Entry Rules: Deadline for entry is Wednesday, March 13, 2017
- Poets may submit up to three (3) poems. Each poem must be original, individual work and must not be previously published anywhere, in any form, including online.
- For hard copy submissions please include:
- Cover sheet: Include your name, telephone number, home address, email address, school/grade (if applicable) and category of submission (elementary, middle school, high school, adult).
- Poem(s): Submit up to three separate poems, each on 8 ½ by 11-inch paper. Do not include any personal information on the poem as this is a blind competition.
Mail or hand-deliver to Jo-Anne Hirshfield Poetry Awards, c/o Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201 by Monday, March 13, 2017.
3. Or, you can submit your poems online.
4. Winners will be notified by the first week in April. They must agree to grant Evanston Public Library a royalty-free license to publish their poem in official Library publications including the program book, website and newsletter. Entrants retain the copyright of their original work.
5. Prizes will be awarded at a program on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 2 pm at the Evanston Public Library. Winners will be invited to read their poem at this event.
Evanston Public Library employees/Trustees, and members of their family, are not eligible for this competition.
Award Categories
- Elementary school students (Evanston residents only)
- Middle school students (Evanston residents only)
- High schools students (Chicago area residents)
- Adults (Chicago area residents)
Prizes for each category: First Place: $100; Second Place: $50; Third Place: $25
We are delighted to introduce our 2017 Judge – Susan Moss
Susan T. Moss is the author of two poetry books, Keep Moving ‘til The Music Stops (Lily Pool/Swamp Press) and In From The Dark (Antrim House). She is a former English teacher, presently serving a third term as president of Illinois State Poetry Society. She is vice-president of Poetry Club of Chicago and a member of Poets and Patrons. Her work has appeared in several journals and anthologies including Caduceus, Vermont Literary Review, After Hours, Siftings From The Clearing, Seeding The Snow, Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, among others. Susan has appeared on Highland Park cable television, WDCB-FM and WLUW-FM Wordslingers. She holds an M.A. in English from Middlebury College, Bread Loaf School of English and a B.A. in Teaching of English from University of Illinois.