Since 2007, Princemere Poetry has offered an annual prize for the best unpublished poem in any style. The winning poet is awarded $300, with $200 divided among runners-up.
Students in The Literary Journal course serve as initial readers for the contest, and alumni writers serve as contest judges.
See the prizewinning poems here.
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Deadline: September 19, 2025 (via submittable.com)
Entry fee: $5
Size limit: 4 poems
No AI-assisted or generated poems.
Entry format: We prefer that entries be typed and single-spaced (.doc or .docx format helps us). Name should not appear on the poems. Please include a cover letter or title page with name, contact information, and the poem titles.
The winning poem will be featured here; the author will be contacted for permission.
Submissions are judged blind. Previous winners, Princemere staff and their family members are ineligible.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Please let us know if your work is placed elsewhere.
Incarcerated poets, or poets who cannot afford the entry fee, may mail paper submissions to: Princemere Poetry Prize, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA 01984. Paper manuscripts will be recycled.
Ars Creative Writing 