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What was your favorite contest? - Fj Thomas's Blog

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Poetry will always be a matter of perception, perspective, and personal taste. No amount of education or fame will ever change that. ~FJ Thomas ...sometimes I write poetry :)

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What was your favorite contest?

Blog Posted:3/6/2018 1:01:00 PM

Years ago I entered a contest and the theme was creating a poem based on a CAPTCHA you had received on the site. It was quite interesting entering and reading other entries.

What was the contest theme you had the most fun entering or hosting?

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Cecelia
Hopkins-Drewer

Date: 3/15/2018 6:11:00 PM

Any contest which inspires me to write a poem is my favourite. I also consider myself a winner whether I place or not because I wrote a poem for that day! Sometimes you judges may notice my poem might vary a little from the expected - this is not due to ignorance or arrogance - but because inspiration is precious to me. This often happens when northern hemisphere residents set a contest which is unseasonal for me. I can't think summer in winter, for example, so you might get an entry that is titled "I wish it were summer..."

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/15/2018 8:27:00 PM

Inspiration is a wonderful thing. That's also a good viewpoint. People should also try to not let it bother them when they do not win a contest because the winners are based off of someone's else opinions and preferences. But to another person, in another contest, that poem may have been number one. So it should always be a winner to them. Thanks Celia :)

Connie
Pachecho

Date: 3/7/2018 10:41:00 PM

there are such contest~each a slug-fest~especially for the hard-pressed~and highly impressed~i, i, i, happily digest~beer league quest~thirty five roses for the conquest~each happy face at rest~kegs of good jest~good cheer at it's best~the hard-pressed may have gold crest~while the reveriers are oppressed~thirty five placements is my zest ... zest ...

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/7/2018 11:30:00 PM

...if I'm even following you correctly. I could be way off base lol.

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/7/2018 11:26:00 PM

Unfortunately we don't learn what judges to avoid until we have made several attempts but keep seeing the same winners. To be fair though I have noticed a couple of times over the years that a judge's winners were, for the most part, always different. My works just didn't seem to be their cup of tea.

Line
Gauthier

Date: 3/7/2018 1:10:00 PM

I love the contests that are particularly challenging but also the ones that are wide open to interpretation. I really appreciate when a minimum of 10 worthy poems place that way they get visibility, even if only 3 place and the other 7 are Honorable Mentions. While I'm at it, I'd like to thank the sponsors - it's the frequency of contests that make the site so dynamic.

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/7/2018 1:25:00 PM

Agree on all points Line! I definitely understand why some like to stay away from hosting premier contests. It really limits the number of people you can recognize for the work they put in.

Carrie Richards
Date: 3/7/2018 1:12:00 PM

I agree ! Thank you to all the sponsors who take on the difficult task of judging our poems. I've been inspired by each of you :)

Carrie
Richards

Date: 3/7/2018 10:09:00 AM

Yes.....the captcha! That was a fun contest!! I remember it well! I enjoy contests that give me freedom to express. Rhyme and syllable count are not my usual forte', although I still will write and enter contests, but since they restrict my muse a little, I prefer free verse . As a favorite, I love those that ask us to write lyrics to beautiful music. Music just does something to my soul....and the words seem to flow.

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/7/2018 10:36:00 AM

Ahhh I totally feel you on the restricting the Muse part! And I did try a lyric contest once and I have to say it was rather enjoyable.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 3/7/2018 8:55:00 AM

Just noticed the contradiction in your bio notes. Funny!

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/7/2018 10:34:00 AM

...hehe. Well I have to have fun somewhere Andy :D

Roy
Pett

Date: 3/7/2018 4:04:00 AM

Hi Shadow, I have entered quite a few contests and I have learned a great deal from all of them, I really enjoy writing limerick form, but the most challenging contest for me was a blitzing Christmas ( blitz form ) I thoroughly enjoyed writing the poem but the most daunting part was adding the audio, ( not keen at hearing my own voice ).

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/7/2018 8:03:00 AM

Lol Roy I'm not a fan of hearing mine either. And blitzing on a given topic definitely sounds like a challenge. I've only written one Blitz but it was on the topic of my choosing. So not as hard as yours.

Eileen
Manassian

Date: 3/7/2018 12:13:00 AM

Hi, Shadow...I remember the captcha one. I wrote something for that but may not have entered as I don't usually enter contests. I have entered a few. The ones that have challenged me with forms that I had not previously written in get me going. I remember my win with Debbie Guzzi on the Sijo contest and with Craig Cornish on the Sapphic Stanza. Those are some highlights for me. :) BTW...Love that pic you have up there. Hugs

Eileen Manassian
Date: 3/7/2018 12:56:00 AM

I have!!! :) Soupmail!

