Online Competitions to Win

Buxton’s third annual poetry competition is launched on Thursday October 8, National Poetry day. This year’s theme is a Breath of Fresh Air.

Poets of all ages are welcome to enter there are three categories:
* Open Poetry for poets 19 and over,
* Young People’s for budding poets between 12 and 18,
* Children’s Poetry for the 11 and unders

The competition run by the Buxton Festival and the University of Derby has inspired over 3,000 poems since it began in 2007. Entries have come from all over the world including America, New Zealand and Europe.

The county’s schoolchildren are particularly encouraged to build on their creative writing skills, drawing inspiration from their beautiful surroundings.

Buxton Poetry Competition is officially launched on National Poetry Day
* The Buxton Poetry Competition opens on National Poetry Day – 8 October 2009
* The closing date for entries is 1 April 2010
* Poems must not exceed 40 lines and must be typed on one side of A4 white paper with no illustrations
* Poems are judged anonymously and the name of the poet must not appear on the typed poem
* All poems must be accompanied by a completed entry form
* Poems must be the original work of the author and previously unpublished
* Maximum three poems per entrant
* Each poem should have a title
* Receipt of entries can be confirmed if a SAE is included with the entry form
* The 15 finalists will be informed after 1 June
* Copyright remains with the poet however finalists’ poems may be used by competition organisers free of charge in promotional material or display for up to two years
* Submitted poems may be printed in the media or featured on local radio
* The judges decision is final