The Morrab Library in Penzance has partnered with The Dennis Myner Trust to host The Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry 2024. The international poetry competition will be judged by Cornwall-based poet Katrina Naomi.

The competition does not have a theme. Entries may be written in any form or style, in up to 40 lines, and to be eligible, they must be original and not previously published. The poems will be judged anonymously, allowing those penning their first poem to compete alongside poets more deeply established in their career.

Now in its second year, the international poetry competition also features a new “Sonnet Prize” for the best poem written in this form as well as a children’s competition to celebrate young poetic talent.

The competition is once again sponsored by the Dennis Myner Trust, which maintains the legacy of Dennis Myner, a Library member and invaluable contributor to its longevity. The name of the prize pays homage to Dennis’ sister, Patricia Eschen, a fellow Library supporter and patron of the arts.

We are keen to encourage quality, so suggest writers to check their stories before submitting using Prowritingaid. They have free and paid versions and are the best writing software we know to help improve grammar, readability and check for repetition, ‘sticky’ sentences and suggest alternatives.