ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY
FALL 2024 CONTEST
- ALABAMA STATE POETRY SOCIETY FALL 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.
- OTIS DEES POETRY AWARD (in honor of Otis Dees, Mvskoke, father of sponsor Dr. Deidra Dees)
$400 – Humken (first); $300 – Hokkolen (second); $200 Tucenen (third); $100 Osten (fourth)
Subject: Native Americans; Form: any
Indigenous Poets and Poets of Color are especially encouraged to enter, but all are welcome.
- BROOD XIX CONTEST: The Natural History Award (sponsored by Susan Luther)
3 Equal Awards of $50, HM at Judge’s Discretion
Subject: Write a poem about, or that makes significant reference to, or that is in the voice of an unusual or striking natural phenomenon (such as, for example, the 13-year cicadas whose collective voice enveloped Alabama neighborhoods this past spring; the Northern Lights; a sun dog.
NOTE: Must be a member of ASPS to enter. All Winning Poems must be read aloud at the Fall Awards Ceremony, by proxy if necessary.
Form: Any.
- WISH CONTEST (Sponsored by Jeanette Willert)
$200; $100; $75; $25, HM at Judge’s Discretion
Subject: “A Wish”
Form: Any. No Line Limit
- BEACH BARDS PUBLISHING CONTEST (Sponsored by Beach Bards Publishing, LLC)
$40, $25, $15
Subject: Love of Libraries
Form: Any rhyming poem
Line Limit: 40
- POEMS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE (sponsor/judge: Mike Turner)
$50, $30, $20, 2 HMs
Subject: Choice. Form: Any.
Line Limit: 30
- BUDDY ROBERTS MEMORIAL AWARD (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz)
$50, $25, $15, $10, Honorable Mentions at judge’s discretion
Form: Poet’s Choice (If you use a form, name it.)
Topic: Making a Difference
40 line limit
- PRECIOUS PRODIGAL CONTEST (Sponsored by Harry and Rita Moritz)
$60, $25, $15
Form: Any Standard Form (Entry must state the form, and comply with its requirements)
Topic: Any
Line Limit: As dictated by form
- I’LL TAKE THE FRENCH FORM, S’IL VOUS PLAIT (sponsored by Writer’s Anonymous)
$75, 50, 25 (Honorable Mentions at judge’s discretion)
Form: Any French form (such as Villanelle, Rondel, Cinquain, Rondeau, etc.)
Topic: Open (no politics), Line Limit: As dictated by form
- BKC Award in Honor of Bettye Kramer Cannizzo (sponsored by Jessica Temple)
$60, $30, $10 (Honorable Mentions at judge’s discretion)
Subject: Alabama the Beautiful; Form: Any
Line Limit – 60 Lines
RULES! (We gotta have rules, otherwise there is chaos.)
- Deadline for entry is October 11, 2024. Entries must be either postmarked or received online by that date.
- Entry Fees:
ASPS Members: $1 per poem.
Non-Members: $5 per poem.
No limit on number of poems whether member or non-member!
- More than one poem can be submitted in any category, but only one poem per poet may win in a category.
- The same poem may not be entered into more than one category.
- Poems cannot have won a monetary award in a previous ASPS contest.
- Poems cannot have been previously published, including online.
- The line limit for each category is as stated in the contest. If no limit is stated, there is none.
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 October 18
- 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
