Wednesday, 7 November 2018

How To Find Poetry Contest Sites That Fit You

By Stephen Burns


Most poets begin their writing journey for fun. However, time presents opportunities to make money as well as sharpen your skills against those of other poets. There are poetry contest sites that will offer prizes for the pieces that you have little regard for. However, do not enter any site just because it has declared a competition. Here is a guide to the best websites that will help you get value for your pieces.

The website should be run by professionals who understand the world of poetry. The best professionals are literature departments, renowned poets and institutions interested in art. While individuals may also organize contests, they should have the support of institutions or gurus in the industry. This guarantees fairness and also ensures that you get the best experience from your creativity.

The reputation of the website you enter is an issue of concern. It takes time to build a reputation. It means that such organizers must have been in the industry for a while. The competition must also be running for a while. Check reviews or interact with participants who have entered the previous editions. Do not waste time and resources on competitions whose outcomes are predetermined.

The exposure you get from participating in the competition should be known. While prize money is worthwhile, literary exposure adds great value to your life. The best forms of engagement include seminars, participation in exhibitions and being entered in reading sessions. You will be a better poet when you learn from seasoned poets and participate in exhibitions than just taking prize money home.

The reward given should meet a decent threshold. Some give rewards in form of money. The rewards given to others comes in the form of publishing deals, participation in exhibitions and meeting prominent poets, among other options. The reward given must be worth the effort you make to complete the piece. It must also not be below the money you register with, just in case you have been asked to register.

Organizers must ensure that winners are publicly known and genuine. This happens by publicizing entry and winning rules. The criterion to be used in choosing a winner should also be known. It helps to have different categories of entries to accommodate the classes of participants who might be interested. The classes can be divided into beginner poets, intermediate and experienced writers. They may also be separated by themes, age, academic level and such factors. This spreads out the prize money and gives more people the chance.

Participation in the contest must be simplified. Some of the methods to be adopted include online submissions, publicizing of the contest and provision of ample time to participate. This attracts diverse talents, making the competition stiff enough to produce the best winner.

The website should not use the poems submitted for their own benefit without passing the gains to writers. In case they are published, you should be acknowledged as the author. Where funds are generated from the sale of materials resulting from your work, the money realized should trickle down to all writers.




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