Poetry contests are a great way of building you a target as a poet. Competitions can also help you to polish up all your half-finished poems into complete works of art. Additionally, having your poems picked in a contest can boost your confidence levels significantly. Most poetry competitions offer writers support and exciting training opportunities to help them develop their careers. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of any poetry competition and get into the track on winning.

Select Your Favorite Contests

There are many poetry contests around the world. This is why you should take the time to select one that you will work towards. You should also look at the judges to determine whether they are well-respected poets. You should also try reading the winning poems from the past competitions as this will help you know the type of competition you want to enter.

Read the Competition’s Rules

Many poets are not given a chance to participate in poetry competitions because they ignore the rules and regulations. This is why you need to read these rules at least more than twice to help you avoid going over the line limits or ignoring the stated theme. You should never let all your hard work get wasted by assuming that you know what the competition entails before you even read the stipulated rules.

Prepare Your Poem

It is always best that you send or recite a poem that you have drafted and redrafted several times than many poems that you have not reviewed carefully. Make sure you read the entry poem aloud to yourself and to your family or friends before you send it off. This will enable you to detect any rhythmic glitches or snags. You must ensure that the poem you choose feels right in your mouth as it will have a better chance of success.

Make Your Poem Look Professional

When it comes to poetry contests, judges usually get thousands of entry poems to read. Therefore, they will appreciate poems that are easy to read. Make sure that you type your poem and select friendly fonts like Times New Roman or Arial. Ensure the letters are large enough for people to read, but they should not run over the whole paper. You should also avoid detracting the poem with color papers or pictures. Most judges will be impressed with a poem that is professional and in a plain and nice white paper.

Leave Adequate Time

When entering a poetry competition, you must ensure that you leave adequate time for preparation. This will help you to leave enough time to work things out and reduce pressure on your side. If you are sending your applications through post or online, be sure to confirm the time of day that the competition closes. This will ensure that you are not caught out.

As a poet, you should not put all your stakes on a single competition. You do not want to torture yourself waiting for winners to be announced. It is best that you enter various competitions and prepare adequately for them. There are many poetry contests around the country and across the world. Take the time to know the different competitions and try your luck. You never know whether your poem will be the winning piece of art.