ACPL 40th Annual Poetry Contest

40th Annual Poetry contest for students in grades K-12 and adults.

Whether you’ve written poetry before or this is your first time creating something unique with words, please join us for the 40th Annual Allen County Public Library Poetry Contest.

WHO CAN ENTER:

• Contest is open to all children in kindergarten through grade five, and all teens in grades six through twelve. This year the contest will also be open to adults!
• Contestants must be residents of or attend school in Allen County, Indiana. 

SUBMISSION GUIDLINES:

• Only one poem no more than one page in length per person may be submitted.
• Poem submissions will be accepted only from October 10 through November 7, 2022.
• Poems must be original work and not previously published.
• Any style of poetry is welcome and there is no specific theme.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR POEM:

• Paper submissions:
  • Paper submissions should be on 8.5” x 11” paper and can be dropped off at any library location. All paper entries must have the poet’s name, address, phone number, email (if available), and school and grade (if applicable) on the back of the poem.
• Electronic submissions:
  • Electronic submissions can be made to programs@acpl.info by attaching the poem in a Word document and writing the poet’s name, address, phone number, email (if available), and school and grade (if applicable) into the body of the email.

 HOW WINNING POEMS ARE CHOSEN:

• All entries will be judged by a panel of professional writers, educators and creatives.
• Judging criteria includes understanding the concept of a poem, creativity, legibility, and originality.
• Winners of student submissions will be chosen for each grade.
• Winners will be published in a 40th Annual Poetry Contest Book. 
   

All Poetry Contest entries become the property of the Allen County Public Library. For further information, call the Library at (260) 421-1220.