This autumn, we will once again be running the Ironbridge poetry competition on behalf of the Ironbridge Festival. The competition is open to poets from across the globe, and poems on any and every subject are welcome. First prize in our competition will win £300, with a second prize of £125, and three third prizes of £25 each. In addition, poems sent in by people living in a TF postcode will also be eligible for our local prize of £50.
The competition opens on Monday September 2nd, and entries need to be in before the deadline of 6pm on October 20th. You’ll find details of how to submit, and the rules for the competition, further down the page. Please read them carefully. Poems will be read, and winners chosen, by our judge Paul Francis.
Our Judge
Paul Francis is a retired teacher, living in Much Wenlock, who’s been active in the West Midlands poetry scene for the last twenty-five years. He won the TF postcode prize at the inaugural Ironbridge competition in 2022, came second in the Shelley Memorial competition in 2023, and he won the Enfield poetry competition in 2024.
A note from Paul on judging the Ironbridge poetry competition
I’m looking for poems which communicate directly, which are intelligent, heartfelt and well-crafted. I don’t like to be baffled, but I’m happy to be intrigued. Don’t assume that I’m looking for poems like my own. I’ve written hundreds of traditional sonnets, but when I judged the Sonnet or Not competition hardly any of my shortlist were formally rhymed. I’m hoping to be surprised, by poets who can do things I’d never have dreamed of.
Rules
- The competition opens on Monday September 2nd, 2024, and the closing date for receipt of entries is 6pm on October 20th, 2024. Entries received after this time will not be considered.
- The fee to enter is £4. If multiple poems are entered in the same submission, £10 will be charged for three poems and then £3 for each subsequent poem in that submission. Maximum number of poems in a single submission is five. Payment is by Paypal (see button below, which will take you to [email protected])
- Poems from a TF postcode will additionally be entered for consideration in the TF prize.
- Entries to the competition must be made by email to [email protected] In the body of the email, put your name, address, number of poems entered, and your Paypal reference no.
- Each poem must be sent as a separate .doc .docx or .pdf file attached to your email, with the poem title as the document name. Do not put your name or any identifying marks on the poems – they are judged anonymously.
- Poems must be your own unaided work, and on any theme.
- Poems must be in English, and no more than 35 lines long.
- Poems must not have been previously published in any public forum (either in print or on a website), nor should they be currently submitted for future publication elsewhere.
- We can’t amend poems after they’ve been submitted, or refund fees paid.
- The competition is open to anyone aged sixteen and over (with the exception of members of the core team of Ironbridge Festival of the Imagination).
- Winners and shortlisted poets will be contacted a few days in advance of results being announced on Monday 11th November 2024. If you do not hear from us before November 11th, please understand that your poem has not been placed on this occasion. The winning poets may be invited to read their poems at Ironbridge Festival of the Imagination at an event which is currently being finalised (more details soon).
- Copyright of the poems remains with the author, but Ironbridge Festival of the
Imagination reserves the right to publish successful entries.
Good luck!!!