Competition Corner (1): A Message from India

I heard this morning from Dr. H. Tulsi, the editor of Metverse Muse (Visakhapatnam, India) that I had obtained 'the FIRST rank' in the 2010 Metverse Muse Poetry Competition, 'having secured a total of 38 points for your two entries together, - 20 pts. for your poem “King of the ‘Kilt Rock’ Cloud” and 18 pts. for “Life’s Silken Thread”.'

A good way to start the day!

Kilt Rock, Isle of Skye

Competition Corner (7): Oxfam North

Further details here ...

Creature Feature (17): Seal Time

The pup above was actually seen off Skye a year ago, 

but it is breeding time for the seals off the Pembrokeshire coast. 

I have a seal poem in the current Writelink 'Grape and Grain' competition here. If you would like to read it, you can follow the link here. 

Others are also taking part in the competition, and I speak for us all when I say that any votes or constructive comments would be appreciated. You can leave these once you have followed the link to the site ... The competition closes at the end of the month, when votes will be counted.

Incidentally, participants are encouraged to drum up support from family, friends (on Facebook or otherwise!), blog-followers and message board readers. We are invited to tell everyone we know that we have 'entered the competition' in the hope that folk will 'come and vote!' You can read the rest of the rules here.

Puffin Quest (5): THANK YOU to all who voted!

It's those puffins again!

My sincere thanks to all who voted for my puffin poem, 'A Chink in the Sky' in the Writelink Spring Fever poetry competition. I am pleased to report that it made the 'grade for publication' in the anthology in the judge's eyes by the skin of its teeth (or should that be by the tip of its bill?).

'A Chink in the Sky' came in at number 10 in judge, Magdalena Ball's shortlist.

If my poem had been number 11, all your votes would in fact have saved my puffins from 'near-extinction' (as the final publication list comprised the judge's Top 10 poems plus the 10 poems with the most votes) - so thank you very much for your support.*

The poem will be published in the Writelink Spring Fever anthology in due course.


* Many of you will know that puffins are in the Amber category on the RSPB 'conservation' list...

Seasonal Splash (3): Spring on the Wing

My first Dandelion of 2010

(with a little help from Photoshop Elements)

I wonder if you have seen a dandelion this year. I am still waiting to spot a butterfly. I have seen moths in 2010, and I remember seeing an early butterfly on Valentine's Day two years ago.

Signs of spring continue to appear. The daylight hours are beginning to increase - and time is running out in the WriteLink Spring Fever poem competition. The deadline for the poem poll is 21 March, so there is still a little time to vote for a favourite poem.

You can read my puffin poem here - and the page will give you a link to all other competing poems, and an opportunity for you to vote or post a comment. I know that all who are taking part are extremely grateful for all your constructive comments and votes.

The 10 poems with the most votes will be added to the judge's personal top 10. These poems will appear in a publication. The top 3 poems of the judge's choice from the final shortlist of 20 will receive a prize. You can find more details here.

I had assumed that Spring Fever voting would close on 21 March, the closing date for poem entries - but I am not sure whether this is in fact the case! If you find out, presumably by trial and error, do let me know! Thank you.

P.S. this is the Dandelion in question,
since most of us would prefer
the real McCoy!
It was protruding from a bank.

Competition Corner (3): Writelink Spring Fever

OVER TO YOU... (Spring is in the Air)

Along with a fair few others, I have entered a poem in the WriteLink 'Spring Fever' competition. The form in my case is a Rondeau Redoublé.

If we are members of forums or have our own blogs, we are encouraged to include a link to our poem (which also gives access to all the other contenders - so do look at these, too).

You will be able to cast a vote and/or leave a comment, if you would like to do so, up until the closing date of 21 March 2010. I suggest you do not use my name if you address a comment to me on the WriteLink site.

I am posting the link to my poem here. The organiser tells competitors that while 'lots of votes will get you on the Site Short List', the 'final judging will be by a human judge!'

The 10 poems with the most votes will be added to the judge's 10 favourites. The Top 20 poems will feature in an anthology. First, second and third prizes will be awarded by the judge. On behalf of those of us who are taking part, thank you very much for your interest and support!

P.S. For some wonderful definitions of poetry, you might like to follow this link. I wonder which works best for you...

P.P.S. Cathy of 'One Pink Goose' has a delightful puffin picture on her excellent site ... here. Don't miss it!

Archaeological Avenues (1): Stunning Photography from Aberdeen

You can see the Finalists' Gallery of a recent photographic competition organised by the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen. I wish I had found this site sooner!

Poetry Matters (1)

Here is a short round-up of things poetical.

• Poetry pamphlets and their rising status, The Guardian
• The Stephen Spender Prize, Times Online
• 2009 Cat Protection Writing Competition, The Cat Magazine
• One (poem) for the road, trucking odes, The Sydney Morning Herald
• The Scottish Natural Heritage site has a new database for Gaelic 'nature' words.
  
• Poets have been preparing for the seventh National Poetry Day in Vietnam.
• Digital poetry explained by Christopher Funkhouser.
• Digital Poetry and Art Links
• Swansea Learning Lab: podcasting and visual poetry
• Oxford seeks to appoint new Professor of Poetry
  

A round of poetry news

• Prince Charles reads the poetry of Robert Burns
• New poetry professor for Oxford University (The Guardian)
• Simon Armitage: Pieces of me - in 16 pictures (The Guardian)
• Scotland's young eco-poets: The Big Green Poetry Machine
• The Robert Frost International Poetry and Haiku Competitions
• ReadMe Publishing ask for your best poem on daily life.
• Silicon Valley seeks Laureate
  

Life in 16 pictures (see Simon Armitage above) has set me thinking ...

Postscript: please vote in my poll (right). Thank you!

