2007 WPA Annual Bart Baxter Poetry Performance Contest

The Washington Poets Association is pleased to announce the opening of submissions for the 10th Annual Bart Baxter Contest for Poetry in Performance.

Entrants are asked submit two poems for consideration by a panel of judges and eight finalists will compete in a series of one-on-one Poetry Bouts on Tuesday April 10th, 2007 at the Richard Hugo House. Finalists will be determined based on how their poetry works on the page and on April 10th five judges will determine the best poem in each one-on-one bout, leading to a single Champion.

Last year's champion was Lyn Coffin. The fast-paced elimination rounds means the two finalists will read a total of 3 original poems each. The top three finalists will earn a total of $500 in cash prizes: 1st place - $300, 2nd - $125 and 3rd - $75.

There is no entry fee, but poets must be current members of the WPA. Annual membership is $15. Deadline for entries is March 1, 2007. Finalists will be notified by March 15th.

Enter via first-class postal mail or via email

You can enter the 10th Annual Bart Baxter Contest for Poetry in Performance via:

• First-class postal mail
or
• Email

Please read the entry rules that apply to either submission method, and the section that corresponds to the submission method that you want to use.

Entry rules that apply to either submission method

1. Open to WPA members. You can join the WPA at time of entry. You can pay your WPA membership fee by using PayPal.
2. To win, poets chosen as the top 8 finalists must be available to perform on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 7:00 pm at the Richard Hugo House in Seattle. No props or costumes are permitted.
3. We encourage you to perform new works for this contest.
4. Submit two poems. Each poem should be about 3 minutes reading time.
5. Poems not primarily in English must include English translation.
6. Poems will not be returned. Keep copies for your records.
7. WPA Board members cannot enter the contest.
8. Washington Poets Association reserves the right to publish winning poems on its web site and is granted permission to print award poems in future anthologies.

If submitting via first-class postal mail

1. Submit the entry form with your poems. Type or print your contact information on the entry form.
2. Submit two copies of each poem. Put your name on one copy.
3. Include a self-addressed stamped business envelope (#10) for notification, or email address. If you'd like confirmation of delivery, also include a stamped, self-addressed postcard, or include email address.
4. Send your entry to:

   WPA Baxter Contest
   c/o John Burgess
   9716 Fremont Ave. N.
   Seattle WA 98103

If submitting via email

1. You do not need to send the entry form but make sure your contact information (name, address, city, state, zip, phone) is included in the email.
2. Please send poems as MS Word attachments, not in body of message.
3. Email your entry (subject: WPA Baxter Contest) to:

   jopajaay@comcast.net

Deadline

Entries must be postmarked (or if submitting via email, received) on or before March 1, 2007.

Entry fee

Free with WPA membership. If not currently a WPA member, please includee a $15 membership fee. U.S. funds, please. Make your membership check payable to: Washington Poets Association. Alternately, you can pay your WPA membership fee by using PayPal.

Download the entry form here

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