2011 SENIOR POETs LAUREATE POETRY COMPETITION

PUBLISHED and UNPUBLISHED Poems okay
NO LIMIT to number of ENTRIES you may submit

    A literary contest open to all American poets age 50 and older who are U.S. Citizens regardless of where they live or are temporarily staying throughout the world, the 2011 SPL Contest is privately sponsored by WANDA SUE PARROTT, original co-founder of the competition and current administrator of the 2011 event. Judges will include former Senior Poets Laureate of the Meeting The Muse Panel of Judges. Entries accepted Jan. 1 through June 30, 2011.

A W A R D S

• State/Regional Senior Poets Laureate (Certificates & entry in final rounds for national award)
• National Senior Poet Laureate (Best Overall Poem: $500 or more* and Certificate)
• Honor Scrolls (Certificates to be given at judges'discretion for entries that pass preliminary rounds but don't advance to the final rounds.)

ENTRY FEES
$3 per poem—40-lines maximum per entry (Do not include extra fee for duplicate copies of each submission.) POSTMARK DEADLINE: 6/30/11

RULES
There is only one category: POET'S CHOICE. Any form, subject and style of presentation is allowed, but an entry can't exceed 40 lines plus title. Each entry must have a title, unless haiku or senryu. Single spaced; legible type, preferably 12 pt. size, black ink. No illustrations, fancy paper or handwritten poems, please. Electronic and Hard-Copy Submissions OK. Must follow all rules or risk disqualification.

HOW TO ENTER ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
Electronic submissions should be sent to: amykitchenerfdn@hotmail.com We suggest you send yourself a copy in order to keep an entry record. No submissions will be returned.

Send only one poem per e-mail entry. In the Subject Line state “2011 SPL (and your last name)” and in the upper left corner include:

Your Name
Your Pen Name, if applicable
E-mail address

Drop down 2 spaces and continue with
TITLE OF THE POEM IN CAPITALS
The poem, single or double spaced.

(Also include one electronic cover sheet by following the HOW TO SUBMIT COVER SHEET instructions below. Please state in the subject line: 2011 SPL BIO and your full name.)

Your poem might be published in GOLDEN WORDS 2011 online anthology unless these words appear above the title or first line of the poem: DO NOT PUBLISH. You must own the Copyright to all submissions. Entry automatically means you grant one-time permission for publication and correlated publicity regarding same, with the exception as stated above. You retain all rights. Your entry will be acknowledged electronically and activated upon receipt of your entry fee per the instructions below

HOW TO ENTER HARD-COPY (PAPER) SUBMISSIONS
Submit two hard copies of each poem. Keep originals, as copies will not be returned. In Upper Right Margin of one copy: Name, Address, Phone and E-mail; other copy remains blank. All winning entries might be published in GOLDEN WORDS 2011 online anthology unless these words appear above the title or first line of the poem: DO NOT PUBLISH. You must own the Copyright to all work(s) which you submit; submission automatically means you grant one-time permission for publication of such work(s) and correlated publicity regarding same, with the exception as stated above. You retain all rights. Entries must be on plain 8-1/2 inch x 11 inch paper. Margins should be standard 1 inch all around in order to allow judges space in which to write comments. Include a Cover Sheet with your entries.

HOW TO SUBMIT COVER SHEET
(One page, not one page per poem, should include)

A. Number of Poems Submitted: ___
B. Are you a U. S. Citizen? ___Yes ___No
C. Personal information:

1. Your LEGAL NAME.
2. Your PEN NAME (by which you wish to be identified)
3. Your current RESIDENTIAL and E- MAIL address
4. Your DATE OF BIRTH (month, day and year). Entries lacking this data will be disqualified.
5. Your GENDER. Entries lacking this data will be disqualified.
6. Current OCCUPATION if employed, or primary work if retired. Indicate employment status.
7. Anything else, such as children, grandchildren, hobbies, awards, publications.

Please do not send books or magazines; however, feel free to send a photo of yourself. Do not send your only copy, since photos may not be returned. If you win, we will use it in the newsletter and anthology.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FEE.

Make your check payable to: SP
Enclose two #10 Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes with 1 ounce postage each
(one addressed to yourself and the other blank)
Send with entry to:

Winners will be notified by 8/31/11 and all winners will appear in the September edition of THE DIPLOEMAT News Letter that will be sent to every entrant.