Mindful Poetry's Annual Contest 2012

April is the month for volunteers, jazz players, gardeners, and poets. All are celebrated in April. Here at Mindful Poetry, we throw a wild contest that lasts the entire month in celebration of National Poetry Month. It's a challenge to write a new poem every week day and IN a specific form. But it is do-able and has been accomplished in the past by dozens of poets. You can do this, too! We encourage one another with our comments and recommendations.

There are many poetry contests this month. What's special about Mindful Poetry's contest is its supportive environment and instant affirmations. I'll pick a Poem-of-the-Day every day of the contest as well as several other recognitions. No waiting for months or even weeks to find out how you or your favorite poem fared.

Mindful Poetry exists to promote poetry for all people. It provides a space for learners and teachers. Everyone is a learner and we can all teach one another through our efforts in writing as well as specific comments on another's poem. Embrace both roles with energy

Contest Guidelines

1. Only one poem for the contest per day will be accepted.
2. Once you submit a poem, you may not edit it later in the day for content. 
3. The poem must use the prompts--all of them--and be written according to the parameters provided in the daily challenge. 
4. The poem must be your original work although it can be something you wrote previously. 
5. It is your responsibility to tag your submitted poem according to instructions.  The tag is:  MP2012. I search for the submitted contest poems each night by tag. 
6. Late entries not accepted for competition.
7. If you are a Gather member, you must also be a member of Mindful Poetry, fortunately membership is free. There will be some submissions via Facebook from poets who are not on Gather.

Contest dates: April  2 - 6
                                 9 - 13
                                16 - 20
                                23 - 27
                                30

 

Contest Categories

1. Best poem written each day (so there will be 21 winning poems here). 
2. Best poem for the week, chosen from any submission for that week.
3. Most poems written and submitted, not to exceed 21 poems. This category could have multiple winners.
4. Honored as Mindful Poetry Laureate based on at least four note-worthy poems submitted during the month for the contest. I'll create an icon for you to post on your submitted poems. It's possible to win this even if you don't win Poem-of-the-Day or Poem-of-the-Week. 

Please invite your friends to view this post and participate. 

I also request that if you submit a poem, you comment on the other poems posted on that same day.  Let's encourage one another.  You'll be able to find the other submissions for the day by typing this into your browser and sorting by date: http://www.mindfulpoetry.gather.com/mp2012

For a list of all the forms Mindful Poetry has featured since its beginning in September, 2008, visit this link.

Please share this post with your other networks. I'm connected to many of you on facebook and it sure would be nice to see Facebook awash with Mindful Poetry reposts and its special pink contest icon.