What to Submit?
You may think my description is too long, wordy and detailed but it is to help you know what I want or don't want so you can place, so please read the whole thing if your intention is to place. Don't assume you know the details required because things change from contest to contest.
NEW poem on only ONE of these words ... sanctuary or soft or stir or surreal
The word chosen is your one word title only. For example- Sanctuary.
You may add a quote at the TOP ONLY of your poem, in quotation marks, if yours put _ by poet, if not yours _ name writer. LIKE quotes a lot. (Hint, Hint). If you put it in Poet's Notes I cannot see it.
You may add images, or videos, or audios but I will not see them until contest is judged.
Preparing Your Entry
Any form is acceptable. Stay true. (I accept true and near rhyming)
No, No, No's ... a must read *
I do NOT like RANDOM rhyming, I like to see a clear PATTERN. Most important your poem MUST RHYME ACCORDING YOUR CHOSEN FORM REQUIREMENTS.
I do NOT like double spacing.
I do NOT like all Bolded poems. Bolding the quote is okay.
I do NOT like poems labelled as I Don't Know or Other. These are not forms of poetry.
I do NOT like audio poems read in a robotic voice with no emotion or pauses at top speed. But, use your OWN VOICE and I will be impressed.
I do NOT like hate or political poems or OVERLY religious poems.
I do NOT like poems with empty white space at the bottom or poems that look sloppy on the page.
Check, Check, Check Please
Your PRESENTATION, spelling, GRAMMAR, RHYMING if used, SYLLABLES if used. I like punctuation but if you cannot do it well, leave it out. I use HOWMANYSYLLABLES or PS Syllable Counter and RHYMEZONE, suggest you use the same. Stay on theme.
Don't forget about imagery, metaphors, depth, emotions, make it 'BEAUTIFUL' ...
Write about life, love, loss, about a pet, nature, it can be emotional, it can be funny, it can tell a story. Write where your pen takes you. Just close your eyes, one, two, three WRITE !
Prizes - Multiple placements. Possible 1,2,3,4, 5, 6, etc. etc.( I am working on a new way of judging, so, some poets may not get the First places they are used to in my contests. But, if you are on my winning list in ANY placement it is because I loved your poem. Also, though I decide the placement, the order is decided by PS, if you have issue with that aspect, contact admin.)
A Note to Poetry Contestants
Poetry Soup have a rule- sponsors are not allowed to ask for dates, contest details or sponsors name on the bottom of poems. You can put in Poet's Notes, I like that, (hint, hint) Also no names on poems. Use Poet's Notes for ANY notes about your form. Reminder, I cannot see any of this until contest is judged. Do NOT put anything on the bottom of your poem. Nothing.