Poetry is a popular creative outlet for all types of people, but attitudes towards one’s own work can vary greatly. While some might prefer to keep their poems private, others are interested in sharing their work publicly.
One common way that emerging poets share their work is by entering poetry competitions.
There are lots of advantages to entering your work into a poetry competition: not only could you win a prize, but some writing competitions also offer feedback on your work (no matter how far you get in the competition), and some organisations might even publish your work in an anthology or poetry collection – so you can gain even more recognition!
Whatever your motives are for submitting your work into a poetry competition, whether you have one poem you’re especially proud of, or you simply want to share your work with others, entering a competition is a fantastic way to familiarise yourself with the world of poetry, one which could really enhance your self-confidence both as a poet and generally.
You may not realise that the world of poetry competitions is diverse in several aspects.
Some competitions stipulate writing poetry in relation to a particular theme, while others might impose a word limit, a certain rhyme scheme, or a specific form such as a haiku. In other cases, you don’t actually have to be a poet, as there are also poetry recitation competitions that you could participate in.
If you’re searching for information on the various kinds of poetry competitions, or you want to find a competition to enter, you’ve come to the right place!
Discover great poetry lessons here.
How to Find Poetry Writing Competitions to Enter
Once you’ve written a poem you’re proud of, the next big step is submitting your work – but where do you find out about poetry competitions?
The internet is the first place to look. There are lots of poetry websites that provide information on competitions, such as entry requirements and fees, and also submission deadlines.
Australian Poetry is a national poetry body that interconnects and supports a flourishing community of Australian poets, enhancing and promoting their poetry both here and internationally. They do this by offering a nationwide calendar of events which include both high profile artistic activities, connecting poets with their audiences across all major literary festivals in all states and territories; and accessible, affordable professional development activities, which cater to all poetry practitioners, no matter their ability.
Australian Poetry has helpfully compiled a list of calls for submission, competitions, and opportunities in Australia that you can browse, so you should take a look and see if there’s anything that interests you.
ArtsHub is another organisation that lists writing awards, literary prizes, competitions, fellowships, and opportunities in Australia. It is Australia’s leading independent online resource dedicated to the world of the arts. This list encompasses all literary genres, from essays to short stories, so if you’re interested in other areas of writing, you’ll also be able to find places to enter both your poetic and non-poetic work.
While the organisations mentioned above will inform you about the poetry competitions that are happening, you should keep in mind that their level of exposure will attract many entrants, so don’t be discouraged if your poem doesn't place.
If you’re just starting out as a new poet, or you would like to familiarise yourself with the format of poetry competitions, you might like to enter smaller competitions to begin with.
Lots of smaller poetry competitions take place within communities, so be sure to keep an eye out in your local press!
Entering a Poetry Magazine Competition
Entering poetry competitions that are attached to a poetry magazine or website offers you the exciting possibility of having your own poetry published online or in print, giving you the boost you need to persevere with your work.
While some competitions might only offer cash prizes and publication for first, second, and third place (plus some other goodies thrown in), other organisations might also publish a selection of work from non-placing entrants.
The chance of having your work published in a poetry anthology will not only provide you an incentive other than the main monetary prize to focus on, it will also increase the likelihood of success with your poetry career.
So, which competitions provide this opportunity to entrants?
Here are two annual competitions which are associated with literary magazines or anthologies:
- Judith Wright Poetry Prize
The Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets seeks outstanding poetry by writers who have published no more than one collection of poems under their own name. It is one of the richest prizes for emerging poets, and is open to poets in Australia and internationally. In 2021, the major prize was $6000, with the second prize of $2000 and the third prize of $1000. All three winners will be published in Overland’s Autumn 2022 issue.
- Peter Porter Poetry Prize
Run by the Australian Book Review, the Peter Porter Poetry Prize is one of the world’s leading prizes for a new poem. It is worth a total of $10,000. The shortlisted poems will appear in the Australian Book Review’s January–February 2022 issue.
Popular Australian Poetry Competitions
A simple Google search will reveal to you thousands of poetry competitions that you could enter. The world of poetry is vast and diverse, and the kinds of competitions out there reflect this. However, there are particular poetry competitions that have a certain level of prestige.
The most prestigious creative writing competitions are often those that are most widely known and respected. For example, 500 words run by BBC Radio 2, has gained much exposure (and consequently respect) by being discussed on-air.
Of course, entering a well-known competition means that your chances of success are significantly slimmer, however, this makes a potential win even more thrilling!
Here are some of the most highly recognised literary competitions in Australia:
- Prime Minister’s Literary Awards
The Prime Minister's Literary Awards provides Australia’s authors, illustrators, historians and poets with the opportunity to receive national recognition for their talent.
Each year the Awards acknowledge the significant contribution literature, history and poetry have in connecting us to Australian voices and our story as a nation.
If you have published work during 2020 you may be eligible to enter the 2021 Awards in one of the six categories—children's literature, young adult literature, fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and Australian history.
A total prize pool of $600,000 is available for shortlisted and winning books.
- Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards honour literary achievements by Australian writers. The awards are administered by the Wheeler Centre.
The winners of the main suite of awards – fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, writing for young adults, and the biennial award for Indigenous writing – each receive $25,000. The winner of the Award for an Unpublished Manuscript receives $15,000.
The winners of these award categories go on to contest the overall Victorian Prize for Literature, worth an additional $100,000. This is the single most valuable literary award in the country.
The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be named alongside the general category winners and will receive $2,000.
- NSW Premier’s Literary Awards
The NSW Premier’s Literary Awards are held annually. They are the richest and longest-running state-based literary awards in Australia and cover all genres of writing.
The Kenneth Slessor Prize ($30,000) is offered to a poet for a book of collected poems or for a single poem of substantial length published in book form. Why not try your luck?
Have a Go at Poetry Recital
For those who do not write poems but rather simply enjoy reading poetry, recital competitions are a great way to get involved in the world of poetry whilst exploring the fine details of individual works as you learn to perform them aloud before an audience.
Poetry recitation competitions differ from poetry writing competitions in that they are often smaller in scale. This is because, unlike simply submitting something you have written, entrants must travel to a venue to perform on the day of the poetry competition.
For this reason, such competitions often run on a community or regional level. However, there are some which take place on a much larger scale by allowing video submissions of poetry recitals for example.
What is a Poetry Slam?
For those who enjoy both writing their own poetry and reciting it, there is a genre of poetry competition called the ‘poetry slam’.
Poetry slams are competitions in which contestants must perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges. There might also be a particular theme chosen for the evening.
Competitions like the Australian Poetry Slam are found in all types of places; you might see them at festivals, or as standalone events at the trendy venues of your nearest city.
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