The 2013 Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets

Welcome to the Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets.

This prize was established in 2007, with support from the Malcolm Robertson Foundation, to foster poetry by writers who have not yet published a book of poems under their own name (see the prize guidelines for details). The 2013 major prize is $6000, with a second prize of $2000 and a third prize of $1000. All three winning poems will also be published in Overland. 

The competition closes midnight, Saturday 16 November 2013.

The competition will be judged by Overland poetry editor, Peter Minter, with winners announced in the first issue of Overland in 2014.

Please ensure you read the prize guidelines and confirm your eligibility before submitting.

This year, there are three ways to enter the competition: as a new subscriber, current subscriber, or non-subscriber. (Please note: Overland depends on its subscribers for its existence and the fee structure reflects that.)

New subscriber – $55

(Includes $12 entry fee and $43 subscription)
Writers can subscribe to Overland for one year (four issues) at a discounted rate, and enter the competition at the special subscriber rate. Take out a new subscription and enter the competition here.

Current subscriber – $12

Current Overland subscribers enter the competition at the special subscriber rate of $12. Current subscribers enter the competition here.

Non-subscriber – $18

Entry to the competition for non-subscribers is $18. Non-subscribers enter the competition here.

Busybird's Open Mic Night - 20th November

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    Wednesday,     20 November 2013
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    19:00 until 21:0
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• Busybird Publishing's Open Mic Night has been a roaring success since we introduced it earlier this year. More and more people are coming to read from their novels, their short stories, their poems, or to sing and perform. It's a fun night full of lots of enjoyment! So if you're a writer (of any sort) or a singer and would like to try your material on a live audience, why not come on down? Or you can just come down to watch! No bookings are required. Gold coin donation. Refreshments provided. Come check it out! Again, note that due to the popularity of Open Mic Night, we're now STARTING at 7.00pm. Hope to see you there! Busybird Publishing Factory 2/118 Para Road, Montmorency, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3094 View map · Get directions

Notebook Poem - by Andrew

holding dead hands, fingers

               depressed valves, holding

tea and Bix, the mute

               to the bell, puns

on the run, fingering

               the beads of belief –

making it mean

               with the repeat pedal

BR DIONYSIUS & LIAM FERNEY: JOINT LAUNCH, IPSWICH

You are warmly invited to the Ipswich launch of “Weranga” BR Dionysius' new poetry collection at 191athecomeup, 191a Brisbane Street, Ipswich (above Deanne’s Coffee Shop) from 6-8pm this Saturday 2nd November. 

Free admission, free wine and free champagne!

His new collection, "Weranga" (Walleah Press), will be launched by poet Vanessa Page and comes hot on the heels of "Bowra" and recent success in the 2013 Arts Queensland Val Vallis Poetry Award. He will be joined by Brisbane poet Liam Ferney who will read from his new collection “Boom” (Grand Parade Poets) and to finish the night there will be free music from a three piece local acoustic group called Bxta.

The eminent Craig Amos, designer of “The Story of IGS” book cover also designed the excellent cover for “Weranga”.

Liam's second full length collection, "Boom" (Grand Parade Poets) collects poems written in South Korea, England and Brisbane. His work was recently translated into Mandarin and published by one of Beijing's leading literary journals. — with Brett Dionysius.

CORDITE News

CORDITE 43.1: PUMPKIN is now live!

This special issue presents eight comics/graphic novelists' adaptations of poems. The points of the exercise are a bit of fun and to explore the quasi-transmedia intersection of the literal and the visual, and how the latter might interpret the former.

Please consider submitting to CORDITE 44: SILENCE, with poetry guest-edited by Jan Owen.

The Eleven Commandments - by Henry Miller

In the early-1930s, as he wrote what would become his first published novel — the hugely influential Tropic of Cancer — Henry Miller wrote a list of 11 commandments, to be followed by himself.

The list read as follows.

(Source: Henry Miller on Writing Image: Henry Miller, c.1950, courtesy of Answers.)

COMMANDMENTS

1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.
2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to "Black Spring."
3. Don't be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.
4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!
5. When you can't create you can work.
6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.
7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.
8. Don't be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.
9. Discard the Program when you feel like it—but go back to it next day. Concentrate.Narrow down. Exclude.
10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.
11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

Seamus Heaney's last-known poem, 'In a Field'

Seamus Heaney's last-known poem was described by the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, as 'heartbreakingly prescient'. Photograph: Eamonn Mccabe for the Guardian

What may have been Seamus Heaney's final poem, a "heartbreakingly prescient" reflection on the first world war, has been published for the first time by the Guardian.

