Contesting With Caroline
It's that time of year again when deadlines are fast approaching and I hope you all have been sending entries to state and national contests.
Having been a contest chairman as well as having the honor of being a judge for several contests, and conferring with other contest chairman and judges, let me review for you some suggestions for preparing and entering your poems to become award winners.
It is important to have your poems make a good impression on the judges, but don't forget to show some consideration for contest chairmen, too. Your entries get to the judges through the chairman, and there are hundreds of entries coming in.
It would help you– as well as the contest chairman– if you read all rules before you send entries. This would eliminate your poem from being disqualified because the rules stated 30 lines and your poem is 40, or it stated 30 lines "including spaces between stanzas" and your poem is 30 lines "plus spaces between stanzas. Don't decide to put two long lines together to meet line requirement– it usually shows and spoils the poem.
Today, many of the sponsors who publish winning poems also have one more rule that often goes unobserved– the maximum number of characters to a line. to adhere to this rule you must count spaces between words as well as the letters in the words and punctuation.
Of course I won't insult you by reminding you that your poem must be neat and clean– no coffee stains or wrinkles. It must look attractive on the page, whether it be sonnet or free verse, space it correctly and give it style; you want to catch the judges eye. You wouldn't send out a poem that didn't look sharp on the page!
I have found quatrains in a sestina category and free verse in a villanelle category. If you don't know a particular form, either look it up in one of the excellent pattern books available or don't enter the category.
Don't send your poems with a note "I'm not sure in which category these belong so you can put them into the right category." It will probably disqualify your entries. You must choose the category.
If rules say the poem must be typed– they must be typed. Chairmen sometimes get notes that say "I don't own a typewriter but I printed carefully." Maybe you did but the poem will be disqualified.
If rules say the poem must not be entered in another contest until after the judge's decision is made, don't think that by changing the title (and maybe a couple of words) it can go into another contest and increase your chances of a win. It's cheating! You may get away with it– but why would you want to? – You may also get caught as a poet was one year when the contest chair for one contest was judge of another contest. I'm sure the poet was embarrassed and it resulted in the poem being disqualified in both contests. Entering contests is competitive but it should be fun and it isn't fun when you've become so intense that the most important thing is a "win" even if it means stacking the decks in your favor.
If your poem has been published in any way--even if it was your own limited edition chapbook or a church or club newsletter-- it is disqualified if the rules say "no previously published poem." Write a new poem. Remember, you are a poet!
If you want a flyer or a winners list you are requested to send a self-addressed and stamped envelope (SASE), but send the right size! Little envelopes are fine for notes to friends but contest chairmen want to "cuss" when faced with a little "cutie" that wastes time as they struggle to fold 8 ½X 11¾ into it . . . it's like folding origami. Use a #10 envelope.
If you are sending only two entries it is fine to send them in a #10 envelope but if you are sending many poems use a larger envelope. You are a good poet and you are proud of your poems. Don't mistreat them by forcing them into a small envelope. They show best when they aren't wrinkled.
Don't staple two copies of a poem together. The contest chairman must pull out the staples; don't paper clip copies together--usually resulting in many paper clips that add to the weight (postage) of your envelope. Stack your first copies in category order and beneath them stack your second copies (with your name and address on them) in the same order. That makes it easy for you and easy for the chairman, too.
Don't forget to put your name and address on the second copy and in the place the rules state to put it. Don't put your name on both copies. Don't white out your name--it could mean a disqualification.
Some contests also request an index card or a cover sheet with list of poems-- read the rules
If there is more than one category in the contest put the category number as well as the category name on both copies. If rules say all entries must be titled except haiku if your entry isn't titled it isn't going to be a winner.
Your poems deserve a title. Think about your title (that's where I have some trouble). An intriguing title will stay in the memory of a judge who will look at your work more thoughtfully.
Don't send cash! If you don't have a checking account send a money order. You are taking a chance on the cash not reaching the contest. Check the rules for entry fees--be sure you send the right amount for the number of entries in your package. Rules usually tell you to whom the check should be made--it might say contest chairman or name of organization. It is important!
Deadline dates are firm.Note if rules say "in hand" or "postmark" if you don't want to be disqualified.
Finally, before you put those poems in the envelope, remember you want to make a good impression on the judge. Copies clean? Typos corrected? Form correct?
Read poems out loud, do you stumble over a word? Work and polish and then send your BEST. Good luck!
