If you enjoy writing poetry, or have just recently started experimenting, entering poetry contests can be a great way to hone your talent and get exposure for your work.
Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities out there, and many of them come with a chance to win cash prizes! We’ve put together a list of poetry contests that you can enter today so you can grow your confidence and your skills.
2022 Poetry Contests
| Contest Name | Submission Guidelines | First Prize | Entry Fee | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The 2021 Colorado Prize for Poetry | coloradoprize.submittable.com/submit | $2,000 | $28 | January 14, 2022 |
| William Matthews Poetry Prize | www.ashevillepoetryreview.com | $1,000 | $20 | January 15, 2022 |
| Magma Poetry Competition | www.magmapoetry.com/magma-2020-21-poetry-competition/ | £1,000 | £5 | January 20, 2022 |
| 8th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition | www.obheal.ie/blog/five-words-poetry-competition/ | $750 | $5 | January 26, 2022 |
| The Kent and Sussex Poetry Society Open Competition | www.kentandsussexpoetry.com/the-kent-sussex-poetry-society-open-competition/ | £1,000 | £5 | January 31, 2022 |
| Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards | www.poetrycenterpccc.com/awards | $1,000 | $18 | February 1, 2022 |
| The 16th Elmbridge Literary Competition | www.rcsherrifftrust.org.uk/copy-of-the-2020-elmbridge-literary | £250 | £5 | February 5, 2022 |
| Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine | www.hippocrates-poetry.org/index.html | £1,000 | £7 | February 14, 2022 |
| Nature and Place Poetry Competition 2021 | www.therialto.co.uk/nature-poetry-competition-2022/ | £1,000 | £7 | March 1, 2022 |
| Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest | www.winningwriters.com/our-contests/wergle-flomp-humor-poetry-contest-free | $3,000 | $20 | April 1, 2022 |
| Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize | https://marshhawkpress.org/poetry-prize-awards/ | $1,000 | $25 | April 30, 2022 |
| Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest | www.tadpolepress.com/events | $1,000 | $10 | November 30, 2022 |
| Farnham Flash Fiction Competition 2021 | www.farnhamfringefestival.org/farnham_flash-2022 | £750 | £5 | June 3, 2022 |
| Kallisto Gaia Press Poetry Prize | www.kallistogaiapress.org/poetry-prize/ | $1,200 | $20 | August 20, 2022 |
| The Off the Grid Poetry Prize | www.grid-books.org/off-the-grid-press | $1,000 | $25 | August 31, 2022 |
| Radar Poetry Coniston Prize | www.radarpoetry.com/contest | $2,000 | $20 | September 1, 2022 |
| Dogwood Literary Awards | dogwoodliterary.com/submissions/ | $1,000 | $10 | September 5, 2022 |
| Rhino Poetry Founders' Prize | https://rhinopoetry.org/prizes | $500 | $10 | September 30, 2022 |
| Emma Howell Rising Poet Priz | willowspringsbooks.org/submit-emma-howell-rising-poet-prize/ | $2000 | $25 | January 15, 2022 |
| TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest | www.tckpublishing.com/2021-poetry-awards-contest/ | $1,000 | $5 | June 30, 2022 |
Are Poetry Contests Legit?
It’s very normal for the organizers of poetry contests to charge entry fees (anywhere from $5–$50 is typical, depending on the prominence of the host organization and the prize amount).
However, there are some contests that should be avoided. Many are actually vanity publishers, aiming to sell you expensive personalized products and attract you to conferences. Others claim the right to publish your entry regardless of whether or not you win a prize. Check out this list of contests to avoid before entering.
To find a legitimate poetry contest, you should always read the fine print, and make sure the prize being offered matches what’s written in the guidelines.
How Do You Enter a Poem Contest?
When it comes to entering any type of writing contest, the most important thing is to follow the guidelines to a tee. The contest’s host should have detailed guidelines that explain deadlines, how you should submit your work, minimum and maximum word counts, etc.
It would be a shame for all your hard work to be disqualified from a contest for failure to comply with something as simple as a formatting rule, so make sure you review the guidelines thoroughly.
For more tips, check out our guide on how to enter a writing contest so you can increase your chances of success.
Enter TCK Publishing’s 2022 Poetry Contest
TCK Publishing invites you to enter our first annual Poetry Contest! We’re accepting submissions now through June 30, 2022.
Submit up to five poems totaling no more than 500 words with an entry fee of $5 for your chance to win $1,000. Read the full poetry contest rules and enter now!
