The 2010
Book & Pamphlet Competition

The Poetry Business is now inviting entries for its 24th Book & Pamphlet Competition. And this year, we're delighted to be sponsored by NAWE (The National Association for Writers in Education), their support allowing us to raise the prize money to £2,000 — see the bottom of this email for more information.

This year’s judge is Simon Armitage, and the deadline is last posting on the 29th of November 2010 (or the 1st of December for online entries).

Entrants are invited to submit a collection of 20-24 pages of poems for the chance to win
*Three first-stage winners will receive pamphlet publication and an overall winner will receive book publication.

The entry fee is £25, or £20 for North subscribers and Friends of the Poetry Business. A £1 surcharge is applied for online entries.

For full details and an entry form (or to enter online), go to www.poetrybusiness.co.uk or send a SAE to The Competition Administrator, The Poetry Business, Bank Street Arts, 32-40 Bank Street, Sheffield S1 2DS.


The Sheffield Poetry Prize:

Entrants with a Sheffield postcode are automatically entered into the Sheffield Poetry Prize category. The best single poem from their collection could win them £100, publication in The North magazine and on our website, and an opportunity to read their winning poem at a Poetry Business reading.


The Sheffield Poetry Prize category is sponsored by The University of Sheffield.



* * * * *

“One of the career milestones for very many poets of note has been 
winning the prestigious Poetry Business competition.” — Anne-Marie Fyfe


Allison McVety was the overall winner of the 2006 Book & Pamphlet Competition. Her collection, The Night Trotsky Came to Stay, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize in 2008, and a poem taken from the collection was shortlisted for the inaugural MMU Prize the same year. Allison’s second collection, Miming Happiness, will be published by Smith/Doorstop Books this month.


“I still remember getting the call to say I’d won the Book and Pamphlet Competition and having to keep it secret until the announcement was made. But beyond the immense joy of winning and the knowledge that your poems have been read by a judge at the height of their skill comes the hard graft and close attention that shapes a manuscript into a pamphlet or full-collection. The help and editing I got from the Poetry Business really brought it all together, made it work.” 
                            — Allison McVety, 2006 winner


Michael Laskey was a winner in the 1988 competition, with his collection Cloves of Garlic. He has since received two PBS Recommendations (in 1991 and 1999) and was shortlisted for the T S Eliot Prize in 1999. He founded the Aldeburgh Festival in 1989 and Smiths Knoll magazine in 1991.


“It was a wonderful boost of confidence for me, winning the Poetry Business
Competition. It felt like a justification of the time I spent writing and an
encouragement to keep going. It was the original and only pamphlet competition
back then, and so it felt particularly significant  — that being judged anonymously
on a group of poems, not just a single one.” 
                            — Michael Laskey, 1988 winner


Catherine Smith won the competition in 2000 with The New Bride, which was then shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. Her two subsequent collections were both published by Smith/Doorstop; The Butcher's Hands was a PBS Recommendation, and Lip was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection.


* * * * *

The 2010 Book & Pamphlet Competition is sponsored by NAWE

“NAWE is delighted to be sponsoring this highly distinguished competition, run by one of the UK’s foremost poetry development agencies.” — Paul Munden (Director, NAWE)

NAWE (the National Association of Writers in Education) is the Subject Association for Creative Writing, supporting writers at all stages of their careers.

The NAWE website has details of all the latest jobs, opportunities and events for writers throughout the UK – all of which can be emailed to you as a free e-bulletin every fortnight.

All writers joining NAWE receive free copies of NAWE publications, benefit from reduced rates to NAWE events and have access to the extensive online Archive. For Professional Members, NAWE processes Enhanced Disclosure applications to the CRB and can assist in dealing with any other government clearance schemes. NAWE also offers free public liability insurance cover to members who work as professional writers in any public or educational arena.

NAWE, PO Box 1, Sheriff Hutton, York YO60 7YU
Tel: 01653 618429  •  Web: www.nawe.co.uk •  Email:info@nawe.co.uk





The Poetry Business receives financial assistance from Arts Council England.