Poetry Space runs competitions that lead to publication. Here is what we offer – and what is coming up.
Poetry Space Prize
Our flagship competition is a poetry prize designed to encourage new work and new and diverse voices. Originally for pamphlets only there will now be a category for poets ready to publish a full collection.
Going forward Category A will be for poets seeking to publish their first pamphlet collection, and Category B for poets with a track record of pamphlet publication and/or who are widely published in poetry journals who are ready to work on a full collection.
Entrants submit ten poems (up to 40 lines each) ideally with a common thread running through them that will be the starting point of a new pamphlet or full collection. The entry fee will be £10. This helps us to cover the costs.
Entries are read anonymously by our editor, who draws up a shortlist, and a guest judge selects the winners. Winners in each category will receive £100 prize. They will then be invited to submit a full pamphlet or collection manuscript to Poetry Space and will work with us to bring this to fruition in their own time.
Currently closed. Having run for two successful years, as a pamphlet only prize we are going biennial – the next Poetry Space Prize is expected to open in early April 2027. To be notified when entries open, get in touch. See above for details.
Member-only competition
We are introducing a competition open exclusively to Friends of Poetry Space. Friends membership (£25 a year) already includes a free entry to the Poetry Space Prize, along with an opening bundle of books, two further titles a year, a bookmark and a pen.
Coming soon. Full details of our next member-only competition will be announced here. To become a Friend of Poetry Space, or to register your interest, please get in touch.