the6ress poetry competition

For the first time, we’re opening submissions for this issue as a competition. We’re looking for poems up to 40 lines on the theme of Invitation to Love, inspired by the dramatic soap opera show-within-a-show featured on David Lynch’s and Mark Frost’s ‘Twin Peaks’.

Your poems can be wild at heart and weird on top, describe a dangerous desire for donuts, dedicated to the beautiful girl across the hall, a celebration of our flesh world, or a simple salute to red lips, green lawns and blue velvet.

Prizes

Winner will receive £75 + a prize certificate + an invitation to read at our launch event
3 runners-up will receive £25 + a prize certificate + an invitation to read at our launch event

Shortlisted poems will be published in our 3rd zine Invitation to Love, released in print for Valentine’s Day, and a portion of sales will be donated to The David Lynch Foundation.

All shortlisted poets will be invited to the launch event, either face-to-face or via Zoom / Instagram Live.

The competition judges are Emma Dakeyne and Katharine Perry.

There is no entry fee.

Closing date: Midnight (on a moonless night) TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2021

Submission details

  1. The competition is open to poets of any nationality writing in English.
  2. No one may win more than one prize.
  3. There is no entry fee.
  4. Maximum submission of three poems per person.
  5. Poems should not exceed 40 lines.
  6. Work submitted should not have been previously published nor have won a prize in another competition. It must be your own work.
  7. Please email your poem(s) as a Word document or PDF (one per page) to the6ress@gmail.com
  8. Do not include your name or provide any other form of identification on your poem(s).
  9. There is no entry form. In the body of your email, please give:
    i) Your full name.
    ii) Your phone number (or that of a parent or carer if you are under 18).
    iii) The title of your poem(s).
    iv) Your social handle and a short bio (no more than 50 words). These will be published alongside your poem and credit.
    v) A brief summary of how your piece fits the theme 'Invitation to Love'.
  10. By submitting your poem you grant us permission to include it in our printed zine and / or feature it on our website or social media accounts. The copyright of the work will remain with the individual poets.
  11. Entries must be received no later than midnight on 30 November 2021.
  12. Poem texts cannot be altered after submission.
  13. The judges’ decision is final. No correspondence or discussion concerning their decision will be entered into.

We will be accepting art submissions as usual.

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