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Categories

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1. ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY SPRING CONTEST (Sponsored by ASPS)

Open to ASPS Members Only

$75, $50, $25, $10, and 3 Honorable Mentions in order of merit

Any form, any subject, no line limit.

 

2. LEVEL PLAYING FIELD CONTEST (Sponsored by mikewahlpoet)

$50, $35, $20, HM at Judge’s Discretion

Subject: Level Playing Field, taken in the context that will most inspire your poem--actual, emotional, spiritual, dreamt, or combinations thereof.

Form: Any.

Line Limit: 32

 

3. FAMILY CONTEST (Sponsored by Roger Carlisle)

$75, $50, $25, HM at Judge’s Discretion

Subject: Nature

Form: Any.

Line Limit: 40

 

4. TIME OF MY LIFE CONTEST (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert)
$50, $30, $20, 2 HM’s

Subject: “A special time in my life”

Form: Any.

Line Limit: 60.

 

5. BEACH BARDS PUBLISHING CONTEST (Sponsored by Kim Shackelford, Nancy Dickhute, and Heidi Schmidt)

$50, $30, $20

Subject: What matters?

Form: Villanelle

Line Limit: 19 (as dictated by form)

 

 

6. MIKE & NANCY FLORES MEMORIAL AWARD (sponsored by Teri Reese)

$30, $30, $10, HM at judge’s discretion

Subject: Road Trip

Form: Any.

Line Limit: 40

 

7. BUDDY ROBERTS MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz)

$50, $25, $15, $10, HM at judge’s discretion

Subject: Making a Difference

Form: Poet’s Choice (If you use a form, name it.)

Line Limit: 40

 

8. PRECIOUS PRODIGAL CONTEST (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz)

$60, $25, $15

Subject: Any

Form: Any Standard Form (Entry must state the form, and comply with its requirements)

Line Limit: As dictated by form

 

9. I’LL TAKE THE FRENCH FORM, S’IL VOUS PLAIT (sponsored by Writer’s Anonymous)

$75, $50, $25, HM at judge’s discretion

Subject: Any (no politics)

Form: Any French form (such as Villanelle, Rondel, Cinquain, Rondeau, etc.)

Line Limit: As dictated by form

 

10. THALASSIC POETRY CONTEST (sponsored by Jessica Temple)

$50, $30, $20, HM at judge’s discretion

Subject: The Sea

Form: Any

Line Limit: 40

 

11. PENNY HARDESTY MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored by Kirk and Jerri Hardesty)

$25, $15, $10 and 2-3 HM’s at judge’s discretion

Subject: A bold and sassy woman who is always the life and heart of the party!

Form: Any.

Line Limit: 60

 

12. CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF PENNY CHARLINE VILLANUEVE HARDESTY AWARD (Sponsored by the family of Penny Hardesty)

$25, $15, $10

Subject: Celebrating Something Beautiful

Form: Any French Form (name the form)

Line Limit: As dictated by form

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Rules and Contest Details

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RULES! (We gotta have rules; otherwise, there is chaos.)

 

1. Deadline for entry is March 22, 2024. Entries must be either postmarked or received online by that date.

 

2. Entry Fees:

                   ASPS Members: $1 per poem.

                   Non-Members: $5 per poem.

          No limit on number of poems whether member or non-member!

 

3. More than one poem can be submitted in any category, but only one poem per poet may win in a category.

 

4. The same poem may not be entered into more than one category.

 

5. Poems cannot have won a monetary award in a previous ASPS contest.

 

6. Poems cannot have been previously published, including online.

 

7. The line limit for each category is stated in the contest.

 

Submission Guidelines:

 

 By Mail:

• Submit 2 copies of each poem on 8 ½ by 11 paper, using plain type and fonts only.

• On each copy, put category name and number in the upper left hand corner.

• On one copy only, put your name, address, e-mail, and “member” or “non-member” in the upper right hand corner. (Address labels are acceptable.)

• Submissions should be mailed to:

Dargan M. Ware, Contest Chair

2154 Highland Avenue S.

Birmingham, AL 35205

 

Online:

• Entries can be submitted at alpoets.org until midnight on March 22

• Create the documents as you would to mail, with two copies of each poem

• Submit your entries as a single .pdf file.

 

If you would like a copy of the winners list, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the contest chair.

 

Questions? Complaints? Brilliant poetry-related thoughts? Email the contest chair at dware@davisnorris.com

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