The contests staged by FSPA are an integral and important part of our service to the world of poetry. By entering our contests, poets everywhere take the step of letting their poetry out into the world and a much wider audience will be able to appreciate their offerings. As a poet myself, I love sharing my work and the wider the audience, the better! Also, writing poetry to the requirements of the contest is a useful exercise, where one can learn about different means of expression and how to make them work for you. If this opportunity intrigues you, just look for information on the FSPA website about how and when to enter our contests.
— Marc Davidson, 2023 FSPA Contest Chairperson
2024 FSPA Contests’
Rules and Categories
CONTEST RULES:
Please read carefully and follow all directions.
Any violations will disqualify submission.
ALL POEMS MUST:
• be the original work of the poet
• be unpublished in any form
• not have won more than $10 in any contest
• be written in English
• be titled unless a sijo or haiku
• have a 40 lines limit unless stated otherwise. Count only the actual
lines, not the title or any blank lines between stanzas.
• not be simultaneously entered in any other contest
CATEGORY SPECIFICS:
• The same poem must not be entered in more than one category.
• Categories 1 & 2 are limited to 2 entries per category per poet.
• Categories 3 through 30 are limited to one entry per category per poet.
FORMAT:
• Typed, single-spaced on one side of 8.5” x 11” white paper.
• For preference use 12 point Times New Roman font.
• NO illustrations.
• Submit 2 copies – both with category name and number on upper left.
• Poet’s name, address, phone and email on duplicate copy
only on upper right.
• Mail all entries together in one envelope with check or money order
payable to FSPA, Inc. using regular first class mail.
• Alternatively, this year we encourage you to submit your poems by
email. Remember to include both copies of your entry in the email.
FEES:
• Categories 1 & 2 are $4 per poem for FSPA members, $5 for non-
members (2 poem limit per category).
• Category 13 is free to FSPA members only – non-members pay $3.00.
• Remaining categories are $3 each per contest for FSPA members and
$4 each per contest for non-members. Please do not send cash.
Make checks or money orders payable to FSPA, Inc.
• Payment may also be made by PayPal to:
FSPATreasurer@aol.com.
If you use PayPal, please email me a copy of the receipt
SUBMISSION PERIOD:
• May 1 to July 15, 2024. July 15th is the “Postmarked By” deadline.
MAIL ENTRIES TO:
Marc Davidson, PO Box 730838, Ormond Beach, FL 32173
or by email to flueln@hotmail.com
PUBLISHING RIGHTS:
• Poets give FSPA, Inc. exclusive first printing rights to all 1st place
winning poems awarded in the FSPA, Inc. Annual Contest.
• 1st Place winning poems are printed in the FSPA anthology “Cadence”.
• The Editor reserves the right to alter line breaks having more than
50 characters per line, including spaces.
• Printing rights revert to poet after anthology is published (Oct. 2023)
• Winners’ names will be posted October 2023 on the FSPA website.
CONTEST CATEGORIES:
1. FSPA FREE VERSE AWARD
Subject: Any. Form: Free Verse. 1 page limit.
1st PL $100. 2nd PL $75. 3rd PL $50. 3 HMs
Entry fee $4 per poem for FSPA members, $5 for
non-members. Limit 2 poems. Sponsored by FSPA, Inc.
2. FSPA FORMAL VERSE AWARD
Subject: Any. Form: Formal Verse. (Include form name at top of page.)
1 page limit. 1st PL $100. 2nd PL $75. 3rd PL $50. 3 HMs. Entry fee
$4 per poem for FSPA members,$5 for non-members. Limit 2 poems.
Sponsored by FSPA, Inc.
3. THE LIVE POETS SOCIETY AWARD
Subject: The Dark Side. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by The Live Poets Society of Daytona Beach
4. TOMOKA POETS AWARD
Subject: At the Beach. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Tomoka Poets
5. WILLARD B. FOSTER MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: A humorous poem about relationships. Form: Any 40 Line Limit. 1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by John F. Foster
6. THE JOCK G. AND GEORGE K. TERRY AWARD
Subject: Any. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HM
Sponsored by Mark Andrew James Terry
7. JUNE OWENS MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: Squinting into the sun. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by New River Poets
8. NEW RIVER POETS AWARD
(In Honor of our Deceased Members)
Subject: Any. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by New River Poets
9. THE POET’S VISION AWARD
Subject: Faith, Spirituality. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Janet Watson
10. ALFRED VON BROKOPH AWARD
Subject: A family member. Form: Any lyrical. 30 Line Limit.
