Poetry contests or competitions can be an excellent way of setting a target for yourself as a writer and finally getting a chance to polish up your half-written poems to completion. In addition, let's not forget you could get cash rewards when you compete and win in these contests. If you are convinced that a poetry contest is your next deal, this article may be what you need to achieve your goal.
There is a crack in everything; that's how the light gets in.
Leonard Cohen
Top Poetry Competitions in Canada
When submitting to a poetry contest, the best thing to do is to submit to every contest you can. Putting your stake in a single competition is not recommended; waiting for the winners to be announced is torture, knowing that maybe you won’t win this one time. The reality is that even if we don't win, just participating is going to be a very good experience for practicing and getting to know your weaknesses since everything is a learning experience.
However, we recommend you not pin your hope on just one contest. So, in that spirit, here is a list of poetry competitions in Canada with various deadlines so you will know when to apply and take the necessary time to prepare.
1. Montreal International Poetry Prize
McGill University in Montreal runs the $20,000 prize, and you can submit your entry anywhere in the world. The contest deadline is 1 May in Montreal time. An entry fee of $20-25 is required depending on the submission deadline, and entries may be of any length not exceeding 40 lines. You have to be of legal age to participate.
2. CBC Poetry Prize
The winner gets $6,000 and a 10-day Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity residency. The contest also opens in April, and the shortlisted finalists receive $1,000 and publish their poems in the CBC books. Each entry requires a $25 submission fee, and the poem must have a maximum of 600 words. The contest welcomes all Canadian residents.
3. Arc Poetry Poem of the Year
The final deadline is February 1; the winner receives $5,000. Plus, twelve shortlisted poems will receive a paid publication in Arc and online. Each entry requires a submission fee starting from $40, depending on the number of poems submitted. Each poem must not exceed 100 lines, and everybody is welcome to participate. You can submit your entry from anywhere.
4. Vallum Awards
The winner receives a $300 Chapbook Award (you must submit a 20 - 30-page chapbook) and a $750 Poetry Award (each poem must have a maximum length of 40 lines). The last finalist will receive $250 and publication. The final deadline is April 30, and each entry requires a submission fee starting from $25 for Canadian participants and $30 for international participants.
5. The Fiddlehead Annual contest
The winner will receive a $2,000 award. The deadline is December 3 and one poetry entry is up to 3 poems with no more than 100 lines per poem, and each of them must be original and unpublished. Each entry submission fee depends on the country of residence of the participants, starting from $35 for Canadian participants and $50 for international participants.
6. RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers
This contest usually alternates between short fiction and poetry, but this year, it is a poetry contest, and the winner receives $10,000. Also, there is a $2,500 awards for the two other finalists. The finalists will be announced in April. Canadian citizens and permanent residents are welcome to participate.
7. League of Canadian Poets - Lesley Strutt Poetry contest
This contest will be open till May or April, depending on the contest. The winner will get a $500 prize and free publishing. Titles must be at least 48 pages in length. Each entry submission includes three copies of each title submitted per award and a $25 fee. All Canadian, Indigenous, Inuit, and Métis poets are welcome to participate.
8. PRISM international recurring contests
These involve various contests, including Creative Non-Fiction and the Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize. The winner will get a $1,500 prize, and all Canadian and international participants are welcome to submit their entries. Depending on the contest, there is an entry fee of $35 for Canadian and $45 for international participants. Only one piece per entry is allowed, and each title must have 6,000 words.
Get inspired by some of the best online poetry experiences in Canada!
What Should You Consider When Applying to a Poetry Contest?
It is usual for you to be eager and excited about getting into a poetry contest in Canada. Still, it is more important to be fully prepared and armed with all the necessary information before taking that big step. So, here is a list of things you should know before any contest:
What Are the Benefits of Participating in a Poetry Contest?
If your poem was chosen as the best, it could go a long way to boost your confidence and give you the drive to do more for yourself. Even it could become one of the most famous poems in history! Furthermore, many of the best poetry contests offer fantastic training opportunities and support for participants, which can help you explore and develop your poetry skills and become one of the best poets in Canada.
Submitting to one or more contests in this guide may guarantee the following.
- If you win any poetry contest, you will get instant visibility and credibility as a poet.
- You can get scholarships and mentorship opportunities, among many others.
- There is money to be won.
- Winning a competition is a terrific confidence boost.
- A contest is the fastest way to get published.
Tips to Increase Your Odds in a Poetry Contest
Participating in a poetry contest is exciting but not easy. Many people are as good as you or even better, so it is wise to learn some tips to increase your odds in a contest. See popular poetry presentation styles you should know.
Consider What You Are Up Against ✍️
When you submit to a poetry contest, you are directly up against other entrants, which differs from submitting to a journal or magazine. So this means you can't just submit a great poem; it must be flawless and excellent.
Your shorter poem may not have the same impact as someone else’s lengthy one, and your hilarious punchlines may likely not compete favorably against someone else's detailed and thoughtful view on grief. So ask yourself, can the poem you are putting together for a contest compete with others? Your answer will determine if you should save that poem for another purpose or continue with it.
Keep it Fresh 🍃
If you read 500 poems from different poets, you will find lots and lots of repeats, and the most familiar poems will be explosions of sadness, so it gets tiring reading poems with the same emotions and meaning even though they are from different people.
So, what do you do to make a difference? It is simple: do something new and fresh, and be sure it isn't one of those everyday poems. Make it interesting, powerful, and original; most importantly, it should blend well with the audience.
Follow the Rules ✅
This is relatively straightforward but should be taken very seriously. No matter how exceptional your poem is, you are out of the contest if it breaks the rules. So, ensure you and your poems stick to the rules throughout the contest.
Be Accurate ✒️
Take your time to check your work over and over again, and make the right choice of words. If your poem has words in another language, events in the past, locations, etc., you need to confirm those facts and ensure they are accurate.
In addition, do not ignore even the tiniest detail because you think no one will notice; trust me, someone will because it is a contest. Furthermore, be accurate in rhyme and form, and don’t send a rhythmed or prose poem into a free verse contest. Above all, make sure your poem is accurate in every way possible.
Write From the Heart ❤️
Poetry is a unique way of letting someone read your emotions through well-crafted and organized words to pass a message. So be honest and let it all out. It takes an incredible amount of bravery, but it is worth it. Do not justify or let your intellect come between your emotions and your audience; feel and be accurate, and that's what makes your poem unique and original; it's all you.
Learning to Write Poetry with Superprof
Despite the mouth-watering benefits and advantages of partaking in a poetry contest in Canada, not everyone is prepared to be in a contest; sometimes, you might even meet the minimum requirements. Before participating, ask yourself, are you prepared for a contest?
What experience do you have writing poetry, and how many people who have read your poems in the past were able to relate to them? If you are a beginner or a newbie poet, you should take time to work on your poetry and writing skills before thinking of contests, or else you may be disappointed by your results. But worry not! Superprof private tutoring has you back!
Learning to write poetry should come first before contesting in any competition, and if you don’t know how to go about that, it is best to trust a private professional to guide you and help you become a great poet in a short time. Go to Superprof! The online tutoring platform to find such professionals in Canada. Prepare for Canada's best short story contest and learn more about poetry clubs and writers near you.
Did you like this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