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/7/2018 12:51:00 AM

Ahh yes, great reasons to enter a contest. And thank you. You know he's my heart! Peek at the photos tab when you have a minute ;)

Constance
La France

Date: 3/6/2018 9:41:00 PM

Hi Shadow, well anyone who knows my writing also knows I have a thing about writing sad poetry, so I must admit any contest with a theme of sadness, death, grief really inspires me but hey I can right (I mean write) happy too, I think I entered the captcha contest but cannot recall if I placed, but it reminded me of an acrostic or abc sort of contest which are always fun !!

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/6/2018 10:31:00 PM

Writing sad poems can be very therapeutic for many. I never understood those who complained about reading sad poems. I often wondered how easy their life must be for them not to be able to understand. But I have to laugh that we can all remember that captcha contest and none of us remember if we placed LOL!

Suzanne
Delaney

Date: 3/6/2018 8:02:00 PM

I remember the CAPCHA one. I can’t remember if I placed or not. I haven’t hosted a contest in along time but I had fun with a mermaid theme, a spider theme and my Synothresic Cat competition was fun.

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/6/2018 8:08:00 PM

Oh wow Suzanne those do sound like fun! And now that you mention it I can't remember if I placed either lol!

Rhoda
Tripp

Date: 3/6/2018 6:53:00 PM

I loved hosting "fem bogstaver" (five letter words) as it was very interesting to read all the wonderful entries, but hard as hell to judge so I enlisted help lol. I love entering unique contest themes.

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/6/2018 7:13:00 PM

Oh man that one had to be tough to judge Rhoda! But I tell you what it was a great mind workout!

Deborah Guenther
Beachboard

Date: 3/6/2018 4:58:00 PM

Haiku because it suits my short attention span! LOL

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/6/2018 5:04:00 PM

LOLOL We have that in common Deborah!

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 3/6/2018 3:28:00 PM

I think I have entered too many to ever narrow it down to just one. But the contests that spurred me to write my best poetry are the ones I am most thankful for! I guess I would say that is the most fun for me too, knowing I was inspired to write a quality poem from a contest.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 3/7/2018 8:52:00 AM

I lost that one. That's why I didn't like it! haha

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/6/2018 3:57:00 PM

Lol I can understand that. I guess the CAPTCHA stood out to me personally because it was completely different from any other I had entered over the years.

Jan
Allison

Date: 3/6/2018 1:34:00 PM

I love writing limericks and have had fun hosting contests and seeing folks have fun,. My favourite contest poem was written for Craig, its called 'homeward bound ' it was a incredible challenge as im not musical and having to write lyrics to set music took me an incredibly long time. https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/homeward_bound__727470 . I also struggle with sonnets and my top place with Dale meant a great deal to me. I use contests as a way to Improve my poetry skills, a win is a bonus:-) hugs Jan xx

Fj Thomas
Date: 3/6/2018 2:23:00 PM

That is a great use of contests. Due to my prolonged poetic drought I use some to help keep me writing until my own words once again rain down. :)

