Post A Poem Competition

Welcome to our Post a Poem Competition, a monthly celebration of creativity open to all residents of East Ayrshire.
Launched to celebrate Kilmarnock's brand-new Poets' Corner beneath the Robert Burns mural (3A John Dickie Street), this monthly challenge invites writers of all ages and backgrounds to put pen to paper. Whether you are a seasoned local poet or sharing your writing for the very first time, every month brings a brand-new theme and the chance to see your work published. Thanks to our sponsors, each monthly winner will receive a £50 cash prize. The overall winner will receive a £200 cash prize and trophy thanks to our main sponsor, Hugh Mulgrew (Corespace). Winners poems will feature in an annual publication.
All submission deadlines close strictly at 23:59pm on the final day specified

Grand Finale
Sep 2027: The panel convenes to evaluate all 12 monthly winning entries to select the overall champion. The panel will be joined by Zoe Strachan, IMPRINT patron.
Awards Ceremony: The annual winner announcement, trophy presentation and poetry recital will take place at the official celebration event in October to tie in with National Poetry Day

Competition Rules
Eligibility: Open strictly to residents of East Ayrshire. Organisers, independent judges, and their immediate families are legally prohibited from entering.
Originality: Works must be entirely the entrant's own original, unpublished writing.
AI Policy: Verification protocols are in place to ensure no AI tools or Large Language Models (LLMs) were used during creation.
Technical Limits: Maximum of 40 lines and a strict cap of 1,000 words.
Submission Frequency: Restricted to one poem per person, per monthly theme
Content Safety: Entries containing extreme violence, hate speech, or explicit material will be disqualified immediately

Judging will be based on the following and all entries will undergo a blind review process
Creativity & Originality: Unique angles and imaginative merit.
Language & Imagery: Depth of expression and effective use of language.
Structure & Flow: Technical layout, rhythm and narrative cadence.
Emotional Impact: The text's capacity to engage and affect the reader.
Note: The panel's decisions are final. No feedback, appeals, or administrative correspondence will be entertained.

To enter, please submit your entry via the form below.
Alternatively, you can hand your entry in to Wallace Chambers, John Dickie St, Kilmarnock KA1 1HW, The Dick Institute, Elmbank Avenue, Kilmarnock or at your local library