Poetry Prize FAQ's

Why is the entry process so confusing?

Because I'm a disaster with WIX. Next question.

...Seriously though, we have tried to make the entry process as simple as possible. Just go to the shop and purchase your entry (adjust the quantity if necessary) and then send your entries direct to me at editor.monosubmissions@gmail.com. This works seamlessly 98% of the time, but please contact me if you have any issues. We prefer Paypal as the fees are less than WIX but feel free to use your preferred payment method.

Is the competition open to international entrants?

Yes! We are seeing entries from across the world, here are some places we've had entries from so far:

UK, Washington DC, New York, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Nigeria, Cape Town, Japan...and many more.

Why should I enter your little indie competition, it's just a money-making racket isn't it?

Well, it would be bloody lovely if it was! We rarely make any kind of profit from these comps and anything extra is put towards printing and hosting costs. We do it because it's exciting to bring together a diverse bunch of global poets from every background, give our winners a confidence boost, and a platform to go on to even greater things. It's also a wonderful opportunity for us to create amazing connections with writers across the world who might not otherwise find us.

How many entries do you get for these comps and what is the judging process?

Our first poetry contest received over 1000 individual poems. The short story contest received around 300 stories. EVERY entry is read and carefully considered by the judging panel. The longlist comprises the top 10%, the shortlist is comprised of the top 10% of the longlist. All winners are directly and meticulously chosen by the guest judge.

Isn't it a case of one man's trash is another man's treasure?

Not really. All entries are read by a panel made up of the MONO. team, guest readers with a range of experience, and the judge themselves. Of course, individual taste plays a part however we feel that those entering this competition will have considered the judge, researched their work, and entered poems accordingly.

Surely, this is just an amateur competition?

Actually no, we have entries from the whole spectrum of experience including a number of high-profile poets, some with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. You can be assured that your work is being judged alongside some of the most talented contemporary poets.

When will you announce and pay the winners?

We aim to announce winners within one month of the deadline (1st August) and pay winners within 14 days of announcing.

Why are you charging a fee?

We charge a fee to cover the cost of winnings and pay our judges.

I want to enter but can't afford to, can I still enter?

Yes, we still have a handful of sponsored places available. We wouldn't dream of asking you to send proof however, when they're gone they're gone.

Any other questions please post them in the comments!

....and just a reminder there are only 17 DAYS until deadline...

Happy Writing,