Adjudicated by Luke Wright
How To Enter
-
Submit £5 entry fee here (per poem or piece of fiction)
- Email your entry to [email protected] – note: don’t include your name on the poem/attachment itself.
- Include in your email:
– Your name
– Your contact phone number
– Your entry fee payment confirmation number that you receive by email when you submit your payment
Closing date: Monday 7th September 2026
Once the closing date is reached, all entries will be presented anonymously to a panel from Helmsley Literary Festival/Helmsley Arts Centre. The top 10 chosen will then be judged for 1st & 2nd place by Luke Wright.
Judges' decisions are final. Copyright remains with the authors. The minimum age for entering the poetry competition is 16 years. Must be a UK (including Channel Islands) resident.
All poems will be on display at HAC, during the festival.
Winners will be announced and prizes presented at Poet’s Corner Open Mic
Prizes:
1st prize - £20 National Book Token from Helmsley Bookshop
& a copy of Luke Wright’s Book - Later Life Letter: A Story of Family, Adoption and Love.
2nd prize - £10 National Book Token from Helmsley Bookshop
Presented by Helmsley Literary Festival
