Poetry competition guidelines and conditions of entry
Below are the rules and guidelines of the competition
Poem
- We have chosen the phrase “TEN” as a starting point for this year’s poem. The poem can be written in any form, but must not exceed 10 lines.
- Poets are invited to freely interpret this theme.
- This competition is free and open to all users of the Kāpiti Coast District Libraries.
- Employees of Kāpiti Coast District Libraries are not eligible to enter.
- Each poem should be authored by a single person.
- Each poem must be an original work, unpublished and not already accepted for publication.
- Copyright of poem submitted will remain with the author, but Kāpiti Coast District Libraries reserve the right to publish any entry in an e-book, print or on the library website and Facebook page.
- Poems published on the library website and/or Facebook page may be published with the author’s name. The winners of the competition agree to have their name published with their poem on the library website and/or Facebook and in the eBook and print book.
- Poems will be published on the website and/or Facebook page at the library’s discretion. Not all poems entered may be published on the library website or Facebook page.
- The library may add pictures and formatting to the poems submitted before publishing on the library’s website or Facebook page.
- Each person can submit one poem in the competition.
- The poem should not exceed 10 lines and a title is optional.
Submission
- The competition opens on 16 May 2022 and closes at 5pm on 19 June 2022.
- Entries are submitted online through the Kāpiti Coast District Libraries website. Handwritten entries will not be accepted.
- Check your poem carefully before submitting it, while we may correct minor spelling mistakes, we cannot engage in correspondence over errors in your submitted poem.
- All submitters will receive confirmation of receipt of their entry by email. The parent/guardian of children who enter will receive an email notification that their child has entered the competition.
- Once entered, poems cannot be withdrawn from the competition.
- Alterations cannot be made to poems once entered.
- The poem must not contain offensive or derogatory language.
Judging
- A judge or judges will determine the winners based on theme, creativity, clarity, style, form and meaning.
- All entries will be judged anonymously. The entrant’s name must not appear on the poem itself.
- The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in the following categories:
Children aged 6-12
Youth aged 13-17
Adults aged 18 +
Entries into the competition can be in English or Te Reo Māori.
- The submission of your poem will be taken as indicating acceptance of the above conditions.
- We will announce the winners after entries have been judged. The winning poets will be contacted.
Open Mic Night
- You are invited to read your poem before an appreciative audience at the planned Open Mic Night on 26 August 5.30 – 6.30pm at Paraparaumu Library! (please note we cannot confirm this event will go ahead due the situation with the Covid19 pandemic).