AFTER a successful first year in 2003, when more than three hundred entries were received worldwide, The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington is again inviting entries for its annual poetry competition, now renamed ?The Plough Prize?.
A top prize of £100 goes to the winning poems in each of two categories, with second and third prizes of £50 and £25 respectively, plus a special prize for the best local poet.
Last year?s local prize winner Martin Parker returns as judge of the local category.
Short poems ? up to ten lines ? will be judged by Scots poet Helena Nelson, and Alison Brackenbury will judge the open category ?up to forty lines.
Organiser Sarah Willans, who heads The Plough?s creative writing group, is delighted at the competition?s rapid success.
?We notify all entrants whose poems make it to the long or short lists, and we also offer critiques on their work for a small extra fee,? she said.
?I think this additional feedback, which most poetry competitions don?t offer, is appreciated by entrants. Even if they don?t win a prize, they feel that they?ve gained something from entering.?
Last year?s competition culminated in a reading of winning and short listed poems in January of this year, where successful entrants were awarded their prizes by performance poet John Hegley. A similar event is planned for January 2005.
The contest?s closing date is November 30, and full details and conditions of entry are available by post from The Plough.
Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: The Plough Arts Centre, 9-11 Fore Street, Torrington, Devon EX38 8HQ. Alternatively, email [email protected]">[email protected] for details.