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- How to Enter a Writing Contest: 8 Tips for Success
- What to Do After Winning a Writing Contest: 5 Ways to Celebrate Your Win
- 2020 Writing Contests: Where and How to Enter Your Work
- How to Improve Your Writing Skills: 6 Simple Ways to Grow
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Hello! Would you please list Trio House Press’ two poetry competitions, the Trio Award and the Louise Bogan Award? Info can be found here: https://www.triohousepress.org/home.html
Hi, I just wanted to know whether the Appelley Rising Stars poetry contest is a scam. Me and my classmates all submitted poems. All of our poems got in the book.
Hi Alexa, I don’t know much about them, but they seem legitimate. I’m not sure how selective they are, but you could ask how many submissions they received. In any case, congratulations on being included in the book, that’s great! :)
I need to talk to somebody that knows what they’re doing and those about poetry because I am the best report in the world and I made something very valuable worth listening to something that’s priceless and I would like to give it to the world as a gift for the ears to listen to and put it in competition
Hi, my name is Chimamanda. I am 9 years old. I love to write so I want to know how I can participate in this contest.
Hi, I’m Kenzie, I was wondering if there was any poetry contests for free…my family is going poor, and I need something to help my mother and siblings…Is that possible?
Hi Kenzie, please check out some of the contests from our lists on flash fiction contests and writing contests for kids. A lot of them are free! Please let me know if you have any questions :)
MAILEEN BAUTISTA CASTRO
THE POET WOMAN
BRAVE
God made me brave into myself
I took guts to spears a times to lead
the United States of America for wars
I fight against of country to lead
God made me brave to myself
I lead the US troops to be brave
I am the stronger woman alone
I have no fears of war to under God
If I die in brave I lead the heaven door
I am the President of the United States
I am the woman who speak to God
I lead my countries to countries to me
I am brave to save people lives
Being hero today I am interest of war
Braving myself to wars I lead the troops
I prayed to be brave to God
God made me brave to my country
I served the country in my own
I protect refugees to prayers in my own
I am powering myself to be stronger
I am stronger to be brave woman
I am the like wind who pushed the world
I prayed so hard in United States of America
I helped many countries with US Military
I am brave to be a woman into the world
I am the super woman who does known
I am trying to brave woman in the world
I needed intelligent woman to help my country
I am brave to be one woman
Who shall leave against love
I am the freedom of the night
I am brave to be famous woman
Braving my heart shall not leave
Taking emotional shall not dream
Why are you powering the brave.
THE ROSE OF CHRIST
Roses Christ in the cross
Pray to be alive in the crucified
Let your heart to believe in him
I am powering my heart to be brave
Roses Christ in the Crucified
Alive Christ underneath the heaven
He is there for the heart mine
Christ roses from the dead
He float against power of him
I am the believing the power of Christ
Christ roses the heart of brave man
Who spear the believe in him
Christ roses against death of kneeling
Touching him in Crucifixion is miracle
Praying to Christ our Lord he give us wealth
And health to freedom of praying for me
I Roses my heart to Christ
I build me a futures of love
I put my brave heart in him
Why because I love him
Adoring from the Cross
Christ is alive in the Cross
build futures in the world
He build me futures for me
Getting adore of Jesus Christ
My heart shall build relationship in God
Being Roses to Jesus Christ
I feel flying in mind and spirit
Rising the dead of Christ in heaven
That’s miracle of the heaven
I am the child of Jesus Christ
Who build in futures of the world
=
THE BRIDGE OF LOVE
I pity God to make me stronger woman
I am strong to be a woman to desire
I heal my agony in Garden of Eve
I stand alone with my Principal of love
I piety the stronger life of mine
I am envy thee selves as we spells
I may have concern about the hills
I am the woman who spell the magic
I am stronger woman for God
I am comforting myself to brave
I still believe in futures of Children
I am powerful woman who spells
I am the bride of stronger of man
I manage to care myself to the woman
I am the woman with brave heart
I am the bridge of love it meant to be
THE KEYS OF HEAVEN
God open the heaven
I knock in heaven
I spear no one be alive
I called God in my mind
God hear my voice
I knock on the doors
God hear me when I need you
knocking the doors
it makes me feel good
I am like the wind
I am like the window
God see me thru the world
I need someone to love
God present never dies
My heart shall knock on problem
I spear the emotion of love
God spear notion of love
Love thee of knocking
God hear us in heaven doors
God done many hours to dies
I think God is better for love
I knock I knock to God
The heaven is open for us
I am the child of God
Who needs love for devotion
I am knocking the doors
God opened the Paradise
I sake out the Garden of Eve
I act like the Cindellera
Knocking in miles away
Earth breathe us with us
God opened the Dessert
I knock more for help
God opened the doors
for me and for you