Tips for Writers: issue 70

I have just received the latest issue of Tips for Writers from editor Wendy Webb of Norfolk Poets and Writers. As usual it contains an enticing mix of challenges, reviews and poetry. I am particularly looking forward to trying my hand at Wendy's new 'Sliding Doors' poetry form. This edition of Tips includes Norman Bissett's Top Twenty questions, which he puts to Sophie Hannah in a fascinating interview. Tips supporter and adviser, Bernard M. Jackson, lists his web pages and publications.

The deadline for the Margaret Munro Gibson Memorial Poetry Competition 2009 (aka 7th Davividian) is 23 April 2009 for poems not exceeding 20 lines. The judge is Doris Corti, and the entry fee is £2 for one or £10 for six. Entrants must be 18+ and resident in the UK. Full rules are listed in Tips.

• Wendy Webb Books
  
  

TS Eliot Prize

Jen Hadfield, from the Shetland Isles, has won the prestigious TS Eliot Prize for poetry with her second collection of poems, Nigh-No-Place. The judges were Andrew Motion, Lavinia Greenlaw and Tobias Hill. I was delighted to hear that Hadfield is an advocate for the poetry of place.

• TS Eliot prize for poetry - background from The Guardian
• Jen Hadfield on Radio 4 'Today' programme
  

John Muir's view of our eco-system

The Cuillin, Skye

I am very grateful to The Weaver of Grass for bringing this Times article on John Muir to my attention. I came across the John Muir Trust in Scotland last year. I love the photographic images on the website.

• Enter the John Muir Trust 'Wild Writing' Competition.
  
• Look at the 'official' expeditions undertaken in 2006. That year may be some way behind us, but you could always consider your own Journey for the Wild.
• View the Journey for the Wild Gallery.
  

Calling Fair-trade chocoholics ...

The deadline for the Divine chocolate/Christian Aid poetry competition is approaching fast ...

Winners in Wales

The results of the Welsh Poetry Competition 2008 are out. You can read th winning poems if you follow the link.

Give it some welly!

Time for a nap

Farmers' Weekly is holding a poetry competition to celebrate National Welly Week, 11-18 October. The closing date for your 'Ode to a Welly' is 1 October 2008. I am advised that there is no fee to enter. The competition is run in conjunction with RABI (the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution).

Cacoethes scribendi

This seems a site to keep in mind. There is a forum and poetry competition. I have not been able to trace its (geographical) origin, but one of the links was to Carole Baldock's kudos site.

National Poetry Prompt Appreciation Day: tomorrow!

See The Word Cage. How do you plan to celebrate the day?

It seems to me that there is no reason why poets in Olin Hall should have all the fun. The ripples have already reached Wales, UK - so perhaps this can be the Global PPAD!

Competitions and cards

In the course of my Coastcard activities, I come across other greetings card and/or photographic sites (some with competitions). The following ones have caught my eye recently:

• The Hallmark site with its blog.
• The Medici Award, Royal Horticultural Society (photographic card competition: no caption or poem required).
• The Linden Postcard Show, St Kilda, Australia.
• Digital Camera Photographer of the Year 2008.
• Environmental Photographer of the Year 2008 (closing date: 31 July, so hurry).
  
• The Nature Conservancy Photographic Competition (winning entry to appear in the 2010 Nature Conservancy calendar)

Aeronwy Thomas in USA
Aeronwy Thomas has been in the USA. The BBC has reported on her inaugural Dylan Thomas walking tour in New York, arranged by the Wales International Centre (WIC). Swansea poet, Peter Thabit Jones, joined Aeronwy on a recent USA tour. Peter has an excellent website.

Friday, 25 July 2008

Disability Arts

I intend to post interesting sites on the subject of arts and disability (my particular interests lie in the fields of writing, photography, card-making and art).

• Disability Arts Cymru: Wales, UK

• Kaleidoscope Magazine: 'Exploring the Experience of Disability
  through Literature and the Fine Arts', Ohio, USA.
• Opportunity to submit to 'Twenty-Four Seven', an anthology by carers, Ireland. Web address below:
  

http://anthologynewsandreviews.blogspot.com/2008/08/twenty-four-seven-caregiving-anthology.html

Competitions (& counter)

I came across a site for writing competitions: you may like to have a look at Sally Quilford's Writing Competition Calendar.

The Winning Writers site is another useful resource for writing opportunities.

For those who like Haiku, take a look at the Australian Haiku Society. The site lists a number of contests. On the subject of Haiku, you may enjoy Tiny Words.

This is not a competition, but take a look at the readwritepoem blog. .

This is a competition: Grist. Judge for poetry: Simon Armitage.

The Caroline at Coastcard Blog counter is now registering 1000.

P.S. It was good to be reminded that Michelle Lipman won the Bath Spa Poetry Competition some years ago with a 3 line Haiku. When it comes to poetry, the right words in the right order can count for more than the quantity!

Top TIPS

Wendy Webb, founder of Norfolk Poets and Writers (NPW) and editor of TIPS for WRITERS, has brought out issue 67 in memory of a wonderful writer and faithful supporter of the small press poetry scene, Margaret Munro Gibson. I will always associate Margaret with the colour blue (which happens to be my favourite colour). In my opinion, she was a true maestro when it came to the art of writing Haiku in the English language.

The current edition of TIPS includes poems by Alison Chisholm, Norman Bissett and Bernard M. Jackson, to name but three familiar names. It advertises the Margaret Munro Gibson Memorial Poetry Competition 2009 for a 'quality poem not exceeding 20 lines'. It also lists details of the current Norfolk Poets and Writers' Open Summer Poetry Competition 2008.

You can find details of Wendy Webb Books on Dee Rimbaud's AA Independent Press Guide site.