Comstock Review Annual Poetry Contest 2016

Publish Date: Jun 27, 2016

Deadline: Jul 15, 2016

The Comstock Review Annual Poetry Contest 2016

30th Anniversary Contest

FINAL JUDGE:  MARGE PIERCY

First Prize: $1,000 (The Muriel Craft Bailey Memorial Award)
Second Prize: $250 Third Prize: $100
Honorable Mentions receive a one-year subscription.

Submission Period Opens April 1st annually. Deadline: July 15th (postmark)

FOR MAIL SUBMISSIONS:
Send to: The Comstock Review Summer Contest, 4956 St. John Drive, Syracuse, NY 13215.

We really like this method.
Fee is $5 per poem, no limit to poems.  SASE Optional  OR submit online 

($26 for up to 5 poems):  No names or contact info on poems.  This info MUST be in cover letter.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBSCRIBE  TO THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUES USING SUBMITTABLE. CLICK “SUBMIT.”  YOU WILL SEE SUBSCRIBE.

Here’s how it works — Our editorial staff chooses approximately fifty to sixty finalists. The highest scoring finalists (25 or so) are considered Special Merit poems. Special Merit poems go to the judge. The judge determines the top three prize winners. The entire editorial staff then selects the Honorable Mentions from the remaining Special Merits.

The Rules:
1. Each poem on a separate 8.5 x 11 page, typed.
2. Poems must be original, unpublished in ANY medium, print or electronic. We do not accept simultaneous submissions. The Comstock Reviewreserves the first refusal rights if there is any error in the poet’s records that results in simultaneous submission. Editors have the right to disqualify all poems submitted by a poet if there is any question of previous publication or notice of acceptance elsewhere by accident.
3. No poem must exceed 40 lines, beginning with the first line of text below the title. DO NOT count blank lines. Please also consider our 64-character line width when submitting.
4. Name and ALL contact information on the REVERSE side of EACH poem entered. If not, we have to disqualify any/or all poems lacking this information. Contact information submitted on the front of poems will disqualify entries.
5. Send SASE for results only. No poems will be returned.

6. All Prize Winners, Honorable Mentions, and Special Merit Poems are considered accepted work, and will be published.
7. PLEASE NOTE: The entry fee is $5 for per poem sent by mail, no limit.  Online it is $26 for up to 5 poems.

The Comstock Writers' Group

In the Beginning…

The Comstock Writers’ Group incorporated in 1986. From its inception as a workshop for local poets begun in the living room of Jenny MacPherson, it is now one of the most respected and enjoyed journals in the United States. The original group consisted of Jenny, Kathleen Bryce Niles, Peggy Flanders, Mike Morgan, Mike McAnaney and Yvonne Clifton. Others worked with us for short periods of time but this core group has remained consistent for over 20 years.  John M. Bellinger, who took over as Managing Editor from 2006-2009 and Georgia Popoff, who took over in 2009 are the first people in that position not there at our founding!



The first issues of Poetpourri, as the journal was initially entitled, were small volumes of poetry from Central New York writers. Karen Fausnaugh edited the first 2 issues.  Cupcake sales and turkey raffles as well as some very well-attended open mike sessions provided the income necessary to keep the magazine going for several years. As the reputation and interest increased, we supplemented subscriptions with a major project with the Syracuse City School District that involved poetry with children in grades K-12. Eventually, Poetpourri, Jr. became so enormously popular and it had to be limited to K-6 students only. The last issue of “Jr” was published in 2000.



In time, the adult Poetpourri became a fine journal representing excellent poets nationally. Several years ago, CWG became aware of the need to change the title to the more serious and fitting Comstock Review. (Few know that the name came from the street where our workshops began) Since the change in name our journal has continued to host the best work from poets throughout the English-speaking world.



In order to make the journal look as good as the poetry inside, we found it necessary to again find a way to supplement sales and subscriptions. Thus, we began the major contest known as the Muriel Craft Bailey Award. From the initial first prize of $100, we have been able to make it a $1000 award. Needless to note, this has brought out some excellent work from everywhere poets write. The Jessie Bryce Niles Chapbook contest was added in 2003 as a tribute to Kathleen’s grandmother and runs every other year.  Again, we have received the finest of chapbooks and had considerable difficulty choosing the winners in every contest year.



It is our joy to be able to do all this for poets. As a non-profit organization devoted to poetry, in general, and poets, in specific, none of our staff receives any compensation for their efforts. It is, indeed, a labor of love.  The magazine is not supported by any university or any grant money, although we do receive small donations from time to time and are grateful for a larger donation in 2009.



This website is our gift to poets. The Handbook for Poets is a guide that can be used by professionals as well as amateurs. The prize winning poems are published in order that poets can see the kind of work that is rewarded by publication. We exist to serve poets.



We have read and are reading literally thousands of poems yearly during the open reading period and the contest. We have selected well-respected and well-known judges to select the top poems from the contest. Everything we do is with the utmost respect and regard for the integrity of our writers. We treat the novice poet with the same respect and encouragement as the professional poet. While we do not have the space to print poems that do not meet the highest standards, each of us was once a beginning writer. We never fail to remember that.



There are relatively few journals not connected to University presses that have our longevity. We are what you see and what you see are poets in the business of poetry.


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http://comstockreview.org/annual-contest/

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