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Home » Poetry » Free Poetry Contests

Poetry Contests

Below are free poetry contests for 2017 (some for money or cash) are managed by PoetrySoup poet Premium Members. Poetry contests are held every week. Any poet can enter and all competitions are free. Enter as many contests as you want. You keep copyrights on all of your poems. Some poetry contests even have prizes! Go to the contests you can enter...

How to Enter PoetrySoup Contests

  1. Submit your poems to PoetrySoup using the Submit Poems link at the top of any PoetrySoup page
  2. Return to the poetry contest page
  3. Select a contest to enter and then click the Enter Contest button associated with the poetry contest you want to enter.
  4. Select your poem to enter by clicking the Enter Contest button (You may need to scroll see more of your poems).
  • Entrant’s name, address, e-mail and phone number must not appear on the poems.
  • Do not identify yourself on your contest entries.
  • The poet’s name should not appear anywhere in the poem field.

How to Win a Poetry Contest

  • Study the past winners of a contest sponsored by that member
  • Prior to entering a contest, have your poem critiqued in the High Critique Forum
  • Objectively and critically review your poem
  • Enter a lot of contests. Hey, the more contests you enter, the better chance you have of winning one.

Other Contest Links

The contests are below...

Poetry Contests

Jump to a contest:

Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Premiere Contests

  • Stricter guidelines for contest sponsors as determined by PoetrySoup
  • One poem per place in contest
  • 1st place winners will have a trophy next to their poem on the website

Standard Contest

  • Rules determined by contest sponsor
  • Number of winners and how they place are determined by contest sponsor
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Saturday, July 1, 2017
34 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Julia Ward

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Tuesday, July 11, 2017
13 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Kai Michael Neumann

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Wednesday, July 12, 2017
24 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Joseph Soper

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Wednesday, July 19, 2017
5 poems of the maximum 60 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Catie Lindsey

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Wednesday, July 19, 2017
17 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Laura Loo

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Thursday, July 20, 2017
2 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: craig cornish

Enter Contest
Dramatic monologue poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Thursday, July 20, 2017
16 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer

Enter Contest
Couplet poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Saturday, July 22, 2017
1 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Brenda Chiri

Enter Contest
Haiku poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Sunday, July 23, 2017
15 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Chris D. Aechtner

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Tuesday, August 22, 2017
20 poems of the maximum 75 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Cyndi MacMillan

Contest: Landscapes
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Wednesday, June 28, 2017
25 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Kim Rodrigues

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Wednesday, June 28, 2017
23 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Ir0nic ZiNk

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Saturday, July 1, 2017
27 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Eve Roper

Contest: Ottava rima
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Tuesday, July 4, 2017
24 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Janis Thompson

Enter Contest
Lyric poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, July 14, 2017
10 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: John Hamilton

Enter Contest
Sonnet poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, July 21, 2017
8 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Mystic Rose

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Saturday, July 22, 2017
23 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Brian Strand






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