Poetry Contest for Teens

Announcing our 2023 Poetry Contest for Teens, presented in partnership with Wellington County Library! In celebration of the beautiful natural setting of our festival, the theme of our contest this year is Nature.

Deadline: June 30, 2023

This contest is now closed. Winners will be contacted in mid-August.

Congratulations to our 2023 winners! Read their winning entries here.

Categories

Junior High (Grades 9-10)
Senior High (Grades 11-12)

Prizes

Winners in each category will be notified in August and invited to attend an awards presentation at the festival on Sunday September 10, 2023.

Winners will receive a $50 gift certificate to a bookstore of their choice, as well as a family pass to the festival (maximum two adults). Runners-up will receive free admission to the festival for themselves and one adult.

Winners and runners-up will have their poems published on the EMWF website (optional).

Rules & Requirements

  • One entry per person
  • Maximum length is one page, double-spaced
  • This contest is open to residents of Ontario only

Judging Criteria

Our judges will be looking for the following:

  • Creativity: Are you approaching the contest’s theme in an original way?
  • Clarity: Does your poem convey the experience or emotion you are trying to capture?
  • Relation to the theme : How does your poem reflect the theme of the contest?
  • Voice and Vision: Are you sharing a unique perspective?
  • Language and Style: Read your poem aloud. Does it flow?
  • Spelling and Grammar: Have you reviewed for errors?
  • Rules & Requirements: Have you followed the contest’s rules and requirements?

Questions?

Contact [email protected].

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