Submit To The 2024 New Poets Prize

The New Poets Prize is a pamphlet competition for writers between the ages of 17 and 24 (inclusive). This prize will run alongside the renowned Intern

The 2024 New Poets Prize 

The New Poets Prize is a pamphlet competition for writers between the ages of 17 and 24 (inclusive). This prize will run alongside the renowned International Book & Pamphlet Competition, also organised by The Poetry Business, which has now been established for 38 years.

Therefore, we are allocating a number of free entries to this year’s New Poets Prize and the 2023 International Book & Pamphlet Competition. Apply for the fee waiver here.

Entry costs £10. The deadline for entries is midnight on 6th March 2024.

Entrants are invited to submit short collections of twelve pages of poems. Winners and runners-up will be selected to receive a year of support from The Poetry Business, a publisher and writer development agency with a strong reputation for discovering, developing and promoting outstanding new writers.

Two winners will receive editorial support and help in extending their entry to 20 or 24 pages for pamphlet publication by Smith | Doorstop and their work will in appear in a feature in The North magazine.

Two runners-up will receive mentoring, including a place on a residential writing course, and their poems will appear in a feature in East of The North, the Poetry Business’s online poetry publication.

The winners and runners-up will also receive a subscription to The North magazine and will be invited to give a reading organised by The Poetry Business.

Terms and Conditions

Entering the competition

* We accept simultaneous competition submissions. Furthermore, if an entrant to the

New Poets Prize wins another pamphlet prize before the results are announced, The Poetry Business will issue a full refund of the entrant’s entry fee.

* There is a standard fee of £10 for each entry submitted by post. Entry waivers are available for those who cannot afford the entry fee.

* You may submit as many collections as you wish.

* Your real name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript. Choose a pen name and a title

for your collection, and write both on every page.

* Postal entries must be postmarked on or before 6th March. Online entries can be submitted

up to midnight on the 6th March.

* Previous winners of The New Poets Prize are not eligible to re-enter within 5 years of winning.

* Entries sent by post must be accompanied by a completed entry form. (Online entrants

complete the ‘uploads form’ on this site.)

* We may use the email address you provide to contact you with updates about the New Poets Prize between your entry being submitted and the announcement of the winners. After this date you will not receive any further updates from us via e-mail unless you join our mailing list.

Your work

* We ask for short collections of 12 pages of poems. Poems may be of any length. A long poem may take several pages. More than one poem may be printed on a single page.

* The poems should be for adults, in English, and typed on one side only of A4.

* As a guide, we recommend you use 12pt Times New Roman font.

* Poems may have been published elsewhere, but must not have previously appeared as a published collection.

* Copyright remains with the authors but The Poetry Business reserves the right to first UK publication of the collection for 12 months from publication. (This doesn’t prevent publication elsewhere of individual poems.)

* We are unable to return manuscripts or offer feedback.

The prizes

* Two winners will be selected by the judge to have their collection published as a pamphlet. Please note that the published winning collections will be extended versions of the winning manuscripts (approximately 20-24 pages of poems). The Poetry Business reserves the right to refuse publication to any competition winner on reasonable grounds.

* All winners will have the opportunity to read their work at a digital poetry reading organised by The Poetry Business shortly before (or after) publication of their title.

* Each winning poet will have at least one of their poems published in an issue of The North magazine.

The judges

* The judge’s decision is final. If in the judge’s opinion no collection achieves a high enough standard, no prizewinner will be chosen.

* We reserve the right to change the judge without notice.

* Entry in the competition will be deemed to be acceptance of these conditions.

Submit