Original & Junior Poetry Writing Contests

THE WEDNESDAY CLUB OF  ST. LOUIS POETRY CONTESTS

Entry Deadline – February 1, 2025 • Awards Reception – April 9, 2025 at 1:oo pm

ORIGINAL POETRY CONTEST

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Adults over 18; living within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis.
  • Any person having won first prize in the contest twice within the last five years is ineligible for further cash awards but may be cited for honors.

RULES:

  • Submit TWO TYPED COPIES of TWO poems, which have never been published or won an award.
  • Use 8 1/2 x 11 paper with no more than one poem to a page.  Maximum length for each poem two pages.
  • Sign with pseudonym ONLY.
  • Type real name, pseudonym, poem titles, address, e-mail address and telephone number on a separate sheet of paper and enclose with poems.  No manuscripts returned.

MAIL TO:

Catherine Rankovic
ORIGINAL POETRY CONTEST
3901 Sand Glade Trail
Pacific, MO  63069

EMAIL:  Not available at this time

PRIZES: $500, $300, $150

JUDGE: 

Steven Straight, professor of English emeritus and former director of the poetry program at Manchester Community College in Connecticut, is the author of the poetry books Affirmation (Grayson Books, 2022), The Almanac (Northwestern University Press, 2012) and The Water Carrier (2002), a finalist for the Connecticut Book Award in Poetry. He has taught writing workshops throughout the eastern U.S.

 

 

      JUNIOR POETRY CONTEST

ELIGIBILITY:

  •  High School Students in Grades 9 through 12 in the St. Louis Area

RULES:

  • Entries must be submitted through the English Department.
  • Entries must be submitted with an English teacher’s signature indicating approval of the content.
  • Each student must submit TWO copies of TWO original poems, one per page, signed with a pen name along with one completed official entry form per student.

FOR ENTRY FORMS OR QUESTIONS

Junior Contest Entry Form in Word Format

Junior Contest Entry Form in .pdf Format

MAIL TO:

Kathy Holman
Junior Poetry Contest
c/o  Nan Starling
14 Upper Conway Lane
Chesterfield, MO  63017

STUDENT PRIZES: $200,  $150,  $100, $80, $50, and up to five $25 honorable mentions

TEACHER AWARDS: $200, $150, $100

(Applies to teachers of first three student winners)

JUDGE: TBA