CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2018 [JULY] ‘OF POETS AND IDEOLOGIES’

Words Rhymes & Rhythm Publishers invites poets from Nigeria, Africa and all over the world to enter their poems for the July 2018 edition of the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC)  themed: ‘OF POETS AND IDEOLOGIES’. 

“Poetry and ideology generally have conflicting interests. Doctrines frown at the freewheeling force of poetry, but poets have been known to overthrow powers. Let your pens show the power of your pens.” — Brigitte Poirson

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” ― Nelson Mandela

Remember that poetry is about inspiration. It is also an art. Use carefully edited lines and nicely original stylistic devices to express the best of your poetic heart for the sake of sharing great poetry. Be inspired!

Participants should note that Judges will consider ORIGINALITY, WORD ECONOMY, adherence to THEME, CREATIVITY in LANGUAGE and STYLE as well as the use of LITERARY DEVICES in the poems.

Prize to be won:

1. The winning poem will be awarded a cash prize of N8000, a certificate of award and a copy of the BPPC 2018 anthology
2. All top 10 poems will be automatically entered for the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP) 2018
3. All top 10 poems will be published in the annual BPPC 2018 anthology
4. All top 10 poets will receive a free copy of the BPPC 2018 anthology

Guidelines:

1. Contestants are invited to submit one poem on the theme
2. Submissions should be sent to SUBMISSIONS@WRR.NG
3. All entries must be the original work of the poet submitting it
4. No ATTACHMENTS. Please submit the poem and other details as the body of the mail
5. The CONTESTANT NAME, CONTEST MONTH, & POEM TITLE must be mentioned clearly, as the subject of the e-mail. For example: ‘Abubakar Nnamdi Adekunle, BPPC July 2018, ‘MY VISION’
6. The maximum length of the poem should be 28 lines (plus the title). Poems exceeding this length, or having excessively long lines, will be disqualified.
7. Authors must provide their full names and Facebook ID [for identification]and a 50-100 word biography in the body of the e-mail
8. Submission deadline is 11:59 PM Friday, July 27, 2018.

Note that:

1. Poems containing profanity, racism or vulgarity will be automatically disqualified
2. The poems will be judged based on their artistic quality and creativity
3. The judges’ decision is final and under no circumstances will they enter into any correspondence with entrants regarding their decisions
4. The copyright of each submission remains with its owner but we retain the right to publish ALL and ANY entry in the annual BPPC anthology
5. Poets resident in any part of the world are eligible
6. No entry fee required
7. Past winners may enter for the competition, but a poet can only one once in a calendar year (Season). If a past winner makes the TOP 10, the poems will ONLY be awarded a certificate and be featured in the anthology.

The last edition of the BPPC (May 2018) was won by Akor Agada Nathaniel.

The overall winner of the BPPC 2018 (February to September 2018) will be awarded the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP) 2018. Kanyinsola Olorunnisola won the prize in 2016 while Ogwiji Blessing emerged the winner in 2017.