The Poetry by the Sea Conference runs a sonnet contest, for unpublished sonnets and sonnet crowns, and a book award, for books published in the previous year. Since last year’s contest was such a success, this year we are also running The Gylys Villanelle Prize again, in partnership with the Wild & Precious Life Series.
The Gylys Villanelle Prize
The second Gylys Villanelle Prize submission period opens September 1st 2025. The writer of the winning villanelle will be awarded a prize of $500 and invited to read the poem at the May 2025 Poetry by the Sea Conference. We welcome traditional sonnets, as well as artful variations that push the boundaries of the form.
Previous Gylys Villanelle Contest Winners with Links to Poems.
Click here for full guidelines.
Sonnet Contest
The ninth season for Poetry by the Sea’s Sonnet Contest, renamed The Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Contest and run in conjunction with Mezzo Cammin, will open in November 2026. There are two categories: Single Sonnet and Sonnet Crown. The writers of the winning poem(s) in each category each will be awarded a prize of $500 and invited to read the pieces at the May 2027 Poetry by the Sea Conference. We welcome traditional sonnets, as well as artful variations that push the boundaries of the form.
Previous Sonnet Contest Winners with Links to Poems.
Click here for full guidelines.
Book Awards
The ninth season for the Poetry by the Sea Book Awards, given to the best poetry book published the previous year will open in January 2027. The category is Best Book of 2026, and the winner will be awarded a prize of $500.
Gallery of Previous Winners.
Click here for full guidelines.
Results of the Poetry by the Sea Book Award 2026
The 2026 Poetry by the Sea Book Award was won by Hilary Biehl for Giants Crossing, selected by judge Rachel Hadas. Hilary was awarded a prize of $500 and read…
2026 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Crown Contest Winner
The Maze by Steven Monte The hero finds himself within the maze:the minotaur awaits him. He’s pulled stringsto get this far. And since he has no wings,he must stay grounded,…
2026 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Contest Winner
Walking with My Daughter After a Funeral When she asks me if trees live a long time,I tell her longer than a person lives.She says that she won’t die. We…
2026 GYLYS VILLANELLE PRIZEWINNER
THE ETERNAL RETURN: NIETZSCHE AND THE MONSTERS by R. G. Evans When darkness falls at last, what’s there to fearfor Freddy, Michael, Jason, and the rest?They laugh at death they…
2025 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Contest Winner
Slowing Time by Erica Reid My husband is a podcast guy. He says that scientists believe now climate change is starting to affect the length of days:for the first time in a…
2025 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Crown Contest Winner
Night by Rick Mullin Every angel is terrifying ~Rainer Maria Rilke When I opened for Los Dildos at the Y,I knew I’d get my ass kicked. They had hornsand huge…
2025 GYLYS VILLANELLE PRIZEWINNER
The Knife, The Throat by Dawn Manning I’ve had a knife at my throat and didn’t die, though when I swallow it tastes like pennies.This scar’s my pearl choker—chic as a…
Results of the Poetry by the Sea Book Award
IWe are delighted to announce the results of the Poetry by the Sea Book Award: At the Lepidopterist’s House by Chelsea Woodard, selected by judge Jane Satterfield. Chelsea will be…
2024 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Crown Contest Winner
Roughly True by Barbara Lydecker Crane Suzanne Valadon, 1865-1938, Paris What, you haven’t heard of me, despitemy art and stormy life? There’s much to tellof pride and bitterness, of…
2024 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Contest Winner
Calling Hours at the Funeral Home by Jean L. Kreiling He wants to be here—it’s for his Aunt Lou,who baked him cookies, sent him cards and money,applauded his good news…
2023 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Contest Winner
DRIVING NORTH FROM FLORIDA IN MARCH by Brian Brodeur I think of you out thereon the sandy edge of things—Anthony Hecht, “Message from the City” On viny medians near Fayetteville,spring…
2023 Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Crown Contest Winner
After The Planets by Matthew Moniz with thanks to Gustav Holst Mars Far after all the planets have expired,we’ll look upon our headstone rocks adriftand back at errant dreams…