Heaney was invited by the poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, to contribute to a memorial anthology marking the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war. She asked poets to respond to poetry, letters and diary entries from the time.

Heaney chose Edward Thomas's great poem, As The Team's Head Brass, which he wrote in 1916 shortly before he asked to be posted to the front – a decision that led to his death at Arras the following year.

In response Heaney wrote In a Field (see HERE), completed in June, two months before his own death and now published for the first time.

Duffy said: "Seamus's poem is typically beautiful, placed and weighted at the centre of the poetic landscape which he made so familiar to us all, and above all, heartbreakingly prescient."

more at http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/25/seamus-heaney-last-poem-published

larf

2013 TS Eliot Prize - shortlist

George Szirtes

The complete shortlist for the 2013 TS Eliot Prize has been announced, and features names including George Szirtes, Michael Symmons Roberts and Robin Robertson.

The full list of nominated poets and collections is as follows:

Dannie Abse Speak, Old Parrot (Hutchinson)

Moniza Alvi At the Time of Partition (Bloodaxe)

Anne Carson Red Doc > (Jonathan Cape)

Sinéad Morrissey Parallax (Carcanet)

Helen Mort Division Street (Chatto & Windus)

Daljit Nagra Ramayana: A Retelling (Faber)

Maurice Riordan The Water Stealer (Faber)

Robin Robertson Hill of Doors (Picador)

Michael Symmons Roberts Drysalter (Jonathan Cape)

George Szirtes Bad Machine (Bloodaxe)

Michael Symmons Roberts was this year's winner of the Forward Prize. Helen Mort is the surprise inclusion on the list, after having been shortlisted for her first full collection. Born in 1985, she became the youngest ever poet in residence at the Wordsworth Trust in 2010, and is now Derbyshire's poet laureate. She has previously published two pamphlets of poems.

The shortlist comprises 10 books, including four collections (those by George Szirtes, Michael Symmons Roberts, Moniza Alvi and Anne Carson) which have already been named Poetry Book Society Choices from 2013. PBS Choices are automatically shortlisted each year.

The winner, who will be announced on January 13 2014, receives £15,000. Each of the shortlisted poets receives £1,000. The judges are Ian Duhig, Vicki Feaver and Imtiaz Dharker.

Last year's winner was Sharon Olds, for her collection Stag's Leap. She was the first female American poet to win the award.

Dylan Thomas poem to be performed as a jazz song in his old bedroom

A DYLAN Thomas poem will be performed as a jazz song in the poet’s old bedroom next Sunday to mark his birthday.

Swansea group Afternoon in Paris will premiere their original gypsy jazz style musical interpretation of Dylan’s poem The Clown in the Moon at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive - where the poet was born on October 27, 1914.

1. ​
   afternoon in paris

Although the date will be the 99th anniversary of the birth of Dylan Thomas the house where he was born and lived for 23 years the day before it will also be celebrating his 5th Birthday.

Geoff Haden, who runs the home as a living museum, said: “The Clown in the Moon was written in this house when Dylan was just fourteen years old."

Read on HERE.

INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION 2013

MELBOURNE POETS UNION            

Established 1977

INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION 2013

      $1,000 First Prize, $300 Second Prize, $200 Third prize

$100 Martin Downey Urban Realist Award

Plus Book Vouchers for Highly Commended

            & Books for Commended

Competition Judge – Jennifer Compton

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

• poems should be in English, unpublished, not accepted or submitted for publication elsewhere and must be your original work
• poems should not be entered in any other competition, or have previously been a winner

               in any other competition

• may be on any theme, maximum 50 lines and must be typed.
• use of standard font such as Times Roman 12pt or Calibri double spaced is desirable

• shall not bear the poet’s name

• entries should be received by Friday 25 October 2013, or postmarked that date
• entries must be accompanied by cheque/money order payable to Melbourne Poets Union
• and addressed to Melbourne Poets Union, PO Box 266, Flinders Lane, Vic 8009

• Reading fee: $10 per poem, or $ 18 for 2 poems, $ 24 for 3 poems (no cash please)
• Direct-banking: BSB: 063 010   1005 4087   

