PSI Contests

PSI hosts several poetry contests throughout the year including members-only and public contests and contests for students.

Seasonal Poetry Contests

PSI will host four seasonal contests through the year. Contests come with prizes for the top three poems in each category and those poems are published in our yearly anthology. 

2025 Schedule

Spring - Submissions Closed February 22
​March 22 award event Anderson Public Library
​Judges: Poems must be judged and winners sent to PSI by March 8, 2025. See below for more.

​Summer - (Submissions closed. Will open around end of April. Deadline for entry will be May 22)
June 21 award event

Fall - (Submissions closed. Will open around end of July. Deadline for entry will be August 20)
September 20 award event
​
​Winter - (Submissions closed. Will open around end of October. Deadline for entry will be November 20)
December 20 award event
PSI 2025 Summer Contest Sponsor Submissions: Open 
Deadline to submit for sponsorship of the Summer 2025 contest is April 21, 2025

​Help pick our categories and poetry forms for our Spring contest. Contests come with prize money for the top three poems in each category and publication in our yearly anthology. Your sponsorship supports these prizes.
** PSI 2025 Spring Contest Submission Form Now CLOSED**
Please direct any questions on the contest to [email protected]
Submission Deadline: February 22, 2025
The Spring award event will take place on March 22, 2025 at the Anderson Public Library. 
Award Event Details: Time TBD, Free

Contest Entry Fee: 
  • Members: Free
  • Non-members: $5 (all poems are submitted at once for one fee of $5). Payable via paypal
​
Submission Guidelines

Please read carefully.
  • Submissions are open internationally, to any poet writing in English 
  • Paper/printed copies are not accepted
  • Simultaneous and previously published (publicly available online or in print) poems are not eligible
  • Poets may submit one poem for each of the 5 categories. Do not submit a document with more than 5 poems
  • Non-members must send payment for the entry fee
  • All poems must have a title unless the form does not traditionally have a title. Examples: haiku, tanka, rictameter, cinquain. In these cases, enter the first line of the poem
  • Upload one word document with all of your poetry submissions
    • Single space all line breaks in the poem.
    • Double space between stanzas.
    • Start each poem on a new page using page break. 
    • Use Times New Roman 12pt font on all text.
    • Use Times New Roman 14pt font for the title.
  • Not following the guidelines may result in an automatic disqualification.
  • PSI board members are not eligible

Categories and Awards for Spring 2025
1- Rebellious Women
Sponsored by Gal's Guide Library
Form: Any, Line Limit: 100
1st place award: $100
2nd place award: $50
3rd place award: $25

2- Brick by Lego Brick: poems exploring impact of building blocks on lives of individuals (children and/or adults)
Sponsored by Michael Strosahl 
Form: Any, Line Limit: 60
1st place award: $50 
2nd place award: $30
3rd place award: $20
+Best poem from an Indiana poet wins an assembled Lego set.​

3- Poverty
Sponsored by Oak & Amethyst
Form: Free verse, Line Limit: 75
1st place award: $300
2nd place award: $150
3rd place award: $75

4- Really??
Sponsored by anonymous
Form: Any, Line Limit: 60
1st place award: $60
2nd place award: $25
3rd place award: $15

5- Love of Poetry
Sponsored by Poetry Society of Indiana
Form:  Cinquain, Line Limit: 5 
1st place award: 1 year membership to PSI
​
The top three poems in each category are published in our yearly anthology.

Please direct any questions on the contest to [email protected]
Watch the form walkthrough.

Thank you to our sponsors!

In 2024, the following sponsors supported PSI by sponsoring categories in our annual contest.

Babbling Brook Award - Mary A. Couch
Cyan-Lee Award - Chris Ryan
Dr. Emory D. Jones
Eleanor Cranmer and Caroline Award - Caroline Dewey
Enjoying Nature - Mark and Nicole Oehler
Glenna Glee, the One and Only - Rex Williamson
Hoosier Heritage Award - Chuck Kellum
Invicta Economic Consulting, LLC
Kathy Jo Carter
Let There Be Light - Linda Eaton
​Poet Anon
Rachel Wright
The Viola Award - Peggy O’Donnell Heacox


Student Poets Contests

PSI Young Voices Annual Poetry Contest

Submissions Open May 1 to Sep 20. Any theme

Young Voices categories are 
1 grades 3-4
2 grades 5-6
3 grades 7-8
4 grades 9-10
5 grades 11-12

Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest

PSI hosts a state-level Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest. Winners at the state level move up to the national level. The contest is open to students in grades 6-12. Deadline is always early winter

Previous PSI Contests (Prior to 2025)

PSI Annual Poetry Contest


Our annual state contest open to the public and had numerous categories with results announced at our annual Fall Rendezvous in October.​

PSI Members-Only Annual Spring Fling Poetry Contest

​Each year as part of our Spring Fling event, we offered our paid members the opportunity to compete in a member's only poetry contest. The winners are announced during our annual Spring Fling event. The contest is judged by PSI's Premier Poet.