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Local poets could win hundreds in annual competition

Waltham Forest poets young and old could win hundreds of pounds in the borough’s third annual poetry competition The Waltham Forest Poetry Competition has […]By Waltham Forest Echo

The competition will be judged by an award-winning Walthamstow poet (Joelle Taylor)
The competition will be judged by an award-winning Walthamstow poet (Joelle Taylor)

Waltham Forest poets young and old could win hundreds of pounds in the borough’s third annual poetry competition

The Waltham Forest Poetry Competition has a grand prize of £400 and will award £1,000 overall, with £200 available only to six winners who live, work or study in the borough.

In 2019, the top local prizes were won by Niall Firth and Kate Lucas – read their winning entries below.


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The entries will be judged by award-winning Walthamstow poet and former UK slam poetry champion Joelle Taylor.

In her advice to entrants, Joelle said: “I’m looking for poems with width, abandon, vision and the full range of human sensation. Happy poems, angry poems, poems that take up space.”

Hopeful poets have until midnight on 11th October to submit their entries, which cost from £3-8 for adults and are free for those under 18. Poems can be on any theme.

The winning poems from each category, plus a number of those commended, will be published on the competition website and invited to an award ceremony in November.

For details visit bit.ly/wfpoetrycomp or email [email protected]


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