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This year's theme: 'The stories that made me'

The East Riding Festival of Words poetry competition is now open for entries with theme of 'The stories that made me'.

Will your stories be from books that shaped how you grew, or the very tales born of your own experience?

Entries will be judged by a panel of published Yorkshire poets, led by James Nash. Poems are submitted anonymously, so each entry is judged on its own merits. Winners will be invited to read their poems at a special event in March 2027.

Young Poets' Prize

If you can say the words, you can write the words. Express yourself through poetry - whatever shape or form - and you could win £75! The competition is open to all school-aged children, with two prizes for primary, and one for secondary.

Prizes

Adults - £4 per entry

  • East Riding Gold: £500
  • East Riding Silver: £200
  • East Riding Bronze: £150

School-age children - Free to enter

  • East Riding Primary 1st Prize: £75
  • East Riding Primary 2nd Prize: £50
  • East Riding Secondary 1st Prize: £75
  • East Riding Secondary 2nd Prize: £50

There will also be six highly-commended prizes of £25 to two entries in the adult category, and two each in the primary and secondary-age children's category.

Poetry competition judges

James Nash
Wendy Pratt
Matthew Hedley-Stoppard

How to enter

Your poem should be no more than 45 lines, on one side of A4 paper. There are three categories:

  • adults
  • primary school aged children (4 years to 10 years)
  • secondary school aged children (11 years to 16 years).

All entries must be submitted and paid for by Sunday, 10 January 2027 at 11.59pm. Winners will be notified by email in February 2027.

Enter online

Adults (17 years and over) can enter online in three steps:

  • Pay your £4 entry fee using our payment system and choose to 'leave tickets at the box office' (there will be no physical ticket).
  • Check your email for your confirmation and reference number.
  • Email lama.admin@eastriding.gov.uk with your name, contact number, address, the title of your poem you are submitting and the reference number for your entry fee payment.

Attach your poem as a Word document or in the body of the email. A confirmation email will be sent to let you know your entry has been received.

Online entry available soon

Children's entry

To enter the free primary or secondary school categories, with your adult's permission, email lama.admin@eastriding.gov.uk with:

  • your name
  • whether your entry is for the primary or secondary category
  • contact name and number of parent/guardian
  • address
  • the title of your poem you are submitting.

Attach your poem as a Word document or in the body of the email. A confirmation email will be sent to let you know your entry has been received.

Enter offline

Download the leaflet to print yourself, or pick one up from your local library. Fill in your contact details, submit your poem and pay your entry fee (if applicable) to East Riding Libraries' staff using either card or cash (correct amount only).

Download available soon

Terms and conditions

  1. Each poem must be no longer than 45 lines and follow the theme of 'The stories that made me'.
  2. Each poem must be typed or clearly written on one side of A4 paper.
  3. Poems must be original work of the competitor, in English, and must not have been published, broadcast or have won a competition prize.
  4. No alterations can be made to a poem once it has been submitted.
  5. The entrant may submit an unlimited number of poems, each to be accompanied by the entry fee (if applicable).
  6. The poem(s) and payment should be submitted with the entry form.
  7. The name of the entrant must not appear on the poem itself.
  8. Entries cannot be returned, so please keep a copy.
  9. The decision of the judge is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
  10. Results will be published on the East Riding Libraries - Festival of Words web page.
  11. Prize winners will be notified in February 2027. Copyright remains with the author, but the organisers reserve the right to publish the winning poems online, or in print, for one year after the closing date of the competition (Sunday, 10 January 2027).
  12. The organisers reserve the right to alter details of the competition if necessary.
  13. All entries must be received by Sunday, 10 January 2027.
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