Poetry readings need not be boring. The National Federation of State Poetry Societies invites all poets to try blending a little theater with their poetry for the 2022 BlackBerryPeach Prizes for Poetry: Spoken and Heard. The contest deadline is March 15.
Winners win cash awards, $1,000 for first place, $500 for second, and $250 for third, PLUS publication in a chapbook of prizewinning poems, videos posted on YouTube, and an invitation to perform their award-winning work during the 2022 NFSPS convention, for which they receive free registration. Seven honorable mention poets will be included in the chapbook. The perks go on.
Members of OPA are automatically members of the National Federation and qualify for the member submission fee of only $10.
Entries must be submitted in both written and audio or video format via Submittable. Visit http://www.nfsps.com/BBP3Guidelines.html for details on how to do this.
This is not necessarily “slam” poetry, but poetry given a performance twist. For a taste of what the judges are seeking, listen to some of the past winners at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOmBAn_LT4k. For more information, contact Joseph Cavanaugh, BBP3 Chair, at [email protected]