MO Poetry Writing Contest

MISSOURI STATE POETRY SOCIETY CONTEST:

YOUTH POETRY CATEGORY

The Missouri State Poetry Society is dedicated to the promotion of poetry writing by the youth of Missouri and, as such, sponsors a youth category to the annual MSPS Winter Poetry Writing Contest. Students may submit their work individually or teachers may submit their students' work.

Division

Middle School 6th-8th grades

               

Prizes for each division:

   

1st Place

:  $25 + certificate

   

2nd Place

: $15 + certificate

   

3rd Place

:  $10 + certificate

    7 Honorable Mentions: certificate

All winning and honorable mention poems will be automatically submitted to compete as Missouri's entry to the national level Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest, sponsored by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies - see www.nfsps.com for more information.

Deadline: Postmarked by February 15.

CONTEST RULES: Please follow carefully

1. Open to Missouri students only, currently in grades 6-12.

2. Students may individually submit a poem, or poems may be submitted by teachers.

3. One poem per student.

4. Any kind of poetry accepted except “found poetry.”

5. Poem MUST HAVE A TITLE.

6. 50 line maximum (longer poems will be disqualified, no exceptions)

7. Poems must be typed. Please use a plain font such as Times New Roman, size 12.

8. Do NOT include illustrations.

9. Statement of Originality (below) MUST be signed by student (not teacher or parent) and stapled to the poem.

Submissions PLEASE FOLLOW CAREFULLY

1. Send only one copy of your poem.

1. TYPE in top right hand corner: student’s name, address, and grade.

2. TYPE in top left hand corner: English teacher’s name and email address, school name and school address.

3. Copy, sign (student's signature) and staple the following Statement of Originality to poem. TEACHERS: DO NOT SEND ONE BLANKET STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY FOR ALL POEMS SUBMITTED. EACH POEM MUST HAVE ITS OWN AND MUST BE SIGNED BY THE STUDENT.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY

Student  Print Name ________________________________________

Poem Title ________________________________________________

I certify that this poem is my original work, and has not been copied in whole or part from any author’s poems, including poems posted on the internet.

SIGNED: _______________________________________

DATED:____________

Submit Entries To:  

               Judy Young                                     

               MSPS Youth Director                            

               6155 E. Farm Road 132                 

               Springfield, MO  65802

Deadline: Postmarked by February 15.

·         No email submissions are accepted.  

·         Winner's list will be emailed to teachers by March 15.

·         Prizes will be mailed to students via their school by April 15.

·         Top ten poems in each division will automatically be entered at National level. National level winners notified by May 20.

Thank you for supporting poetry writing with our Missouri youth, and for supporting the MSPS contest. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Judy Young

Missouri State Poetry Society

Youth Works Director

judyyoungbooks@gmail.com

www.judyyoungpoetry.com