Calling all young poets across New York State! Are you ready to share your words with the world? The Poetry Society of New York is thrilled to launch its annual Youth Poetry Contest, an extraordinary celebration of creativity, talent, and the transformative power of poetry. Open to all writers under 18 living in New York State, this contest is an invitation to take the stage, raise your voice, and shine.

At PSNY, we believe poetry belongs to us all. Whether you’ve been writing for years or are just beginning to explore the art of words, we want to hear from you. There’s no theme for this contest—let your imagination run wild! Submit your best work, in any form or on any subject, and share the unique way you see the world.

Winning poets will receive not only prizes but also a platform to share their work with the vibrant poetry community. First place will receive $300, second place $200, and third place $100. All three winning poets will also have their work published in Milk Press, the publishing arm of PSNY, and the opportunity to perform on the youth stage at the renowned New York City Poetry Festival. 

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges using a rubric designed to celebrate diverse voices and poetic styles. Judges will consider originality, creativity, use of language, emotional resonance, and technical skill. Every poem will be read with care and intention, honoring the spirit in which it was written.

To enter, prepare a selection of your best original poems. 

• Submissions should include three to five pages of poetry, with each new poem starting on a separate page.
• Please ensure the document contains no identifying information. 
• Alongside your submission, fill out the online entry form, which will include your name, age, location in New York State, school (if applicable), and a brief bio sharing a little about yourself and your poetic journey.

The contest launches on January 15, 2025, and submissions will remain open until March 1, 2025. Our judges will review submissions throughout March, and the winners will be announced on March 26, 2025!

This contest is more than just an opportunity to win prizes—it’s a chance to connect with a community of poets and creators, gain recognition for your work, and experience the magic of poetry in a whole new way. We can’t wait to read your submissions and celebrate the next generation of poets.

Let’s make poetry magic together! For more information and to enter, visit poetrysocietyny.org/youth-poetry-contest

Are you a New York-based literary organization like an Open Mic event or Writing Group? Do you desire for more poetry-lovers and art-appreciators in our community to support your contribution to this space? We would love to platform you & strengthen the network of like-minded creatives in the process! Submit your application to be listed in our Monday Weekly Roundup distributed to our entire mailing, both the week prior to and the week of your Event or Product Launch. 

How to Poet is a blog designed to shamelessly attract attention to poetry. Using devices typically reserved for online “clickbait” like listicles, how-to’s, trends, hashtags, hyperlinks, hyperbole and sensational sensationalism, the poets at The Poetry Society of New York are having a little fun: creating literary content, criticism, poetry book reviews and entertainment that reaches outside the established poetry community to encourage wider audiences for poets and their work. 

Submit your proposed poetry-related article(s) here, keeping to a word length of between 350-600 words.

We publish articles every Monday. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Feel free to contact us with questions! 

We look forward to reading your submissions!

Milk Press merges the poetry, visual, and digital art worlds by cultivating, presenting, and publishing multi-disciplinary, collaborative work. We are currently seeking submissions for our Spring issue, launching digitally in April. Submissions are open from January 17th to March 7th. Please read our submission guidelines.
 

We only consider previously unpublished works. Our reading fee is put towards the free and accessible programs that the Poetry Society of New York offers. We hope to make our selection process as equitable and diverse as possible. That being said, BIPOC, queer, and gender non-conforming folks are especially encouraged to apply.