NOTE

• entry fees are not refundable
• there is no limit to the number of entries an individual may submit
• failure to meet any of these conditions shall render the poems ineligible

• results will be announced Friday 29^th November 2013 at 7.30 p.m. and published on social media, or please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope (SSAE) for results
• the  judge’s decision is final –- no correspondence shall be entered into
• MPU reserves the right to publish the winning poem on their website

 

 

Sponsors

Black Inc Books                         Snap Printing, Heidelberg

Black Pepper Publishing        The Paperback Bookshop

Contact for mpuinc@yahoo.com Wendy Fleming 

0404517881   

Downloadable Entry Forms found at MPU’s blog http://melbournepoetsunion.wordpress.com/

MPU INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION 2013

Entry Form

Name

Address

Phone no                                        Email

No of poems entered

Titles of poems:

Signature                                         Date                                 Fee included $10 (1 poem)  $18 (2 poems), $24 (3poems)

Entries to                MPU International Poetry Competition

                       PO Box 266 Flinders Lane Vic 8009

Downloadable Entry Forms found at MPU’s Website:

Winners will be notified by mail and phone one week prior to the presentation of awards on

Friday 29^th November 2013 at 7.30 p.m. Venue tba.

All Prize winners will be invited to read their poems at the award ceremony at a venue in Melbourne which has yet to be decided.

http://melbournepoetsunion.wordpress.com/

haiku

early spring -
Paterson's Curse on
a cracked clay path

Peter Porter Poetry Prize 2014

The Peter Porter Poetry Prize is one of Australia’s most lucrative and respected awards for poetry, and guarantees winners wide exposure through publication in Australian Book Review. 

This year, poets are encouraged to enter online. Also for the first time this year, international entries will be accepted. 

Entries must be one single-authored poem of no more than 100 lines, written in English. Previously published or prize-winning works not accepted. Entries must not be on offer to other publications, prizes or anthologies for the duration of the Prize. 

First prize: $4000. Closes 20 November 2013 

For details, click here.

Paul Carter Launch at Planet Books 24th Oct

Planet Books are pleased to announce the upcoming launch event for Paul Carter's newest book, Ride Like Hell and You'll Get There: Detours into Mayhem. 

The latest offering from the bestselling author of Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs, She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse, This is Not a Drill and Is That Thing Diesel?.

Paul will be there to sign copies of his book and chat, and his publications will be available to buy on the night. 

Come down from 6.30pm 24th October for drinks, food and good company!

See you there,

Planet Books
(08) 9328 7464
just off the corner of Beaufort and Walcott Streets, Mt Lawley.

USA National Book Award finalists in Poetry—

"Metaphysical Dog" by Frank Bidart

"Stay, Illusion" by Lucie Brock-Broido

"The Big Smoke" by Adrian Matejka

"Black Aperture" by Matt Rasmussen

"Incarnadine" by Mary Szybist

Map to the Stars

BY ADRIAN MATEJKA

A Schwinn-ride away: Eagledale Plaza. Shopping strip of busted

walkways, crooked parking spaces nicked like the lines

on the sides of somebody’s mom-barbered head. Anchored

by the Piccadilly disco, where a shootout was guaranteed every

weekend, those gun claps: coughing stars shot from sideways

guns shiny enough to light the way for anyone willing to keep

a head up long enough to see. Not me. I bought the Star Map

Shirt for 15¢ at the Value Village next to the Piccadilly during

the daytime. The shirt was polyester with flyaway collars,

outlined in the forgotten astronomies of disco. The shirt’s

washed-out points of light: arranged in horse & hero shapes

& I rocked it in places neither horse nor hero hung out.

Polyester is made from polyethylene & catches fire easily

like wings near a thrift store sun. Polyethylene, used in shampoo

bottles, gun cases, & those grocery sacks skidding like upended

stars across the parking lot. There are more kinds of stars

in this universe than salt granules on drive-thru fries. Too many

stars, lessening & swelling with each pedal pump away from

the Value Village as the electric billboard above flashes first

one DUI attorney, then another who speaks Spanish so the sky

above is constantly chattering, like the biggest disco ball ever.

Source: Poetry (July/August 2012).

