A Note to Entrants: After Poem Contest Update - Jaymee Thomas's Blog

First, thank you. I’ve read most of the submissions for the After Poem Contest, and I want to say how much I appreciate the thought, care, and range of creativity I’m seeing. It’s clear that many of you approached the prompt with genuine engagement—and I’m looking forward to spending more time with these poems. I always read entries more than once before making final decisions, and I read each with fresh attention.

A quick reminder, especially for those hoping to be considered for the first-place prize of $100: while the amount isn’t huge, it is meaningful. It’s what I was paid for the first poem I ever published, and that moment stayed with me—not because of the money itself, but because it marked a shift. Being paid for something you wrote can make it feel more real. That’s part of what I hope to offer here: a small but concrete recognition of the work that goes into this craft.

That said, one important detail has been missing from a number of submissions: the attribution of the original poem and author your piece is written “after.”

This is more than a formatting note. It’s how I understand what conversation you’re entering—and what choices you’re making in relation to the original. I always read both your poem and the one you’re responding to, so I can more fully appreciate what your piece is doing. Without that context, I can’t evaluate it fairly alongside the others. It may still place, but I can't place it in first.

If your aim was simply to respond to the prompt, regardless of placement, that’s absolutely valid. I’ve entered contests myself knowing I didn’t meet every rule, simply because I loved the challenge and wanted the sponsor to know I was inspired. But if you are hoping to be considered for first place—or if reading this has prompted any new ideas—you’re welcome to revise and resubmit. You can edit any part of your piece, not just the attribution, and I’ll gladly read your updated version. No need to flag it as updated, I'll be rereading it either way :)

Finally, I want to reiterate that I judge all entries blindly. I don’t search for names or titles, and I’d rather not know whose work I’m reading. That helps me focus fully on the writing itself and make decisions as fairly as I can.

Refresh on Formatting: In the body of your submission (not in the title), italicize the original poem’s title and author. Place this attribution double-spaced above your first line.

Example (title in regular title slot for PS):

after “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop

Bishop's poem was ahead of its time—

in a lot of ways. I'll include a link—

you can click on my favorite metaphor

of hers: rainbow's rusted engine,

the end.

Best of luck and I look forward to (re)reading you all soon.