment.html.
PRINTER-FRIENDLY PDF
Download festival contests and guidelines.
pst_67th_annual_contest_101023.pdf
THANK YOU
Many thanks to our sponsors, judges, and festival contest coordinator, Deborah-Zenha Adams.
67TH ANNUAL POETRY FESTIVAL CONTESTS
BEST OF THE FEST AWARD
SPONSOR: PST Board / PRIZE: $250
The first-place winners of all Festival Contests soliciting unpublished poems will be sent to an outside judge who will select a single poem for the Best of Fest Award. Decision of the judge will be final.
1. Tennessee Voices Award
SPONSOR: PST Board / PRIZES: 1st $150/ 2nd $100 / 3rd $50
SUBJECT: Any FORM: Any
LINE LIMIT: Max 40
ELIGIBILITY: Tennessee residents and PST members only
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: This contest is equivalent to a "Call for Submissions" for Tennessee Voices Anthology. An editorial panel will select finalists and an outside judge will select winners. All finalists and winners will be published in Tennessee Voices Anthology.
2. Play it Again, Sam
SPONSOR: PST Board / PRIZES: Prizes depend on the number of entries in this contest
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
ELIGIBILITY: PST Members only
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: A previously published poem. Note where published. Members may enter as many times as they like. $2 per entry.
3. President’s Award
SPONSOR: Lisa Kamolnick / PRIZES: 1st $55 / 2nd $30 / 3rd $15
SUBJECT: “Little big things” / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 50
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Sometimes "little" things turn out to be a BIG deal. Is it magic? Divine? Human nature to shift perspective? Share a poem about one or more "little big things" in life.
4. Reflections
SPONSOR: Ruby Jones / PRIZES: 1st $40 / 2nd $25 / 3rd $15
SUBJECT: Reflections / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: Min.10 – Max 50
5. Found in the Text
SPONSOR: Deborah-Zenha Adams / PRIZES: 1st $ 40 / 2nd $10 / 3rd $5
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Erasure / LINE LIMIT: Max 50
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Poems must be drawn from the book A Handy Guide for Beggars: Especially Those of the Poetic Fraternity by Vachel Lindsay. The ebook is available free of charge at Project Gutenberg: gutenberg.org/ebooks/67947. Entries should include text from which the erasure poem is drawn. Poems may be as simple or elaborate as you wish, but note that the final determination will be made based on the erasure poem itself.
6. I’ll Take the French Form, S’il Vous Plait
SPONSOR: Harry and Rita Moritz / PRIZES: 1st $ 40 / 2nd $ 20/ 3rd $15
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Any French Form / LINE LIMIT: As dictated by form
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Make sure your poem meets the specific requirements of the form.
Name the form used.
7. The Diane M. Clark Award
SPONSOR: Dr. Diane M. Clark
SUBJECT: A Billboard / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 32 Max
PRIZES: 1st $30 / 2nd $20 / 3rd $10
8. Fishing Tales
SPONSOR: Howard Carman / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Fishing / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
9. Jane West Memorial
SPONSOR: Gail Denham / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Fibonacci / LINE LIMIT: None
10. Haiku
SPONSOR: Connie Jordan Green / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Haiku sequence
LINE LIMIT: The haiku sequence should be a minimum of 15 lines (5 haiku) and maximum of 21 lines (7 haiku)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: The sequence should consist of haiku that are linked thematically.
11. Grands
SPONSOR: Dr. Emory D. Jones / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $ 15/ 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Grandparents or Grandchildren / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
12. Tennessee Etheree
SPONSOR: Pat Hope / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: anything Tennessee-related / FORM: Etheree / LINE LIMIT: 10 or 20 per form
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Follow Form, can have one etheree followed by a second etheree reversed (20 lines total)
13. Memory Bank
SPONSOR: Janet Qually
SUBJECT: Any / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Tap into your memory banks and write an ekphrastic poem in response to this psychologically based artwork.
PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
14. Tennessee Heroes
SPONSOR: Anna’s Pet Sitting / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: The greatest Tennessean, past or present / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
15. Tennessee Villains
SPONSOR: William Hill Art and Poetry / PRIZES: 1st $25 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: The worst Tennessean, past or present / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: 40
16. Bobbie Drobeck Memorial Award
SPONSOR: Russell H. Strauss / PRIZES: 1st $20 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: any humorous subject / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: Min. 6 – Max. 20
17. Joan T and Sheron B Strauss Memorial Award
SPONSOR: Russell H. Strauss / PRIZES: 1st $20 / 2nd $15 / 3rd $10
SUBJECT: Across the Border / FORM: Any / LINE LIMIT: Min. 10 – Max. 40
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: a poem about any of the eight states that border Tennessee
CONTEST RULES
DEADLINE AND ENTRY FEES
General contest fee is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Please note: some contests may have additional entry fees. Review contests carefully.
A poet may submit only one packet of entries. Entries must be postmarked or emailed by Friday, December 15, 2023. Please do not call or email to verify receipt. Follow instructions carefully.
If you have questions, contact Deborah-Zenha Adams, Contest Coordinator, at pstsubmissions@gmail.com.
PRIZES AND PUBLICATION
1. PST publishes first-place poems in Tennessee Voices Anthology. Second and third place winners may be published on a space-available basis. For the Tennessee Voices Award contest, PST publishes all finalists.
2. In addition to prizes, honorable mentions are given as merited by the number of entries in each individual contest and the quality of the material submitted. Published poets, sponsors, and non-sponsor judges will receive a complimentary anthology copy.