Notes from the Cricket Pavilion

Ricky Ponting is in England to fulfill a short-term playing contract with Surrey. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Well, I can't choose what quote to put forward as bait for you to go HERE to read a bucket of Australian cricket news and events, but take it from me it is all worth reading if you're a cricket nut. Ricky Ponting on Michael Clarke, discussions of Aussie batting and curators, Cricketer of the Week, tweet of the week, etc. Off the oval but all to the point.

Larf

A new employee complained to the Help Desk that she kept making mistakes typing her password. 

"What's your password?" asked the IT guy.

"mickeyminnieplutohueylouiedeweydonaldgoofyLondon" 

When asked why she had such a long password, she said...

"You told me it had be 8 characters long and include at least one capital."



(Thanks, Margaret VP)

Part Proceeds donated to The Starlight Foundation

Get a spot quick - limit 50 peep'z for catering

Peter Higgs went to lunch while Nobel physics prize was announced

Physicist says he learned of his award from an old neighbour who stopped him on the street as he returned from lunch

Read more HERE

American Life in Poetry: Column 445 by TED KOOSER, U.S. Poet Laureate

Sit for an hour in any national airport and you’ll see how each of us differs from others in a million ways, and of course that includes not only our physical appearances but our perceptions and opinions. Here’s a poem by Ada Limón, who lives in Kentucky, about difference and the difficulty of resolution. 




What It Looks Like To Us and the Words We Use 

All these great barns out here in the outskirts,

black creosote boards knee-deep in the bluegrass.

They look so beautifully abandoned, even in use.

You say they look like arks after the sea’s

dried up, I say they look like pirate ships,

and I think of that walk in the valley where

J said, You don’t believe in God? And I said,

No. I believe in this connection we all have

to nature, to each other, to the universe.

And she said, Yeah, God. And how we stood there,

low beasts among the white oaks, Spanish moss,

and spider webs, obsidian shards stuck in our pockets,

woodpecker flurry, and I refused to call it so.

So instead, we looked up at the unruly sky,

its clouds in simple animal shapes we could name

though we knew they were really just clouds—

disorderly, and marvelous, and ours.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2012 by Ada Limón, whose most recent book of poems is Sharks in the Rivers, Milkweed Editions, 2010. Poem reprinted from Poecology, Issue 1, 2011, by permission of Ada Limón and the publisher. Introduction copyright ©2013 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

Enjoy TIM WINTON Interview

JENNIFER BYRNE PRESENTS If you missed the exclusive Tim Winton interview on ABC1'sJennifer Byrne Presents last night, catch up here. Also, check out these behind-the-scenes photos of Jennifer Byrne and Tim Winton on location in Fremantle.

opportunities for poets

Peril - Asian Australian Arts and Culture - is calling out for submissions for a double issues, inviting contributors to consider dualities, binaries, opposites. They accept prose, poetry, non-fiction, essays, blog posts with a word limit of 1000 words, as well as spoken word in video format. Closes 1 November 2013.For more information, visit the Peril website. Cordite Poetry Review is accepting submissions for its next issue, Issue 45: SILENCE, with poetry guest-edited by Jan Owen. Visit the Cordite website, and use their easy online form to submit. Submissions close 14 November 2013.  The Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize, for new and emerging poets, is now open. The prize is designed to foster poetry for writers who have not yet published a book of poems under their own name. First prize is $6,000, second prize $2,000, and third prize $1,000. Closes midnight, 16 November 2013.Visit Overland for more details. The Peter Porter Poetry Prize 2014 is now open, with prize money worth a total of $6500. Now open to international entrants, the prize is one of Australia’s most lucrative and respected awards for poetry, and guarantees winners wide exposure through publication in ABR. Closes 20 November 2013. Submission details online.

Copyright © Queensland Poetry Festival Contact us on: qldpoetry@gmail.com 07 3842 9990 www.queenslandpoetryfestival.com

Black Inc's Best Australian Writing 2013

Each year the Best Australian collections – essays, stories and poems – bring together the best and brightest that has been written across the country. Selected by an eminent writer, these are collections that show the full range of writing we produce, recalling the year that has just been.

This year Kim Scott is the editor of The Best Australian Stories 2013, Robert Manne is the editor of The Best Australian Essays 2013 and Lisa Gorton is the editor of The Best Australian Poems 2013.

Black Inc is delighted to announce the writers and poets selected for inclusion in this year’s collections – click here for the list of The Best Australian Stories contributors, click here for the list of  The Best Australian Essays contributors and click here for the list of The Best Australian Poems contributors.