Poetry Contest

STEPHANIE  WELLER  HANSON   

FALCON HEIGHTS,  MINNESOTA

  HAS WON THE CLARENCE HAWKES MEMORIAL PRIZE 

      of    $1,000.00    for her entry into this years contest

 This year their were entries from 28 states  and  six foreign countries, including   China,  Canada, Norway, Switzerland,  Japan and the UK.   Many fine works will be published in this years SILKWORM, each contestant will receive a copy upon its publication in early Autumn.

This year each entrant will recieve a copy of Silkworm 2008 as part of their entry fee of $20.00.

 Submission Guidelines

MUST BE FOLLOWED

READ THE RULES CAREFULLY

I. OPEN TO ALL POETS OF ALL AGES, FROM ANY COUNTRY (but poems must be submitted in english) published or not; regardless of experience.

II. Prize of  $1,000.00  based upon the quality of the entire entry by a poet is guaranteed to be awarded :

III.  Winner will be published in the Florence Poets Society Annual Review the SILKWORM - 2008.   The winner will be the featured reader at the FLORENCE FALL POETRY FESTIVAL, and will be interviewed on the Twilite Poetry Pub radio program.

IV.  Noteworthy works will earn the poet a designation "Poet of Distinction"  or "Poet of Merit" and with it consideration for publication in Silkworm 2008  as well as a commemorative printed award of said designation.

IV. DETAILS [please read carefully]

1. All poems submitted must be the ORIGINAL and PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED* (see note above) work (in any medium) of the entrant.

2. Each poet may submit up to three (3) poems with their entry.

3. Poem length is limited to 60 lines for each poem. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. Poems that exceed 60 lines will be disqualified and entry fee WILL NOT be returned.

3. All entries must be in English (a translation from another language is allowed).

4. Poems may be of any theme, style, form, etc. No Preference is given to any one form.

5. Simultaneous submissions are permitted and encouraged. If they are accepted elsewhere please inform us immediately, no entry fees will be returned.

6.

A. Three typed copies of each poem must be submitted. (if an electronic submission paste (PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE NO ATTACHMENTS) all three into the body of your email with only one having your identifying information with it.)

     B. ONLY ONE MUST HAVE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.

C. The other two copies MUST BE POEM TEXT ONLY. Place title on each page of poem and number pages.

D.  All judging is done without knowledge of the author, each entry recieves a code for identification purposes. Names are revealed AFTER final judging is completed and prize is determined by the code designation.

E.   All electronic entries (ie email) you must paste 3 copies of poems into body of email, NO ATTACHMENTS ACCEPTED.

 7. All winners will be notified by mail on or about

      MAY   30, 2008

8. No entries will be returned under any circumstances please retain copies of your work.

9. All poems remain the property of the poet at all times. By submitting your entry you automatically give the FPS the right to publish the work for any purpose FPS shall choose. However that publication shall be limited to only one time. You may decline to be published by opting out in your  entry form or by informing us in writing at the address of the Society listed below. The FPS is under no obligation to publish any entry at any time and may disqualify any entry at any time.

10. All judges are members of Florence Poets Society. They, their family, friends and students are disqualified participation.

11. This contest may be terminated and all entries and reading fees returned to the entrants at the discretion of the Directors of the Florence Poets Society.

V. TO ENTER

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON

April 15, 2008 

Winners will be selected on or about:

          MAY 30, 2008

You can enter via email to postmaster@florencepoetssociety.org 

and pay the $20.00 reading fee via PAYPAL by clicking the button below.

Once you have successfully paid, the transaction is completed. You will be automatically returned to this site. You will also recieve an email receipt noting your payment. You may then log in to your account at www.paypal.com/us to view details of this transaction.

ALL MAILED ENTRIES MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A READING FEE OF $20.00 in United States funds payable by check or money order.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE: YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS

Mail your entries to:

 Florence Poets Society

P.O. Box 60355

Florence, Massachusetts 01062

"what is publication"

The key criteria is: Someone independently decided to publish your poem and that person was not influenced or controlled by you, the author.

Self publication is not considered publication for purposes of this contest. If you have printed your work into a self produced chapbook or given a poem to friends and family for a holiday or your work has been posted on your own website then that is not the publication envisioned by the directors. THIS WORK IS OK TO SUBMIT

IF YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR WORK TO AN ONLINE SITE OR A PRINTED JOURNAL, BOOK ETC. AND IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE EDITOR THEN IT IS CONSIDERED AS PUBLISHED BY THE DIRECTORS ADMINISTERING THIS CONTEST. THAT WORK IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CONTEST.

Also note that members of the Florence Poets Society are eligible to enter this contest but will not be given any preference by the Directors (NB in 2006 several members of FPS entered the contest and none were selected to win a prize)