The 2024 competition is now open to entries!
Our 18th contest will offer the following prizes:
Prize money
1st Prize – £500
2nd Prize – £250
3rd Prize – £100
plus 17 runners-up, specially commended entries and publication in a future anthology.
Judge – Kathy Miles
Closing date: Sunday 3oth June 2024
Postal Entry – £6 per poem
To enter by post download an entry form:
Entry Form (Word document)
Entry Form (pdf version)
(Word document or pdf – either is fine)
Send us the entry form, your poems and payment to the usual address – 9 The Avenue, Pontypridd, CF37 4DF
If you have difficulty downloading the above entry forms we have a basic webpage version you can also use by clicking here.
Online Entry – £6 per poem
To enter online download an entry form:
Entry Form (Word document)
Entry Form (pdf version)
(Word document or pdf – either is fine)
Pay by PayPal, email us your poems and entry form to the usual address – info@welshpoetry.co.uk
Winners of all previous competitions can be found here.
Note: Unlike many competitions, we do not filter (i.e. throw away) entries, our judges read every single poem so everyone has the same chance.
Mailing list
If you would like to be added to our mailing list just click here and we shall let you know when we update the website, announce winners and launch the next competition.
We never give your email address to anyone else.
Will you not be allowing discounted fees for low wages and unemployed this time?
Hi Niall
We can’t afford to unfortunately. We get no financial support at all from Literature Wales or any other cash rich organisation here in Wales and rely purely on entrance fees for funding.
See here – http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/about/
paypal keeps coming up $6 in USD
Do you have to pay by paypal then send the poem accross? How do you know my payment goes with my poem etc? thanks
Hi Helen
No, you can send a cheque / PO if you wish. All details are here – http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/entry/
PayPal entries I can see your email or ID and match them up. If I can’t I email to check 🙂
Thanks Dave
Hi, can I enter the competition with just one poem ?
Yes of course 🙂
Hi there I am from Cape Town South Africa and wanted to know if it would therefore still be possible for me to enter, as well as to know what is the minimum of poems collected to enter.
Hi
Yes of course. We’ve had entries from all over the world, see here – http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/about/
Thanks
Dave
I can only print my poems from OneNote which automatically inserts the date and I can’t erase it. Would this disqualify entry. No name attached.
Not the date, but your name shouldn’t appear on the poem.
I notice that all the winning poems on internet comps are free verse. My poems are all rhyming so i’m wondering if it’s worth entering them?
Hi Margaret
Any form or style is accepted but I suppose free verse is just more popular these days. But if a poem is good enough I don’t think it matters what style it is in. We have had rhyming poems in amongst the 20.
Thanks
Dave
Hi I am 12 and would like to enter the competition, Is this possible?
Do you have different age groups?
Thanks
Eloisa
No age limits or groups. Anyone can enter but all poems judged together. In the past we have had the odd ‘younger’ poet singled out, although no promise of this.
Hello
Can you tell me when your 2020 competition opens?
I have noticed on the Internet that most competition winners/placed write in free verse. Is it worthwhile my entering rhymed poems in your competition? Do they ever win? Or is the form dead and gone?
Could you tell me where I can find examples of poetic forms? EG
sonnets, roundel etc
Sorry.3 questions in 1.
Hi Alan
Hopefully 1st March. If I get hold of the judge before it might be 1st Feb but at the moment looking like March.
Cheers Dave
Can the poem be on any topic?
Yes, see rules – http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/rules/ 🙂
Hi, I would like to submit my poems online. However, I am paying using my husband’s paypal account. Will you be able to tie the submissions and the payment together so you know I’ve paid? Thanks
Yes that’s fine 🙂
Hi,
I paid, attached the proof of payment and sent my poem to info@welshpoetry.co.uk . How would I know if you have received it ? Will you send me a confirmation ?
Thank you in advance!
I usually reply, personally, to all emailed poems, but bear with me as I have 600 to get through 🙂
Can I submit poem by email attachment, Word format, pay by bank transfer?
Yes attachment is fine but PayPal not bank transfer 🙂
Hi i can’t pay by PayPal but by post and I can’t print out poem entry sheet but have e-mailed them is this ok I will pay through for entry of poem 21st century man.
By post .payment
Yes that’s fine 🙂
Dave
Entry form also here btw – http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/entry-form/
Is there a age limit for this comp? I have a welsh peom I like to enter of my daughters or do you require it in English?
No age limit. Yes all entries in English, we are an English-Language competition, hence the word ‘Welsh’ :). We’re international and open to everyone around the world. (A few Welsh words within poem is fine of course).
What is a valid postcode for USA? Our zip code is 92345 – but your form doesn’t like that!
