Thank you to all who entered!
**The Poetry Contest is now closed.**
Poetry Contest for Kids and Teens
Do you, as a young person, write poetry? Do you have a young poet in your home or classroom?
We're currently accepting submissions of original poetry for the:
Redeemed Reader Poetry Contest for Kids and Teens
It's your chance to see your name (and your poem) in print: Winners will be published in the next Redeemed Reader Quarterly!
Don't wait! The Redeemed Reader Poetry Contest for Children and Teens runs until April 12, 2021. (All entries must be submitted by midnight Eastern time, April 12, 2021.)
Prizes will be awarded as follows:
BEST IN SHOW (1 OVERALL WINNER)
- Publication in the May, 2021, edition of The Redeemed Reader Quarterly ("The Missions Issue")
- A copy of the May, 2021, edition of The Redeemed Reader Quarterly
- A $25 gift certificate to Exodus Books
1ST PLACE (1 WINNER/AGE GROUP):
- Publication in the May, 2021, edition of The Redeemed Reader Quarterly ("The Missions Issue")
- A copy of the May, 2021, edition of The Redeemed Reader Quarterly
- A $10 gift certificate to Exodus Books
Poetry Contest Details
Guidelines:
- Theme: Books! (Books, reading, a favorite book, a favorite reading-related place, etc.)
- Length: Poems must be between 3 and 20 lines long.
- Age Range: Poets must be between the ages of 5-18, as of April 12, 2021. The three age ranges are 5-9, 10-14, 15-18.
- Deadline: All submissions must be received by midnight, Eastern Standard Time, April 12, 2021, along with accompanying entry fee.
- Content: Poetry submissions must include content in accordance with our Christian beliefs (read more about our ratings). Poetry submitted that includes content not suitable for the Redeemed Reader audience will be rejected.
Judging:
Entries will be evaluated by the Redeemed Reader team as well as a select panel of expert judges:
- Caroline Starr Rose, author of Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine, Blue Birds (a verse novel), May B (a verse novel), and more. Read our interview with Caroline.
- Kortney Garrison, poet, homeschooler, and community director for Read Aloud Revival
- Demetrius Tucker, graduate student in literature at University of Louisville and entering the PhD program at Georgia State University in the fall.
Works will be judged on the following:
- Clarity (is it clear or too obscure?)
- Consistency (if you use a rhyme scheme/particular meter, is it consistent?)
- Clean (is it appropriate for Redeemed Reader and our audience?)
- Communication (does it speak to the reader? Is there an emotion, image, thought that stands out?)
How to Submit:
Use the Poetry Submission form on this page to both submit your poem(s) and pay the entry fee.
Fellowship Members get a discount! Find out more about Membership here.
Please Contact Us if you have any questions (use "poetry contest" as your subject)!
The Poetry Contest Form is no longer available.
FAQ
Will I Get My Poem Back?
Nope! We trust you have a handy digital copy saved somewhere other than in our submission form. We will not be returning poetry, nor will we provide specific feedback for poetry.
Why Is There an Entry Fee?
When we pay for something, we take it more seriously. A modest entry fee helps ensure that poetry submissions are more carefully considered. We will also be providing our judges with an honorarium for their time and service.
Does It Have To Be a Christian Poem?
\While Redeemed Reader is a Christian organization that serves Christian parents and educators, we often review books that are not "Christian books." Your poem does not need to be about God, the Bible, or something else overtly Christian; however, it should conform to biblical content standards and be respectful of God, his people, and his world.
Does My Poem Have to Rhyme?
Not at all. You are welcome to submit rhyming poems, poems with a defined meter (iambic, etc.), formal poetry (such as a haiku or sonnet), free verse, blank verse—whatever form you enjoy most.
What Is the Difference Between the Family and Classroom and Single Entry Levels?
Great question! The Family Level is designed for families who have 3 or more children who want to submit poetry. This level caps the payment to $14.99 for all of the children in one family (the same price as only three children, even if four or more are submitting). The Classroom Level is designed for co-op groups or traditional classroom teachers who have a group of students who each want to submit a poem. It is capped at $24.99 for all of the students one one classroom group (the price of 5 admissions, even if there are 20 students in the classroom).
I'm a Teacher. How Many Classroom Levels Do I Need to Purchase?
This depends on your situation. If you are a co-op teacher and have around 25-30 total students, feel free to use just one form for all of the students, even if they are in different age brackets. If you are a classroom teacher and have 15-20 students in EACH of your classes, consider submitting each class on one form. You may certainly contact us with your specific situation if that would be helpful.
Can I Submit a Poem That I Wrote Last Year?
Absolutely! Please enter it into the appropriate age category according to how old you were when you wrote your poem.
Can I Submit More Than One Poem?
Of course! As long as you treat each poem as a separate entry (paying the entry fee, using the form, etc.). We recommend limiting yourself to your absolute best poems, perhaps no more than five. Please do not use the Family or Classroom levels to submit more of your own poems; those are designed to be group rates for groups of people.
Can I Submit a Poem I Wrote For Something Else?
Absolutely—unless it has been previously published in print. You may submit a poem you wrote for a school assignment, a state fair contest, another online poetry contest, a poem for your grandmother, an ode to the library for your library's summer reading contest, ... the sky's the limit. As long as the poem is your own original work and it hasn't been previously published in print, you may submit it.