Foyle Young Poets Prize

You have until midnight on the 31st July 2014 to hone your best poems to be in with the chance of be selected as one of the top 15 or 85 commended poets. With a staggering 7,478 young people entering last year, the competition is certainly fierce but for many it is considered 'the one to beat'. The top 15 winners are invited on a week-long writing residential course at the Hurst Arvon Centre, Shropshire, or receive one-to-one mentoring with a professional poet (age dependent), and have their poem printed in the Foyle Winners anthology, which is sent out to over 20,000 people across the UK. So what are you waiting for? Start writing, and take the chance, it could be a career-defining decision!

To inspire you further why not watch the new short Foyle film or read the Diary of a Foyler page . Whether you're a teacher or a young person, why not follow one of their special Foyle lesson plans based on previous winning poems to get the words flowing.Foyle is about what you want to write. So you can enter poems written in class, or poems you've written at home, from exercises or from your own imaginings. The competition is free to enter and poems can be of any length and on any theme. Individuals may enter more than one poem, however we strongly advise that you concentrate on drafting and redrafting your poems and send only a selection (we suggest no more than 4-6 absolute maximum) of your very best. Remember, quality is more important than quantity. Please do take a moment to read the rules in full before proceeding; you have untill 31st July 2014 to give it your best shot!
So, you're a young person and want to submit? You can enter online or download a postal entry form. You can also read an online e-anthology of 'Rattle the hatches' - the 2013 winners anthology, to get you inspired. Do note, all UK past entrants who are still eligible to enter Foyle 2013 will automatically be posted a free copy: these should arrive by the 25th March 2014 so if that's you, keep an eye out for an exciting little parcel landing on your doormat!

If you are a teacher and want to enter your pupils' poems - then just download our class set entry formand request a full class set of anthologies, posters and special Foyle lesson plans to inspire your pupils. Any schools whose pupils write in englsh can enter, from anywhere in the world (last year a staggering 75 coutries entered) - see full rules for clarification!