The TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest is an international poetry contest established in 2021. Each year’s prizewinner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication of his or her poem on the TCK Publishing website.
TCK Publishing is recognizing poetry writers from all countries, backgrounds, and levels of experience and we invite you to join the 2025 TCK Publishing Poetry Contest.
How the Contest Works
- Any writer (regardless of who your publisher is or if your work has been previously published) may submit one poem up to 500 words in length for an entry fee of $5.
- You must purchase your entry here (you can purchase as many entries as you like if you would like to enter multiple submissions).
- After you purchase your entry, you will be asked to complete a short Google Form to complete your submission so you can submit your poem(s) on that page.
- All entrants will be notified through a confirmation email from TCK Publishing.
- Submissions are now open.
- Submissions will close on June 30, 2025.
- Declaration of winner and awarding of prize will be on July 21, 2025.
- The winner will be notified through an email from the TCK Publishing Poetry Contest committee.
- The winner receives the $1,000 cash honorarium (prize)
Early Registration is Now Open
Note: If you would like to purchase multiple submissions, simply click the “+” button on the right side of the registration page to add additional submissions.
FAQ
Can I mail in my submission?
No. We only accept digital submissions. Once you purchase your entry for the contest, you’ll be given clear instructions on how to submit your poem.
Can I submit my poem online?
Yes.
Can I submit a poem that has previously been published?
Yes.
What if the poet’s work was published by a literary magazine and the poet doesn’t own the rights? Can I still submit it?
Yes. Even though the poet no longer has the rights for the poem, she can still submit it as long as she’s the one who wrote the poem.
Which genres of poems are acceptable to submit?
We accept all submissions regardless of genre or theme, so let your creativity shine through your work!
Do I have to live in the United States to enter?
No. You may submit your poem from any country in the world.
Can I enter more than once?
Yes, you may enter as many times as you would like but you will have to pay the $5 entry fee for each submission.
How do I submit multiple entries that I have paid for?
You will be sent to a Google form to fill out in order to enter the contest. You should fill out the form one time for every entry you have purchased so that each of your entries are logged separately and accurately.
Can I send my manuscript by email?
No. You must submit online through an online form by following the instructions once you purchase your entry.
Are there any additional entry fees?
No! Because we do not use Submittable or another submission management program that charges fees, we do not have to pass on additional fees to entrants, so you will only have to pay $5 exactly per entry.
Can I submit the same poem this year that I submitted to a previous years’ TCK Publishing Poetry Awards Contest?
Yes you may, as long as that poem was not awarded the $1,000 honorarium or mentioned as a finalist.
Is there an age limit to participate in the contest?
There is no age limit to participate in the contest. However, depending on the laws where you live, you may need an adult to register on behalf of a minor in order to receive the $1,000 honorarium.
Should I include acknowledgments or publication credits?
No. Simply submit your poem in full without any additional credits.
Can I submit a translation of my poem (in English)?
Yes. Just make sure you have secured the all rights to the translation of your work.
Who is the selection judge?
Tom Corson-Knowles
Who are the final judges?
Everyone working at TCK Publishing at the time the winner’s selection is made.
Contest Procedures
When your submission arrives, it will be logged into our TCK Publishing Poetry Prize database automatically with Google Forms.
The selection judge will select ten finalists from which to select the winner. Then the final judges (that’s all of our team at TCK Publishing) will review the ten finalist entries and select the winner.
The judges will not to select any submissions that present any conflict of interest.