Q. How does one enter your student poetry
contest?
A. Students may enter
online through our website, or through school. A number of
teachers submit their classes' work on an annual basis. There is no
entry fee to enter our Student Poetry Contest.
Q. Is this a local contest?
A. Our Student Poetry Contest is
nationwide, with four divisions for students grades 3-12. Each year we
receive several thousand submissions.
Q. What about prizes?
A. There are two types of prizes
awarded in our Student Poetry Contest. The first is based on
poetic merit. Prizes are awarded to first, second, and third place in
each division with one grand prize awarded to first place overall.
These prizes include United States Savings Bonds ranging from $50.00 to
$500.00, and America Library of Poetry certificates of achievement.
The second type is selected at random based on participation, and may
be awarded to any student who has shown the initiative to submit their
work. These prizes include VISA gift cards and "School's Out" Shopping
Spree, which is awarded as a cash prize.
Q. How are winners notified?
A. Names of division winners will be
announced on September 30th and posted on our website along with their
winning entries. Names of random prize winners will also be posted on September
30th. All winners will be notified by mail or telephone. All
prizes will be awarded by mail. To view the most recent list of winners,
please click here.
Q.
Who judges the poetry?
A. Our staff privacy policy prohibits releasing the names of our judges
or those of the members of our review committee. Most have been
affiliated with the America Library of Poetry for ten years or more with
backgrounds in English, Literature and Journalism.
Q. What if a student's name, address, or poem title is
misspelled or does not appear correctly in the letter regarding the
contest and being published?
A. Within the
author's release and order form found on the second page of the letter,
we have provided a box in which to make any necessary corrections.
Simply use this box, and we will update the information upon receiving
it in the mail.
Q. Does everyone receive
the same letter, or do you offer to publish everyone?
A. No; Some letters simply explain how the
contest is judged, when winners will be announced, etc. We realize that
we are working with amateur student poets, and we try to be encouraging
as possible, but we simply cannot publish all the poetry we receive. In
fact, only about twenty percent of our authors will be published in one
of our compilations.
Q. What are the deadlines?
A.
Entering Contest:
The deadline of April 30th is for the postmark date. The contest rules
can be read
here and
entry forms can be downloaded for printing
here.
Publication / Release and Order Forms:
The deadline of August 17th is for the
postmark date. We do not need to receive your response by August
17th, it simply must be mailed by that date.
Q. What if a student misses the deadline
for publishing? Can the student still be in the book?
A.
The student could still be published, but in the next year's book.
For the book Inspired (2009), please click here for more information.
Release forms and orders which are received after the deadline, will
automatically be rolled over into the next year's book.
Q. What if a student misplaces the release
and order form?
A. You may download and print another
artist release and order form by clicking
here.
Q. Is there any
physical difference between the initial author's copy and one of the
additional copies?
A.
There is no physical difference in any of the books. Initial
"Author's Copy" and "Additional Copies" are terms used on the
order form to define how the discount is offered. The initial book
purchased is $32.95 and referred to as an "Author's Copy" as this is for
whom it is usually ordered. Any subsequent copies are referred to as
"Additional Copies" which are discounted to $24 each. If a family has
more than one student being published, we suggest having each student
sign their respective form, stapling them together and simply using the
top form to place the order. That way, both poems will be published,
and the discounted rate will be applied beginning with the second book
purchased. Shipping and handling is $6 regardless of quantity ordered.
Q.
Does a student have to buy the book to remain in the contest or release
a poem for publishing?
A. There is no cost to
enter our student poetry contest and whether or not a book is purchased
has no bearing on placement in the competition. Purchasing a book is
optional. To release a poem for publication, simply fill out the
author's release portion and mail it by the author's deadline. To
purchase a copy of the book, include the correct payment amount, and the
author's release form doubles as an order form. When payment is
enclosed, it is considered both a release and an order.
Q.
What does the book look like?
A. Every book
we produce is of the highest quality. the student poetry compilation is
approximately a 224 page 9 x 6 book, soft laminate cover in color,
perfect bound, with poetry arranged according to grade level. A complete
index of authors including names, poem titles and page numbers is found
in the back of book. All books are backed by an no-risk 30 day money
back guarantee. If a book is found to be unsatisfactory in any way it
may be returned and the buyer shall be issued a prompt refund of
purchase price and shipping cost.
Q.
When should I receive my book order?
A. For orders placed by
September 30th:
You may expect your books to arrive in early December
before the holiday season.
For
subsequent orders
placed during October 1-December 1st:
You may expect your books to arrive in late January.
For
subsequent orders
placed anytime after December 1st:
You may expect your books to arrive in 4-6 weeks.
Q. How do students see their poems on your
website?
A. Only the poems written by the contest winners are automatically added
to our website. We do not publish all poems received on our website.
“Poetry On the Web” is a special program reserved for our published
authors only. If you have been published by The America Library of
Poetry, please refer to the back of the book in which you were published
for more information on this author exposure program.
For further inquiries, please
email us.
