CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
VERVE Poetry Festival COMPETITION
Are you a passionate poet eager to share your work with a vibrant literary community? The VERVE Poetry Festival 2025 is excited to announce its call for submissions! This year, we invite poets of all backgrounds and styles to submit their most compelling work for a chance to be featured in our festival.
COMPETITION OPENS: SEPTEMBER 15th
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: NOVEMBER15th
CATEGORIES: ADULTS / YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 11-17
ENTRY FEE: ADULTS ONLY. First poem £5 then £3 per poem
SUBMIT ENTRIES to MAIL@VERVEPOETRYFESTIVAL.COM
(make sure you read the guidelines below)
COMPETITION THEME:
POETS & POETRY
This year’s theme, "Poets and Poetry," celebrates the essence of the poetic craft and the voices behind the verses. We encourage you to explore;
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The relationship between poets and their creations.
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Inspiration and writing processes.
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The impact poetry has on both individuals and society.
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Re-imagining poems.
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Experiments with form, craft and verse.
Whether your style is traditional or experimental, we welcome your unique perspective on the world of poets and their poetry.
HANNAH LOWE
VERVE Poetry Festival 2025 Judge
Hannah Lowe is a poet, memoirist and critic. She was named a Poetry Book Society Next Generation Poet in 2014 and won a Cholmondeley Award from the Society of Authors in 2020.
Her first poetry collection, Chick (2013), won the Michael Murphy Poetry Prize. Her latest, The Kids, a PBS Choice for Autumn 2021, was shortlisted for the 2022 TS Eliot Prize, and won the 2021 Costa Book of the Year. She is a Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
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Poems must be no more than 80 lines long excluding title, and be typed on A4 paper, either as a Word doc or PDF. There is no minimum length for entries.
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Poems should be on the theme POETRY & POEMS.
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There is a parallel competition for adults that is pay to enter and has different prizes.
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Poems must be typed, in English, unpublished, (they must not have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online, broadcast, or have won or been placed in another competition at any time), have a title, and be your original work. No translations, please.
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All poems will be read and judged anonymously by Hannah Lowe. They cannot be returned, and may not be altered after submission. The judge’s decisions are final.
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No person may win more than one prize.
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The copyright of each poem remains with the author, although the organisers have the right to publish winning and commended poems on our website, on online social media, and once in any anthology of poetry that Verve Poetry Festival chooses to organise.
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The ten best poets will be selected to be in our competition anthology, invited to read at our competition event at the festival and to attend a special workshop at the festival. The festival takes place in Birmingham at Birmingham Hippodrome (B5 4TE).
WHY PARTICIPATE?
​RECOGNITION
Get your work in front of an esteemed poet and wider audience. Our judges are experienced poets and literary professionals who are eager to discover fresh voices.
CASH PRIZE
(ADULTS ONLY) First Prize of £500. It's not just about recognition; you'll have the chance to fund your next creative project!
PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITY
Selected poems will be published in our competition anthology, allowing your words to reach an even broader readership.
CONNECTION
Connect with fellow poets and poetry lovers through our vibrant poetry community. Share ideas, collaborate, and immerse yourself in the world of verse.
WORKSHOP
Free ticket to a professional workshop.
HOW TO ENTER
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Please email your poems to mail@vervepoetryfestival.com, each on either a Word or PDF document.
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Your personal details must not be anywhere on the document containing your poem.
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Save / label your document with the title of your poem only.
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In the body of your email, please leave the category of your entry (ADULT or YOUNG PEOPLE), your name, postal address, email address and telephone contact details which can be those of your parents.
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Please let your parents know that you are entering.
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The deadline for entry is midnight on 15th NOVEMBER 2024.
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Winners Announced January 8th!
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