Free contest, Iowa Poetry Association's 65th Annual Writing Contest, top prize: $60

Deadline: 28 February 2011

General Rules For All Divisions

Note: FAILURE TO OBSERVE RULES MAY DISQUALIFY ENTRIES.

1. Contests are open to all persons with Iowa residence. (See College exception) No entry fee. No membership or book purchase requirement.
2. Poems must be original and unpublished (including on-line and self publication). If copying a significant portion of another's work is detected, entries will be immediately disqualified.
3. Poems must be submitted by their author, except for student poems, which may be submitted by teacher or parent.
4. Any subject or form, except categories where special requirements apply. Vulgarity or pornography is NOT accepted; e-mail submissions not accepted.
5. Up to 5 poems may be submitted by one author. 20-line limit for each poem does not count title nor spaces between stanzas. (See Adult rules about Humorous Verse.)
6. Each poem (even haiku) should be on a separate full-size (8 1/2x11") sheet of paper, preferably typed or computer printed, with name and complete mailing address in upper right corner.
7. Mail after January 1, 2010 to editor for your division. Postmark deadline: February 28, 2010. Mail all entries together in one envelope. (Business-size, #10 preferred) Do NOT send registered mail, please.
8. Winners and others to be published in Lyrical Iowa 2010 will be notified by mail in mid-summer, or as soon as all judging is completed.
9. No one will receive more than one award. No more than one poem will be printed per author. IPA has first publication rights; all other rights automatically revert to each author AFTER our publication in October.
10. Poems may not be withdrawn after submission.

ADULT CONTESTS

It is not necessary to specify category. Most appropriate category should be obvious within the poem. Include a self-addressed #10 envelope with sufficient postage for winners list and return of unused poems. On a separate note, please indicate if you are a first- time entrant in an Iowa Poetry Association contest.

Each of the following categories are judged independently by different judges. Honorable mentions are awarded as merited.

GENERAL: Any subject in good taste, any form. $60.00, $35.00, $20.00.

NATIONAL/WORLD EVENTS: Should focus on an event, not a general situation. $25.00, $15.00, $10.00.

HAIKU: A configuration of 5/7/5 syllables does NOT make it haiku without other haiku characteristics. $25.00, $15.00, $10.00.

SONNETS: Shakespearean (English), Petrarchan (Italian), or other traditional sonnet forms. $30.00, $20.00, $10.00.

POEMS FOR CHILDREN: Poems written by adults in style and content appropriate for reading by or to children. $20.00, $12.00, $8.00.

INDIGENOUS TO IOWA: About animals, plants, native people or the land. One prize only: $15.00.

HUMOROUS VERSE: In addition to other entries, adult contestants may submit a reasonable number of humorous verses. These must be rhymed and metered and have an eight-line limit. $20.00, $12.00, $8.00.

Send ADULT entries only to:

Lucille Morgan Wilson
2325 61st Street
Des Moines, IA 50322

COLLEGE DIVISION

All general rules apply.

Prizes: $25.00, $15.00, $10.00. Honorable mentions as merited.

Students whose homes are in Iowa but are studying outside the state are eligible to enter, as well as out-of-state students attending Iowa schools. (Graduate students should enter the adult division.) Give name and location of your school; include both your school and home mailing addresses, since results of the contest may not be determined until June.

Please include a #10 self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage for winners list and return of unused poems.

Send COLLEGE entries to:

Rustin Larson
105 North D
Fairfield, IA 52556

More information here.