Zip code is fine, or just leave blank 🙂
Re Line Count:
do you count title, blank lines etc? thank you
No, just actual lines of poem 🙂
do you have to be Welsh or living in Wales to enter? What are the rules/FAQ’? please
No, the contest is international and open to all, we are just based in Wales, hence ‘Welsh’. 🙂
Hi I’m having some trouble with PayPal, I can’t access my account. I’ve submitted my poem, could I pay next week when I get PayPal sorted out?
I’ve emailed you, but yes 🙂
Hi, I would like to enter some poems,online do I have to scan the entry form or something, I will pay by paypal.
Doug.
No, just fill in and email, or you can just send details in email now as it’s getting late 🙂
Hey there. Is there any theme for this competition?
No theme, anything goes 🙂
Hi
If I’ve shared a poem in a workshop and had some feedback on it – is it still eligible for entry?
Regards
Phil
If a poem has been read, posted on a blog etc. then it is classed as ‘published’ I’m afraid. Obviously I didn’t know this but someone might say ‘Hey, that’s not fair etc.’
The reply you had said that if the poem had been ‘read, posted on a blog etc’ then it would count as published. But you asked about a workshop. I’ve never heard of a poem not qualifying in a competition because it had been workshopped in a small private group! Is that really the case here? How would anyone know, if it’s private. How many people will check? Most serious poets allow their poems to be read and commented on by a few others, surely? That’s not publication!
I’m easy to be honest, it’s just in case someone complains that we have rules.
Hi Dave
What’s the last date for entries? I must have missed it. Thanks
The 2017 competition will open to entries on St Davids Day, 2017.
When are you accepting entries for 2017?
What is the deadline?
Thank you.
Details in New Year 2017 🙂
Entry forms being posted out to libraries and writing groups this week and next.
Official launch 1st March 2017.
Closing date – 18th June 2017.
Hi Dave. Do you want each poem as a separate attachment, or if there are a few do you want them in one document. Cheers Jim
Hi James
No, one file is fine, either way is OK though 🙂
Dave
Is it possible to wire money to your bank account from Halifax bank? Instead of sending a cheque as i don’t use paypal
Yes, I’ll email you 🙂
Hi, I’m a poet from Kenya and this is the first time I am looking to join a competition like this. How do we know its accountability on whether or not someone has succeeded in attaining the top positions or not?
Hi Brian
Just ask nearly 200 winners I guess? I used to live in Kenya, and I know how corrupt everything is there but this contest is run by me, here in Wales, for great poets who want recognition.
Cheers Dave
I am hoping I’ve sent in two poems and paid via paypal. I’m not sure if they’ve gone through. I’ve never used paypal before.
Yes, all fine 🙂
Hi, if I post my entry can the payment of £5 be in cash or does it have to be a cheque?
thanks
Hi
You can send cash if you wish but I wouldn’t advise it as it may go missing in post.
Cheers
Dave
I’m Italian and living in Italy, though I write poetry in English. Can I participate regardless of not living in Wales?
Yes of course! We are international and have entries from all over the world!
See some of the countries here – http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/about/
I would like to be on your mailing list and submit some poetry
Great stuff, I’ve added you 🙂
It’s great to find someone so on the ball.
WAW! I love this.. Please I’d like to ask cause I’m kinda new to this and I’m African (Nigerian). Is it possible for me to join the next contest too? if yes, how will I know when it’s on again? Matt
Call back to the site or join our mailing list 🙂
Hi I entered online and paid by paypal, do I need to email proof of my payment along with my entry and the entry form?
You can do, although we just match your name and email anyway.
Hi
Is this an international competition?
Yes!
See here: http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/about/
Just wondering around what time the judges will have made their decision?
It normally takes our judges about 4 to 6 weeks to judge, depending on the number of entries. We’ll post a winners date after we get all entries in. End-June, Start-July would be a good guess though 🙂
Hi
This is my 1st time looking into entering and I was wondering if the poems entered have to follow a set topic/theme?
No, any style, theme, topic, subject etc. Just 50 lines or less.
Rules are here – http://www.welshpoetry.co.uk/rules/
Many apologies but I neglected to fix my entry form and poem together, as the rules state, for a postal entry. All my items (cheque, form and poem) are clear though, and in order. I hope I won’t be disqualified!
Yours,
Tanya
Yes of course, no problem, we’re not that fussy! 🙂 As long as we get poem, payment and contact details it’s fine!
Why does it cost more to enter on line (£5) than by post (£4)
It’s because PayPal charge a commission, plus I need to print out entries myself (ink) and it therefore takes longer.
Can you enter a welsh language poem into your competition ?
Hi Jason
No, it’s an English language competition, although the odd line or word is fine of course.
Cheers Dave