First off, I'd like to preface this contest a bit.
I ran another contest, two years ago. You can look it up in my profile if you'd like, but given how I behaved in judging it, I myself prefer only to look at it when I need a reminder of what not to do. I prided myself on being honest in my criticisms of other poems/poets, but in the contest, I took that entirely too far until I was just being critical for the sake of being critical. A lot of people were upset. They had a right to be.
I'd like to think, however, that I've matured, a little. I'm still young enough, I think, that two years can bring a lot of change. So I figured I'd try this again, because just like last time, I'm in a fairly deep writer's block. I've never allowed myself to 'force' poems because they come out sounding false, and so I just try to surround myself with thought-provoking things and hopefully I end up being able to write. But that's not working now, so I turn to you guys.
Also like last time,
I really hate prompts.
I guess it's because I don't like writing to them,
but I've never liked reading prompted poetry,
and it restricts the number of people who feel comfortable
entering.
So there's no prompt.
Just enter whatever you think is your absolute best poem. I see no reason not to allow prewrites - your best stuff might be two years old, for all I know. My best poem is almost a year back.
In spite of wanting everyone to enter (and so
maximizing the number of poems I get to read),
I also want to comment on everyone's, so I'm
capping this at 61 entries. Hopefully I get
at least that many.
The prizes are:
1st place - 450 pts.
2nd place - 250 pts.
3rd place - 150 pts.
JUNE 8TH - I changed the prize scheme since I earned more points. HMs now to the next 3 entries.
Here are the rules. I tried to keep it to a minimum.
1) No sticky caps (tHiS) or all-caps.
2) Try to edit/proofread as much as possible. If you mean to use atypical grammar/syntax/etc., that's fine, but if it's just a case of a couple words being misspelled or something, try to fix it. It's not a death knell if there's a few typos, though.
3) Swearing/erotica is fine, although I'd ask that you not swear/write erotica gratuitously or simply because it's allowed.
That's basically it. Good luck to everyone who's never read my name as a contest judge before. To everyone who has, I hope you might look past it, and give it a go anyway. I'd really appreciate it.
I ran another contest, two years ago. You can look it up in my profile if you'd like, but given how I behaved in judging it, I myself prefer only to look at it when I need a reminder of what not to do. I prided myself on being honest in my criticisms of other poems/poets, but in the contest, I took that entirely too far until I was just being critical for the sake of being critical. A lot of people were upset. They had a right to be.
I'd like to think, however, that I've matured, a little. I'm still young enough, I think, that two years can bring a lot of change. So I figured I'd try this again, because just like last time, I'm in a fairly deep writer's block. I've never allowed myself to 'force' poems because they come out sounding false, and so I just try to surround myself with thought-provoking things and hopefully I end up being able to write. But that's not working now, so I turn to you guys.
Also like last time,
I really hate prompts.
I guess it's because I don't like writing to them,
but I've never liked reading prompted poetry,
and it restricts the number of people who feel comfortable
entering.
So there's no prompt.
Just enter whatever you think is your absolute best poem. I see no reason not to allow prewrites - your best stuff might be two years old, for all I know. My best poem is almost a year back.
In spite of wanting everyone to enter (and so
maximizing the number of poems I get to read),
I also want to comment on everyone's, so I'm
capping this at 61 entries. Hopefully I get
at least that many.
The prizes are:
1st place - 450 pts.
2nd place - 250 pts.
3rd place - 150 pts.
JUNE 8TH - I changed the prize scheme since I earned more points. HMs now to the next 3 entries.
Here are the rules. I tried to keep it to a minimum.
1) No sticky caps (tHiS) or all-caps.
2) Try to edit/proofread as much as possible. If you mean to use atypical grammar/syntax/etc., that's fine, but if it's just a case of a couple words being misspelled or something, try to fix it. It's not a death knell if there's a few typos, though.
3) Swearing/erotica is fine, although I'd ask that you not swear/write erotica gratuitously or simply because it's allowed.
That's basically it. Good luck to everyone who's never read my name as a contest judge before. To everyone who has, I hope you might look past it, and give it a go anyway. I'd really appreciate it.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 17
- Rewards: Gold: 450, Silver: 250, Bronze: 150, Honorable mention: 3 people
- Final notes: There were tons of good entries in this contest. Deciding the final winners was incredibly difficult. I am glad that everyone who entered did so - I found some of the most profound thoughts I've ever read in these poems and I feel fairly certain anyone could read these and be shaken from writer's block. Thanks for entering and for a great contest - congrats to the winners. You blow me away.
Contest Winners
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~*~• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
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Overdramatic phrases slip off your tounge as I slip out of my clothes
Tomorrow morning you'll be full of clumsy excuses.by FightOffYourDemons 16 lines, 6 comments, on Mar 8 6:25 PM 2006. In Adult, Love, Angst
Honorable winner• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Every word that you write is the start of a river
Tumbling and fumbling its way to the seaby cricketjeff 21 lines, 104 comments, on Feb 1 5:36 AM. In Thoughts, poetry, words, rhyme, lyric inspired
Honorable winner• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
What is it with this night?