My Past Blog Posts


Where is Word Hobo? Date Posted: 3/3/2021 2:12:00 PM
Non PM Haiku Contest Finalized Date Posted: 1/15/2021 9:26:00 AM
Haiku Contest for NON Premium Members Open Date Posted: 12/22/2020 2:57:00 PM
When Death Comes... Date Posted: 11/30/2020 11:08:00 AM
Slam Contest Closed and Disappointing Date Posted: 5/7/2018 6:55:00 PM
ISSUES WITH RHYMING CONTEST Date Posted: 4/12/2018 6:52:00 PM
Contest for NON PM Poets Open Date Posted: 4/11/2018 6:10:00 PM
Ummm... strange soupmail Date Posted: 3/16/2018 8:37:00 AM
What was your favorite contest? Date Posted: 3/6/2018 1:01:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date Posted	PoemTitle	Form	Categories
7/13/2023	Left-Handed Lament	Rhyme	humor,
2/28/2023	Hazards of Heart - Choose Your Ending	Senryu	heart,
2/17/2023	Sakura	Haiku	flower,nature,
2/1/2023	Empty Circles	Rhyme	lost,memory,metaphor,
1/27/2023	Cradle To Grave - Tricube	Other	age,life,
1/26/2023	Forsaking 'E' - Lipogram	Rhyme	perspective,
1/20/2023	Reflecting	Other	life,pain,
1/17/2023	Season of Tears	Rictameter	seasons,winter,
1/13/2023	Winter's Check Mate - Ws	Sedoka	winter,
1/13/2023	Purple	Diamante	color,purple,
1/13/2023	Interpreting the Heavens	Sedoka	imagery,love,metaphor,sta
1/9/2023	Broken Reflections	Sedoka	abuse,
1/9/2023	Blinding Thoughts	Sedoka	feelings,
1/5/2023	The Holiday of My Muse	Rhyme	life,poetry,writing,
12/27/2022	Haiku - Ice	Haiku	death,storm,winter,
8/30/2022	Observation of a Ps Longtimer	Acrostic	poetry,
7/15/2022	Within the Present	Free verse	introspection,
7/15/2022	In the Pocket	Limerick	crazy,humor,murder,stress
6/30/2022	The Art of Peace	Monoku	peace,
6/28/2022	Seared Sunrise - Tautogram	Rhyme	betrayal,
6/23/2022	Haiku - Summer	Haiku	earth,nature,summer,
6/21/2022	Dying To Live - Greed	Quatrain	life,
6/20/2022	Split Wide Open	Free verse	betrayal,dark,emotions,mu
7/2/2021	Ashes To Ashes---	Fibonacci	death,life,math,
5/4/2021	Fire and Ice	Rhyme	marriage,
4/26/2021	The Story Ends	Free verse	writing,
4/23/2021	Tainted By Love	Rhyme	anger,betrayal,
4/23/2021	The Reaperssessor	Quatrain	betrayal,
1/16/2021	Beauty and Her Bite - Teasing Monoku	Monoku	friendship,
1/15/2021	Jan's Bawdy Guard	Limerick	friend,fun,
1/13/2021	Eternal Note	Free verse	anniversary,marriage,
12/19/2020	There's the Rub	Nonet	allusion,anxiety,sleep,
12/9/2020	Mask Or Shroud	Than-Bauk	character,death,society,
1/3/2020	Instinctually Impaired	Senryu	mother,
12/31/2019	Haiku - Celestial Seduction	Haiku	moon,night,snow,stars,win
4/27/2019	Reset	Acrostic	death,freedom,growth,life
7/21/2018	A Moment In Time	Rhyme	appreciation,devotion,fri
7/15/2018	Anemophily	Tanka	earth,god,life,
7/13/2018	The Last Architect - Constanza	Rhyme	courage,love,marriage,rec
7/9/2018	Buried Alive	Free verse	anxiety,depression,house,
6/1/2018	Toxic State	Verse	imagination,muse,writing,
5/15/2018	Discovering the Realm of Poetry	Prose	language,poetry,poets,wor
5/12/2018	Until Then	Kyrielle	sad,
5/1/2018	Unspoken Harmony	Free verse	friendship,love,
4/17/2018	When Again We Meet - Sijo	Free verse	absence,appreciation,deat
4/14/2018	By the Candle's Light	Quatrain	age,death,husband,wife,
4/8/2018	Soul Food	Epigram	life,music,
4/7/2018	Forgotten Son Rise - Ten Words	Rhyme	allegory,appreciation,spi
4/4/2018	A Moonlight Song - Yiruma	Pantoum	lost love,music,
4/4/2018	Light of the Horizon	Monoku	death,forgiveness,jesus,m
3/26/2018	Stone Rose	Pantoum	flower,heartbreak,hurt,lo
3/25/2018	Wilting Beneath Withered Wishes	Alliteration	growth,identity,moving on
3/5/2018	Haiku - Tears of Time	Haiku	flower,life,nature,rain,s
2/22/2018	The Story Ends	Free verse	art,change,lost,sad,writi
2/14/2018	Eternity In Your Eyes	Rhyme	destiny,future,life,love
2/9/2018	Plea of the 'Bruised Reed'	Rhyme	faith,prayer,spiritual,
1/24/2018	Fun With Ten Words Ten Lines	Rhyme	fun,
12/20/2017	Five Letter Words	Rhyme	desire,dream,feelings,rel
12/19/2017	Troubled Waters - Naani	Verse	heartbreak,life,
12/19/2017	One Syllable Workout	Rhyme	death,husband,loss,love,
12/18/2017	Ghosts of the Living	Rhyme	allegory,betrayal,judgeme
12/14/2017	A Fading Memory	Triolet	absence,emotions,enduranc
12/5/2017	At the End	Villanelle	anniversary,best friend,c

