About the Poetry Contest
In partnership with Writerhouse, JMRL hosts an annual poetry contest.
- Submit ONE poem to any branch of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) or via JMRL's online form between September 15 and October 16.
- Poem must be the contestant's original, unpublished work. Previous first place winners are not eligible.
- Your poem must be THIRTY (30) lines or less. Poems longer than this will not be considered.
- The theme for this year's contest is THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY. Contestants are asked to incorporate this year's theme in their submission.
- Only include your title and poem on your entry (no names please).
- Entries must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, October 16, 2023, including mailed submissions.
- This contest is open to ages 18 and older. If you will turn 18 by October 16, 2023, you are eligible.
- Entrants must reside in and provide a Central Virginia (Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, Culpeper County, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Louisa County, Madison County, Nelson County, Orange County) address. Employees of JMRL and WriterHouse are not eligible for the competition.
- By entering the contest, contestants give permission to the sponsoring organizations to read, display, or otherwise publicize their contest submissions.
- A panel of judges will review the entries. Finalists will be judged by Professor Debra Nystrom, who will choose the winning entry and runner-up. Judges' decisions are final.
- The winner will receive a $200 Visa gift card, and the runner-up will receive a $100 Visa gift card compliments of the JMRL Friends of the Library and WriterHouse.
- The winners of this contest will be contacted directly and a public announcement will be posted online at blog.jmrl.org. Winners will receive their prizes by mail or in person.
- All entrants are invited to attend the 2023 Poetry Contest Reading on November 9, 2023 at 6:00pm at Central Library.
WriterHouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and this event is partially supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.