1st PL $40. 2nd PL $25. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by G. Kyra Von Brokoph
11. JANET BINKLEY ERWIN MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: Any. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Poetry for the Love of It (PLOI)
12. KATE KENNEDY MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: Chocolate. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by B. J. Alligood
13. HENRIETTA & MARK KROAH FOUNDERS AWARD (Free to FSPA Members)
Subject: Wedding. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by FSPA, Inc.
14. PAST PRESIDENTS AWARD
Subject: Any. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Past Presidents of FSPA
15. ORLANDO AREA POETS AWARD
Subject: Animals. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Orlando Area Poets
16. LESLIE HALPERN MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: Dreams/dreaming. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Orlando Area Poets
17. HUMOR AWARD
Subject: Humor. Form: Any Rhymed & Metered.
40 Line Limit. 1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Sunshine Poets
18. CHILDHOOD AWARD
Subject: Children, reading, writing or both. Form: Any.
40 Line Limit. 1st PL $50. 2nd PL 30. 3rd PL $20. 3HMs
Sponsored by Bookseedstudio
19. WEINBAUM/GLIDDEN AWARD
Subject: Issues and concerns faced by LGBTQ Community
and those who love them. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Robyn Weinbaum
20. IRWIN & ESTELLE WEINBAUM MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: The struggles of marginalized persons everywhere.
Form: Sonnet. 14 Line Limit. 1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs Sponsored by Robyn Weinbaum
21. THE ENCHANTMENT AWARD
Subject: Paranormal, Fantasy, SciFi. Form: Any.
40 Line Limit. 1st PL $30. 2nd PL $20. 3rd PL $15. 3HMs
Sponsored by Sonja Jean Craig
22. EKPHRASTIC POEM AWARD
Writing inspired by art Subject: An Ekphrastic Poem inspired by a painting, photograph, sculpture or other piece of visual art. Include name of piece, artist, and where seen if applicable. Form: Any.
50 line limit. 1st Prize: $25. 2nd Prize: $15. 3rd Prize: $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Elaine Person
23. NORTH FLORIDA POETRY HUB AWARD
Subject: Hope. Form: Any.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Hope at Hand/NFPH
24. THE LOOK DEEPER AWARD
Subject: Why you admire a poem (other than your own).
Form: Sacred Seven—Starting at the left margin, take 7 lines from a poem you admire (not your own) and use the first letter in each line, in order, to begin each line in your poem about why you admire the other poem. Give credit to the other author. 7 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Suzanne Austin-Hill
25. THE JOSEPHINE DAVIDSON MEMORIAL AWARD
Subject: Any. Form: Ruba’i—4 lines, iambic pentameter, minimum 3 stanzas, rhyme aaba/bbcb/ccdc etc. Third line of final stanza must rhyme with first line of poem. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Live Poets Society of Daytona Beach
26. THE BOOK NOT THE COVER AWARD
Subject: The hidden beauty in nature or humankind. Form: Any.
40 Line Limit.1st PL $50. 2nd PL $30. 3rd PL $20. 3HMs $5 each.
Sponsored by Tim Schulz
27. THE HOMEPLACE AWARD
Subject: Homeplace. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $50. 2nd PL $30. 3rd PL $20. 3HMs
Sponsored by Mark Andrew James Terry
28. The SUNCOAST WRITERS GUILD POETRY POD AWARD
Subject: Old Florida. Form: any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3HMs
Sponsored by Suncoast Writers Guild
29. THE IN YOUR OWN VOICE AWARD
Subject: Mental Health. Form: Any. 16 Line Limit.
1st PL $25. 2nd PL $15. 3rd PL $10. 3 HMs
Sponsored by Gary R. Childress
30. THE NORTHWEST FLORIDA POETS AWARD
Subject: New Beginnings. Form: Any. 40 Line Limit.
1st PL $40. 2nd PL $30. 3rd PL $20. 3HMs
Sponsored by CHB Publications.
Also visit the National Federation of State Poetry Societies website for upcoming 2023 NFSPS contests! https://nfsps.com/contests.htm
* As FSPA is a member of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS), all FSPA members are also NFSPS members.
Special FSPA Poetry Contests for Young People: The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award for Young People