It is killing me.by Faithbound 23 lines, 7 comments, on Jun 2 1:17 AM• Commented on by judge. [remove] -
molten lust, Burning tires
a metallic heat --- creaming through veins• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Autumn winds,
Rip through a blanket,by EntombedCrystalRose 39 lines, 5 comments, on Mar 18 8:35 AM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove] -
Growing up Texan - out of state.by OrangeMarmalade 43 lines, 12 comments, on May 29 2:12 AM. In Personal, Nostalgia, Reflection, My life, History
• Commented on by judge. Prewrite [remove]
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Entries [42]
1 - 42 of 42
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The lessons of darkness are of the most import.
It is in the darkness that wby skye01 5 lines, 8 comments, on May 10 12:17 AM. In Hope, Life, Thoughts, Contemporary, Inspirational, Humanity• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
This is a poem about the Roman Catholic sex abuse cases.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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A beautiful face with an stunning smile belies
The pain and sadness that behind her smile lies.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
I was not supposed to let you talk me into staying This is insane this dance we do between us two• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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If a tear of crystal raindrop
Symbolized my love for you,by Beauty Of Silence 31 lines, 17 comments, on Jun 2 3:57 AM. In Love• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Nine dragons to face,
Nine unique in their own way.by Chocolate Chip 56 lines, 8 comments, on May 27 10:13 AM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Manicured, undulating hills,
mask the role terra firma fills;
by Expat4Cebu 19 lines, 10 comments, on Mar 24 2:13 AM. In Dark, Death, Life, Nature, Philosophy, Religion• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
When john decided on an evening class little did he know
The move would start a train of events that would change his status quoby judmc 35 lines, 23 comments, on Apr 28 12:03 PM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
And in the hidden life,
The heart pumps ink.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
A part of me is crying out for something meaningful
The life I have lead has not satisfy meby LoveDeprived 33 lines, 3 comments, on Jun 8 8:15 PM• Commented on by judge. -
You just love making me hurt, don't you dear? Get a sadistic twist out of watching me cry,by eternal memories 20 lines, 6 comments, on Mar 31 7:34 PM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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A heart that once loved and felt warm• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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You're gone
Butby worshipchick 50 lines, 11 comments, on May 13 11:04 AM. Reward• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
I turn on my computer,
the modem like a car,by Poetess12 51 lines, 1 comment, on Jun 13 2:06 PM• Commented on by judge. -
Mom, why did you have to leave me so soon? We had so much planned for the
future. Now I'm without a mother physically. You left a mother wby K-GyaL 75 lines, 13 comments, on Jun 11 4:56 PM. In Goodbyes, Life, Death, Personal., Family, Dedication, My own style• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Behind the mask of jealousy
I stare through dark cold eyesby thunder.xx.paradise 35 lines, 2 comments, on Jun 2 8:04 PM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Going round and round in my head• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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For a day, I want to be that black bird,
That black bird that has never been heard.• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
The seas are rising with every tear that falls
Anger and frustration building while the rocks crumble• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
Good Night (Requiem from a Gun)
I grow weary of your worthless disgraceby VitreousSoul 20 lines, 11 comments, on Dec 2 12:31 PM 2004. In Dark• Commented on by judge. Prewrite -
♥• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
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I walk the thin line of propriety but I always find myself out of bounds.by Swan song 34 lines, 2 comments, on Jun 13 9:11 PM• Commented on by judge. Prewrite
Add a comment
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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Once your contest is closed you click and drag the pieces in the box in the order you would like them to be. Gold at the top, silver second and so on. Once you finish dragging them click on the button that says drag and reorder finalists. Your page will refresh with the pieces in the right order. You are then ready to click 'judge this contest with winners in this order'. Hope that helps.
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Oh, that makes sense. Thanks!
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Nice to see you've changed your ways for the better
(but it's not for me to say
)
Hope this contest is what you're looking for and you get some good entries. -
I'm definitely willing to give this a shot. i love honest criticism and judges who actually comment on poems.
Nikki
ps. it isn't hard to reach 300 points through making comments. -
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Great! Thank you for entering. And yeah - I realized pretty quickly that I was going to rack up a bunch of points. I'm actually at 3something right now. So I guess I'll be giving away a few HMs after all! I should post that.
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Thank you for the silver
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Thank *you* for entering. I loved your piece!
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Thank you very much~~what a nice surprise! Congratulations to all who were inspired to enter, and thank you, as well, for your in-depth critiques and the time you spent hosting this contest.
Saffron
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Oh, as if you could be surprised
I hope the critiques were helpful and all - I know I can be a little brusque but I tried to steer clear of that. Thanks again to everyone who entered!
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