Contests & Awards

The Poetry by the Sea Conference runs a sonnet contest, for unpublished sonnets and sonnet crowns, and a book award, for books published in the previous year. As part of our Tenth Anniversary celebrations, this year we are running The Gylys Villanelle Prize for the first time, in partnership with the Wild & Precious Life Series.

The Gylys Villanelle Prize

The first ever Gylys Villanelle Prize submission period opens September 3rd 2024. 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. Click here for full guidelines.

Sonnet Contest

The sixth season for Poetry by the Sea’s Sonnet Contest, renamed The Kim Bridgford Memorial Sonnet Contest and run in conjunction with Mezzo Cammin, is open as of November 12th 2023. 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 2024 Poetry by the Sea Conference. We welcome traditional sonnets, as well as artful variations that push the boundaries of the form. Click here for full guidelines.

Book Awards

The sixth season for the Poetry by the Sea Book Awards, given to the best poetry book published the previous year is open as of January 5, 2024. The category is Best Book of 2023, and the winner will be awarded a prize of $500. Click here for full guidelines.