Event Details
Over the years, the 27th annual Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition has attracted a wide variety of expert judges with a high profile in the poetry world, with submissions of
Event Details
Over the years, the 27th annual Ware Poets Open Poetry Competition has attracted a wide variety of expert judges with a high profile in the poetry world, with submissions of poems from across the United Kingdom and internationally. There is an additional prize for the best sonnet.
Open to submission from any country. Open to poets aged 16 and over. Poems accepted on any subject, in English, to a maximum of 50 lines.
This year’s judge is Hannah Copley, the author of Speculum (Broken Sleep Books, 2021) and Lapwing (Pavilion Poetry, LUP, 2024).
All winning and commended poems will be featured in the Ware Poets Open Competition 2025 Anthology, with an introduction by Hannah Copley. Each poet published in the 2025 Anthology will be sent a complimentary copy.
FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.
Sudowrite
We’re keen to encourage quality, so we recommend writers refine their stories before submitting using Sudowrite – a creative writing tool designed to help you rewrite, expand, and enhance your prose with ease. Whether you need help overcoming writer’s block, finding the perfect phrase, or strengthening your story, Sudowrite offers tools that support your creative flow. Visit their website to explore Sudowrite — free trials are available.
