DIMAPUR, MARCH 16 (MExN): The Foyle Young Poets Award has opened entries for this year’s award. The competition attracted entries from a staggering 7,351 young people from 60 countries worldwide, making it one of the largest competitions in the world.
The competition is free to enter for ages 11 to 17 and individuals can send in more than one poem. The poems (only in English) can be of any length and on any theme. The rules also direct that each poem must be the original work of the author, and must not have been previously published (online on any website, blog or on social media i.e. Twitter or Facebook), broadcast on TV or radio or have won another competition. For queries on the entire set of rules regarding the contest, interested individuals can clog on to foyleyoungpoets.org
The 15 Overall Winners aged 11-17 will have their poems printed in the winners' anthology and all Commended Poets will have their name published inside - 20,000+ of these are sent out across the UK and beyond. Each year 100 winners (85 Commendations and 15 Overall Winners) are selected by a team of high profile judges, and receive their awards at an annual prize-giving event on National Poetry Day on October 3.
Overall Winners from the 15 to 17 age category attend a week-long intensive residential Arvon course where they develop their creative writing skills alongside fellow poets. Winners aged 11-14 group benefit from poetry residencies at their school followed by distance
mentoring.
The final date for submission of entries is July 31. The Foyle Young Poets of the Year is the largest poetry competition of the year.