I knock it open once
God asked me who I am
I am the child of God
Who needs helped to open
I trust him he united him
I am push the door
God talks to me
Who I am asked his child
I am stranger from Earth
I knock and knock on the doors
I am purely in love with God
Knocking the doors makes me
In love with someone I love
Help me to opened the doors
The key of knock on heaven
I asked God to seek me out
I opened the for me
Help me to be in heaven
TIME OF LOVE
I fall in love, I am sure you want me
I felt summer do, I am behind the world
I time my heart shall never leave me
I time of passion throughout the world
I keep my promises to love you
I times to love, I spend hours to kiss
I take for love, I spear my brave
I times to love you, I brave to said
I doses his love, I spear me with love
I states of love, I united my passion
I unify my heart shall never leave me
I detest my heart if I shall love him
I detect my dream of him
I doses my peaceful days alone
I take my granted, I take my brave
I seek out my feelings I turn the light
BRAVE OF POWER
I curse the brave in sky
Get help into myself
I need to brave woman
Being Stronger woman
It turn me brilliant of myself
If I fall in love with men
I take series time of waiting
I am brave to fall in love with him
I am purely in to him for brave
I am wordy of myself to be brave
I am look upon the heaven
I knock on the doors of heaven
it open with God well
it turn to magical moment
Braving my heart shall never go
I am brave to curse my power
I am predicting my futures
I am proud to be brave heart
that I am stronger woman in
I am powerful for the needy
show me your love for brave
I turn the light for brave heart
I am powering my brave to be one
I have dream to be powerful woman
In many ways of freedom
I am the freedom of souls
I am the series of love devotion
I am true love of man
I am divine of power
Braving my souls of Christ
it turn to power my heart
I am powering the love we have
I am brave to pity my man
Braving my spirit of Christ
I turn to brave my heart
I believe in God
CINDERELLA
A charm to believe in magic spell
There’s times to see love in magic
it cost me to turn magic spells
for the freedom dream come true
A fairy Godmother of futures it might be
Encourage Christ to power the magic
asked my futures to believe in love
Asked my Godmother who spend power
A Cinderella who spear me with dream
I courage the power of God who send me
A wild dream of magic spells
I am powering the relationship
A Prince Charming curse you
I wish from the stars of heaven
Believes in Paradise who send my brave
I am power of curse for love
GHOST
I curse ghost in the house
She hunt me true love
I fall true pity me from the world
God see her hunting me
A ghost hunt me
I am aware of ghost
Who spend hours hunt me
for many times to kiss me
A ghost pity me
I known her she is my child
I knew them it’s crazy to see a ghost
I read ghost how they died
A ghost hunt us
from the moment I see them
I don’t speak to them
I go crazy of talking to them
Thanks for sharing your beautiful poems, Maileen!
Hello,
I am an Associate Editor over at Willow Springs Books and we are launching the very first Emma Howell Rising Poet Prize and would love to get on this list! Who can I reach out to in order to get the information added on here?
Hi Amanda! I looked it up and already added it to the list :) thanks for sharing!
THE DREAM QUEST ONE POETRY & WRITING CONTEST is international and open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful literary art of poetry or writing a story that is worth telling everyone! Guidelines: (1) Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject, form, or style. And/or (2) Write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme, fiction, nonfiction, or creative nonfiction. Multiple poems and short story entries are accepted. (www.dreamquestone.com) Prizes: Writing First Prize is $500; Second: $250; Third: $100. Poetry First Prize: $250; Second: $125; Third: $50. Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story.
Visit https://www.dreamquestone.com for details on how to enter!
Thanks for the information, Andre! Added it to the list.
Hello , I’ve been writing poetry (mostly Christian material) , for years and i’m looking to submit some in contest . Im also interested in help with publishing of christian manuals . Is there a market for christian poetry written in a teachable form ? i need help with direction for my material , I look foward to hearing back from you , thanks
Hi David, thanks for your comment. I haven’t seen research, but I imagine there’s a market, especially among religious schools or Sunday school classes that would seek Christian poetry in a teachable form
How to write poem and stories without charges and earn money
Hi Rajlakshmi, we have a post on how to sell poetry that you might find helpful :)
Pl specify how to enter into poetry competition for June this year.
Hi Yangmi, I’ve updated the list with more contests happening this year!
Where can I find the winners for the poetry contest that ended March 31st I believe. I haven’t gotten an email but I wanted to read the winning poems.
Hi Rebecca, you can find the winners here.
Hello again! I believe we are in different time zones, because I submitted my poems on March 31st at 9:30pm, however it is showing a much later time that I commented. Will my entry still count? If not, will I receive a refund since it still let me submit my poems? It’s still March 31st where I am! Thank you!