3. By submitting an entry, you agree to give PST first publishing rights should your poem be selected for publication. Following publication, all rights revert to the author. You also grant PST non-exclusive electronic permission to post this work in archives and share it through social media and/or live presentations. We ask that you credit Tennessee Voices Anthology if the work is published elsewhere in the future.
4. The Tennessee Voices Anthology Editorial Board reserves the right to alter line breaks in poems having more than 50 characters per line, including punctuation marks and spaces. We reserve the right to make minor revisions to works (e.g., spacing conventions for em-dashes, correction of typographical errors, and the like).
5. Pseudonyms or pen names of winning poets will be honored in Tennessee Voices Anthology and on winner’s lists; however, legal names are required for issuing checks.
ELIGIBILITY
1. Unless otherwise indicated, contests are open to all poets. Please review each contest carefully to ensure you are eligible to participate in a particular contest.
2. Unless otherwise specified, all poems must be the original work of the contestant, unpublished in any form, including electronically and placed on exhibition, and not under consideration or accepted for publication elsewhere. Your work must be created without use of Artificial Intelligence assisted technologies. Your entries must not have won first prize in any poetry contest prior to PST’s 67th Annual Festival (to be held spring 2024). NOTE: Prize requirements are exempted for contests seeking previously published poems.
3. The same poem may not be entered in more than one contest.
4. Unless otherwise specified, a poet may not enter more than one poem in a single contest.
5. Entries which do not conform to these rules will be disqualified:
a. Poets who violate publication and/or simultaneous submission rules will be disqualified and will be asked to refund any prize money that has been issued.
b. Poems which do not meet membership or other criteria specified in specific contest instructions will be disqualified from that contest. Poets will not be notified if poems are disqualified.
FORMAT AND SUBMISSION
1. Entries must be single spaced, typed or computer generated in 12-point Times New Roman or similar font. (11 pt is also acceptable.)
2. No graphics unless specifically required by contest instructions or integrated into the poetry form. If submitting a poem style with integrated art (e.g., tanka art, erasure poetry) please specify form for judge. Do not submit original art as entries will not be returned (color copies are acceptable).
3. Unless otherwise specified, line count does not include the title or one space below the title. All other lines, including blank lines, epigraphs and supplemental information are included.
4. We do not accept hand-written poems or poems on onion skin paper.
5. We accept these formats for digital entries: .doc. .docx, .pdf and .txt.
6. Prepare your submission packet with each of the following:
a. Summary Sheet: on a separate piece of paper (you may use the body of your email if submitting via email) include an entry summary with your name, address, phone, and email address and a list of contests you are entering. In the list, note contest number and name, and the title of the poem you are submitting for the contest.
b. ID Copy of Poem: In the upper right, show the poet’s name, mailing address, email address (if available) and note if PST Member or Non-Member. Include ID information on all pages of the ID copy. In the upper left list contest title, contest number and form of poem (e.g., Free Verse, Blank Verse, Villanelle).
c. Blind Copy of Poem: In the upper left of each entry list contest title, contest number and form of poem (e.g., Free Verse, Blank Verse, Villanelle). Do not place any identifying information on this copy or (if submitting by email) in the file name
ENTRIES BY MAIL (Also see “Format and Submission”)
Mail your submission packet and check for entry fees to:
Deborah-Zenha Adams, Contest Chair
232 Morning Glory Way
Waverly TN 37185
1. Poems 2 pages or longer must be stapled.
2. No paperclips with submissions.
3. Separate originals from duplicates and stack in numerical order (1-20) with originals on top.
4. Submit in 8 1/2 x 11 or 9 x 12 envelope; folded submissions will not be accepted.
ENTRIES BY EMAIL (Also see “Format and Submission”)
Email your submission packet to pstsubmissions@gmail.com
1. Include your Summary Sheet in a separate document or in the body of your email.
2. Attach two documents (ID Copy and Blind Copy) for each contest you enter. Do not consolidate your entries.
3. For the ID Copy we recommend a file name of contest number_Last Name_Title (e.g., 10_Manning_Tree to Sawdust).
4. For the Blind Copy we recommend a file name of contest number_Title (e.g., 10_Tree to Sawdust).
5. Ensure no identifying information appears in the document or file of your Blind Copy.
Pay your entry fee online: www.poetrytennessee.org/pstpayment.html.
PRINTER-FRIENDLY PDF
Download festival contests and guidelines.
pst_67th_annual_contest_101023.pdf
THANK YOU
Many thanks to our sponsors, judges, and festival contest coordinator, Deborah-Zenha Adams.
66th ANNUAL FESTIVAL RESULTS
- Many thanks to all who submitted poetry to our 2022-2023 Call for Submissions and congratulations to poets whose work was published in Tennessee Voices, 2022-2023.
- "Best of the Best": During the 66th Annual Poetry Festival, held Apri 15, 2023, PST announced the top 3 poems from the Tennessee Voices, 2022-2023 Call for Submissions, selected by the PST review board and educator and poet Rick Hilles: Carson Colenbaugh ($150), for “At the Powerline, Picking Blackberries; Jake Lawson ($100) for “Sky Master;” and Rieppe Moore ($50) for “Lines on Snow."
MORE CONTESTS
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) offers contests annually, including:
Get details on NFSPS and other state society contests.
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) offers contests annually, including:
- Annual poetry contests
- Blackberry Peach: a contest for page and stage
- College Undergraduate Competition: chapbook competition
- Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest (for grades 6 through 12)
- Stevens Poetry Manuscript Competition
Get details on NFSPS and other state society contests.
