We are now accepting submissions for Wingword Poetry Prize 2024. Through this competition, we aim to discover new talents in the field of poetry and provide them with the right platform to showcase their works. We are looking for poems that are creative, meaningful and authentic.
How to Participate
To participate in the competition-
Step 1: Pay the Entry Fees
Please choose the number of poems you want to send and pay the respective entry fees for it. Entry fee is Rs 1000 for one poem, Rs 2000 for three poems, Rs 3000 for five poems and Rs. 5000 for ten poems. This is the early bird fee, applicable till 15th March 2024.
Step 2: Check Your E-mail
Once you pay the entry fee on the website, you will receive an email with access to a secret link to the submission form.
Step 3: Fill The Form
Fill the submission form with your personal details and your poetry. You can type your poems in the form. Then click the ‘Submit’ button. You will receive a confirmation email as soon as you have submitted the form.
Rules
You must be an Indian national, resident of India or a person of Indian origin to enter the competition.
Poems submitted in the competition must be originally written by you.
We accept poems written in English for the Wingword Poetry Prize (Main). To be eligible in this category, participants have to be 15 years or above.
If you submit poems written in your mother tongue, it will automatically be entered in Wingword Poetry Prize Regional Category. The languages accepted for regional category are Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, Assamese, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Malyalam, Tamil, Odia or Gujarati. To be eligible in this category, participants have to be 15 years or above.
Children between the age groups of 7 and 15 years can participate in Junior Competition. We only accept submissions in Hindi and English for this category.
Any length and style of poetry is accepted.
We welcome all themes, for example personal topics such as love, family, childhood, identity as well as social issues such as women’s rights, corruption, violence and climate change.
We encourage beginners to participate. If your work displays merit, it will be shortlisted.
Previously published poems are allowed.
This is a writing competition. Performance is not required anywhere.
FAQs
Can I submit poems both in English and my mother tongue?
Yes, you may submit poems both in English (Main Category) and in any other regional languages (Regional Category) at the same time. Once you have paid the entry fee, the form will allow you to submit poems in all accepted languages of the competition. Poems will be automatically be entered into the respective categories based on the language you choose.
Note: Junior Competition for kids between the age of 7 and 15 only accepts poems in Hindi and English.
I have posted my poems on social media, am I allowed to submit them to Wingword Competition?
Yes, you are allowed to submit poems that you have originally written even if they have been shared on social media.
How do I make sure Wingword Competition is authentic?
The way to determine if a competition is authentic is by checking out the past winners of the competition and the books published by the organisation. We have uploaded information about all our past winners since 2017 on the website and even uploaded some free downloadable e-books for our online visitors to read.
We host a physical prizegiving ceremony each year in New Delhi where winners and commendable mentions of the competition are honoured. You can see the pictures on our website and read about it in the news section.
Do I have to write poems like the ones selected in previous years?
No, we don’t recommend you write poems on topics or styles that have won previously. We want you to be original and confident in your work. We value authenticity of content above everything.
Do I have to submit typed poems or handwritten?
You have to submit typed poems only. We do not accept handwritten poems.
How will I be informed about the results?
All participants will receive an email from us. We also advice the participants to check the ‘Results’ page that will be made live on the date of result announcement on our website. If you don’t receive an email from us due to any technical error, you can view the full list of winners on the website. You may also contact us on info@wingword.in if you haven’t received your digital participation certificate via email.We will be happy to assist you.
What if I don’t win in the competition?
Competitions are a sport that you enter knowing that you could win or lose. A poetry competition is a way to challenge yourself to send your work out there. Countless opportunities open their doors once you try something new. Be confident in yourself and believe in your poetry.
Do I have to attend the prizewinning ceremony in order to receive my prize?
It’s mandatory for top three prize winners of the competition to attend the prizewinning ceremony. There are editors, publishers and media persons present at the award ceremony to interact with the winners, hence their presence is vital.
All other prize winners and commendable mentions can choose to either attend the ceremony or not. If they are unable to make it to the ceremony, their prizes will be sent to them via postage.
I am an absolute beginner in poetry? Do I have chances in the competition?
It does not matter if you are just a beginner in poetry, if your work is compelling then it has a shot at winning. Eshna Sharma was only 16 years old when she sent her poem ‘Dinner Table Conversations’ to the competition, she bagged the first prize of Wingword Poetry Prize 2019 among 1650 submissions that were received that year.
Can I WhatsApp you if I have any other questions?
Yes you may send a message to this WhatsApp number +91-8431701103. We are happy to assist you.