Hello! I thought I did everything correctly (though last minute!), but now I’m worried I submitted too many words. I did two different submissions, and it is my understanding that each submission must be 500 words or under, correct? My two submissions total more than 500 words, but each separate submission is less than 500 words on its own. Hoping that’s okay!
It’s still March 31st where I am! Since it still let me submit my poems, will my entry count? If not, will I receive a refund? Thanks!
Hi Alicia, I can confirm that your poem was received and will be considered!
Wish to enjoy myself in this community
we hope you enjoy the poetry content we publish! :)
Hello! I was just wondering if my poem did in fact get submitted. I did not receive a confirmation so just wanted to make sure!
Thanks so much,
Meha
Hi Meha, I can confirm that we have received your poem. Thanks for entering! :)
I submitted a poem and only paid for one. Later I decided to submit another one, so I paid another $5. I thought don’t know if they totaled to more than 500 words. I am so sorry for the inconvenience, but if they totaled to more, is there any way I can change it?
Hi Ruby, I can confirm we received both of your poems with no issues, they were under 500 per entry.
I just entered the poetry contest but am not sure my entry was received. Thank you.
Hi Karen, I can confirm that we have received your poem. Thanks for entering! :)
I’m inquiring about the Haiku contest I entered on 12/26/20.
I did get a confirmation, but haven’t heard if the results are in. Thanks. I can send the confirmation back to you if needed.
Hi Peggy, the contest is actually open until March 31, and results will be announced April 21! Thanks for entering!
Kaelyn, thanks, but the one I entered was strictly for Haikus.
Sorry Peggy, do you mean a contest from this list? We aren’t currently hosting any contests just for haikus.
Dear,
I am not sure you received a submission of my poem, I did not get any confirmation. May I ask you to check on your end if everything is okay? I paid for 1 submission, but as I was not sure whether the first one went through, I submitted the same poem twice as form allowed to do so, but I am still unsure if you have it on your side.
Kind regards,
Natalia
Hi Natalia, I can confirm that we received your poem! Thanks for entering!
Tell me some more places to submit my writings if you can xerxes Price
Hi Xerxes, you can find more tips about publishing your poetry here. Hope that helps!
What is the theme of the poems? or can we submit any poem about anything? Thank you very much.
Hi Laine, there’s no theme, you can write about anything :)
I too have been unable to load poem after the $5 payment was made.
I am in Australia, does that mean that I get my money back?
Hi David, please email your poem(s) to [email protected] and we will make sure it gets considered with the rest of our entries :)
Do I retain my rights to the work once submitted?
Yes!
I want to know how to get into the poetry world. My name is Xerxes Price. I’m from the Chicago area originally and am not on the road in Cincinnati, Ohio trying to find myself a new beginning. I have been aspiring to write for over 15 to 25 years. I have no clue as to how to win a prize. I want some notarity for my craft. I don’t have many topics to discuss in my works so that’s one of my primary reasons for my journeys around the country.
Hi Xerxes, that’s great that you’re interested in poetry! If you’re in need of some inspiration, I would try these creative writing prompts. also, for tips on how to win a prize, check out our post on how to enter a writing contest. Best of luck! :)
I love your name Xerxes. Beautiful. It sounds famous already.
Pls when is the next poetry is contest commencing?
What are the requirements?
Hello there!
I want to pay the entrance fee and participate in the contest, how can I pay in terms of my country’s commercial bank?
Hi Hilina, please email [email protected]. I told our customer service manager about the issue and he will be happy to help you :)
Are there any free entry poem contest on your site? If yes please let me know where.
Hi Meghna, at the moment we are only hosting one poetry contest, entry is just $5 :)
The rules say up to five entries totaling no more than 500 words. Is that per poem? Or between the up to 5 poems?
It’s 500 total, so between the 5 poems you can submit :)
Say I fill out the poetry contest form and paid for (4) submissions on Dec16 2020
I tried to copy and paste (2) poems, but I have no idea if they downloaded. I could not see them?? so I sent it. Do you have a record of them being submitted.
Please reply asap. The Author of poems is Elsa de Visser
Hi Mike, we don’t see the poems on our end, though we do see your entry/payment. Please email your poems to [email protected] and we will make sure they get considered with the rest of our entries :)
I just sent an email to this address so thank you for sharing! I paid an invoice but have not received a link or instruction for uploading. I’m hoping to make the deadline.
Hi Brittany, thanks for your comment! For our contest, there was a space on the form to copy/paste your poem. I’ll make sure someone from support gets back to you to make sure your poem is considered or that you get a refund.