A few competitions

These are a few of the poetry contests that have caught my eye recently. I am only including contests that have online entry and have a closing date of the next month or two.

1) Tapestry of Bronze twice yearly contest for a 30 line poem on a particular Greek or Roman deity. This time around its Apollo. Don't know anything about him? I knew nothing about Athena last time around, but I looked her up, entered and accidentally won. And I'm by no means a skilful poet. Free contest. Closing date April 30th

2) Barton College Poetry Contest Another freebie. Don't generally have much luck in America, except Tapestry of Bronze above. This looks quite respectable and serious. Closing date April 30th.

3) The Shine Journal Poetry Competition Yet another free competition. Deadline April 30th.

4) Thynks First Poetry Competition - English based competition. Small prizes. At least they've discovered how easy it is to set up Paypal. Deadline April 30th

5) Earlyworks Press Based in Sussex. Small prizes. Inclusion in anthology. Deadline April 30th

6) Northamptonshire Literary Group - Categories - free verse, rhyming verse and humorous poetry. This might be more my style. Deadline May 14th

7) Poetry on the Lake - looks absolutely fantastic and I'd love to go but the entry fee is too steep for me. Closing date 15th May

8) Welsh Poetry Competition - Deadline May 29th. I've entered this the last couple of years with no success but I quite like the look of it and they seem nice people, so we'll persevere.

9) Lupus International Poetry Competition - Deadline 31st May

10) New Zealand Poetry Society annual competition - I think the deal is, pay by Paypal and then send poems snail mail. Well, you have until 31st May, so why not? Love the line in the rules that says "Due to the insatiable greed of banks, we are no longer able to accept personal cheques in any currency other than NZ$."

11) And, together with Strokestown and Baffle, one of my favourite competitions - The Swift Satire competition, run by the Boyne Writers. I think I enjoy themed competitons more than open ones. This one is always great fun to write and I actually finished second one year, so I have a soft spot for it. Only slightly sullied by the fact that you're competing with people who commit the act of prose. Closing date 7th June