My Photos

ps_img_20170920_153434_181.jpg

Fav Poems

PoemTitle	Form	Categories
Don'T Fall In Love With a Poet	I do not know?	poets,
Tell It To the Rain	Rhyme	hurt,rain,sad,
If Your Crown Is Crooked	Free verse	adventure,beauty,confiden
Princess of the Petals	Dramatic Monologue	analogy,deep,silence,
Just a Note To Say Thankyou and Farewell	Free verse	destiny,
sweet poison, mine -	Rubaiyat	desire,irony,love hurts,m
The Veil I Wear	Dramatic Monologue	analogy,identity,
Some Hearts Can Never Be Tamed	Free verse	angst,loss,lost love,love
She Touched the Water	Free verse	muse,
Thank You Poetry Soup Angel	Prose	angel,
This Poem	Rhyme	writing,
Inspired By Shadow of the Past - I Too Have Walked Blind	Free verse	anxiety,words,
My New Name	Sonnet	angel,tribute,
Somewhere Poets	Rhyme	encouraging,hope,poets,
Broken People	Free verse	people,
For My Ukht Al-Kubra	Prose Poetry	friendship,inspiration,lo
Thank You	Blank verse	thank you,
Will It Sing	Rhyme	poetry,song,
The Queen of Poop On Poetry Soup	Limerick	friendship,humorous,me,po
To My Benefactor	Monorhyme	appreciation,thank you,
My Angel In Disguise- Tribute To Fj Thompson	Sonnet	angel,friendship,tribute,
Music and Poetry, Perfect Bedfellows - Inspired By Fj Thomas Blog	Rhyme	nonsense,
Poetry Soup Heroes For Contest	Rhyme	angel,for her,for him,fri
In Grateful Appreciation	Rhyme	appreciation,thank you,
Cash Cow	Limerick	friendship,thank you,trib
Who I Am	Free verse	adventure,animal,fantasy,
The Acknowledgement of the Gift	Rhyme	encouraging,friendship,in
Flo J Thomas a Walking Angel Gone	Free verse	absence,
There Is a Poem In My Heart	Free verse	poetry,poets,
My Cyberspace Angel	Rhyme	dedication,
The Day Will Come	Sonnet	dark,sad,
The Sand Man	Couplet	introspection,life,people
One Year Ago	Couplet	anniversary,appreciation,
You Know	Ode	emotions,friendship,happi
Between the Lines Tibute To F J Thomas	Rhyme	innocence,inspirational,
With Flo and Charmaine	Couplet	allegory,analogy,
Muse Blues	Lyric	blue,friend,fun,missing y
Flo	Couplet	allegory,analogy,
Fj Thomas -A Walking Angel	Acrostic	angel,
More To Me	Rhyme	how i feel,identity,
Gratitude	Senryu	appreciation,
Dear Fj Is Back	Limerick	tribute,
A Smile Appeared	Free verse	wind,
Missing: Jack Ellison's Mojo	Rhyme	absence,friendship,
Acceptance of Our Time	Verse	absence,death,grief,life,
A Petition For Flo	Narrative	love,
Queen Eileen Remembers	Rhyme	friendship,remember,thank
Go With the Flo	Quatrain	tribute,
A Gift From An Anonymous Angel	Rhyme	emotions,
The Pm Fairy Strikes Again	Limerick	giving,poetry,
To My Angel Unknown	Quatrain	angel,appreciation,blessi
Who's Gonna Own Up	Couplet	appreciation,thank you,
A Wonderful Surprise	Limerick	happiness,thanks,
To My Angel	Quatrain	angel,thank you,
Torches of Light	Rhyme	analogy,angel,
Grateful	Rhyme	giving,thank you,
Unbearable Weight	Monoku	allegory,allusion,extende
Feeling Grateful	Free verse	thank you,
Thank You	Rhyme	giving,smile,thank you,th
An Anonymous At My Door	Free verse	analogy,appreciation,mean
I Found a Poem	Free verse	poetry,poets,
The Muse of a Word Economist	Free verse	me,muse,poetry,
Thank You, Kind Poet	Rhyme	thank you,
In Bloom	Personification	beauty,flower,red,rose,vo
Anonymous Friend, Thank You	Rhyme	appreciation,friend,thank

Fav Poets

Poet	Country
Eileen Manassian	_Not Listed	Read
Silent One	United Kingdom	Read
Charmaine Chircop	Malta	Read
Richard Lamoureux	Canada	Read
Jan Allison	Isle Of Man	Read
Frederic Parker	United States	Read
Tim Ryerson	United States	Read
I'Lyeza Thomas	United States	Read
Bill Baker	United States	Read