Contests

Guidelines 

All submissions must be received through our Submittable page via Workhorse.

• The KSPS Grand Prix Poetry Contest is open to any US poet writing in English, age 18+
• Poems may be any topic, any form 
• Each poem must be 30 lines or fewer, including titles, spaces, and stanza breaks
• 1-3 poems per submission. Poems must be in one document; only one poem per page.
• $10 submission fee for each entry (1-3 poems)
• KSPS members may submit to both the Grand Prix and the Chaffin/Kash contests (separate entry fees)
• Poems must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant; no AI submissions
• Each poem must be titled or numbered
• Do not include your name or any identifying information on the poem(s)
• Please withdraw poems via Submittable if they are published elsewhere before the contest deadline. Use the “Withdraw” function or the “Message” function to withdraw single poems from a submission packet.
• Deadline is July 31, 2025, 11:59 pm ET
• Winners are announced in September and are invited to read at the KSPS annual conference 
• Winners are published in the KSPS literary journal Pegasus

Prizes 

• 1st Prize: $100
• 2nd Prize: $50
• 3rd Prize: $25

Judge: Bernard Clay

Kentucky native Bernard Clay grew up in Louisville. He has spent years developing a deep appreciation of the state’s unique natural and urban areas. Bernard earned an MFA in creative writing from the University of Kentucky Creative Writing Program and is a member of the Affrilachian Poets collective. His work can be found in various journals and anthologies. He currently lives on Scorpion Hollow Farm in eastern Kentucky with his herbalist partner Lauren, founder of Resilient Roots, where he homesteads and continues writing. His collection of poems is English Lit (Swallow Press).

Guidelines 

All submissions must be received through our Submittable page via Workhorse.

uidelines 

• The KSPS Chaffin/Kash Contest is open only to members of the Kentucky State Poetry Society (see KSPS website for membership information)
• Poems may be any topic, any form 
• Each poem must be 30 lines or fewer, including titles, spaces, and stanza breaks
• 1-3 poems per submission. Poems must be in one document; only one poem per page
• $10 submission fee for each entry (1-3 poems)
• KSPS members may submit to both contests
• Poems must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant; no AI submissions
• Poems must be titled or numbered
• Do not include your name or any identifying information on the poem(s)
• Please withdraw poems via Submittable if they are published elsewhere before the contest deadline. Use the “Withdraw” function or the “Message” function to withdraw single poems from a submission packet.
• Deadline is July 31, 2024, 11:59 pm ET
• Winners are announced in September and are invited to read at the KSPS annual conference 
• Winners are published in the KSPS literary journal Pegasus

Prizes 

• 1st Prize: $100
• 2nd Prize: $50
• 3rd Prize: $25

Judge: Elaine Fowler Palencia

Elaine Fowler Palencia, originally from Morehead, Kentucky, is the award-winning author of six books of fiction as well as four chapbooks of poetry and numerous essays and book reviews. Her latest book, On Rising Ground, The Life and Civil War Letters of John M. Douthit, 52nd Georgia Volunteer Infantry (Mercer UP), is based on family letters. Her poetry and fiction have received seven Pushcart Prize nominations and other awards. She moderates the Red Herring Prose Workshop in Champaign-Urbana Illinois and is the book reviews editor of Pegasus.

Submission Format:
Submissions should be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format. Each submission must include a cover page with the following information:

• Student Name / Age / Grade / School / Email
• Teacher Name / Email
• Parent/Guardian Name / Email / Mailing Address

Submission Limit:
Up to 5 poems can be submitted per document. Each poem should begin on a new page. All submissions must be unpublished, original work.

Submission Email:
studentcontestksps@gmail.com

Deadline:
All submissions must be received by May 18.

Prizes:

• 1st Place: $75
• 2nd Place: $50
• 3rd Place: $25

Prizes will be awarded in the following grade categories:

• 3-5
• 6-8
• 9-10
• 11-12