Submission Deadline: Song of the San Joaquin
2021-06-01
The deadlines for the Song of the San Joaquin have been changed to the first day of March, June, September, and December as more time is needed to get the books mailed before each of the readings. That means the next deadline is June 1, which is coming right up! See the Song of the San Joaquin website for more information: http://www.chaparralpoets.org/SSJ.html

City of Modesto Poets Corner Contest Deadline
2022-03-18
The Poets Corner Poetry Contest is sponsored by the Modesto Poets’ Corner Committee, a subcommittee of the Modesto Culture Commission.
WHO MAY ENTER
Poets of any age who reside in Stanislaus County*
GENERAL: Any kind of poetry on any subject, rhymed or
unrhymed. Free verse and form welcome. Group of three haiku
accepted as one entry.
SPECIAL: Gratitude and Hope: How can we be grateful and
hopeful in these challenging times? How could we be open to our
need to discover and share hope and chances for joy? How do we
create time and space to care about being alive? What might happen
with gratitude and hope?
Deadline
Entries must be postmarked by Friday, March 18, 2022 or submitted electronically by 11:59 pm on Friday, March 18, 2022.

WINNERS
Winners will be notified by email (or mail, when email is unavailable.)
Poets will be invited to read their winning poems on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 1:00 P.M. at the McHenry Museum, followed by light refreshments.
All building uses are subject to COVID-19 protocols and restrictions. All uses are subject to change and may be canceled or adjusted at owner’s discretion for compliance. Winning poems will be collected in a booklet. Each winner will receive a booklet, and a copy will be added to the Poets’ Bookshelf at the McHenry Museum.
PLEASE GO TO the City of Modesto’s Poets’ Corner Page for the entry form and full submission instructions.

Deadline: City of Modesto Poet's Corner Contest
2023-03-24
The Parks, Recreation and Neighborhoods Department and the City of Modesto’s Poet’s Corner Committee are pleased to offer an Annual Poets’ Corner Contest. Please view the Poet’s Corner Contest Submission Form for full details.
Submissions
Poems will not be returned after the contest, so entrants should keep copies of their work.
Electronic Submissions

Include one cover page with poet’s name, address, email and title(s) of poem(s). If poet is a student, then indicate grade, school and name of teacher on the cover page.
Submit cover page and poem/poems in one file in .doc, .docx or .pdf format to the Poets Corner Contest Submission Email.

Mailed Submissions
Submit one copy of each poem along with one entry form for each poet to one of the following locations:

Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center, C/O Poet’s Corner Contest, PO Box 578940, Modesto, CA, 95353
McHenry Museum, C/O Poet’s Corner Contest,1402 I Street, Modesto, CA, 95354

Printed Entry Form and Contest Rules
May be picked up at the following locations:

Parks, Recreation & Neighborhoods Department Office – 1010 Tenth Street Place, Suite 4400
McHenry Museum – 1402 I Street
McHenry Mansion Visitor’s Center and Gift Shop – 924 15th Street
Stanislaus County Library – 1500 I Street

Deadline
Entries must be postmarked by Friday, March 24, 2023 or submitted electronically by 11:59 pm on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Requirements
The contest is open to all Stanislaus County residents.
Categories

General: Any kind of poetry on any subject, rhymed or unrhymed. Free verse and form welcome. Group of three haiku accepted as one entry.
Special: “Renewal: How do we restore and renew ourselves and our community after years of pandemic? How do we individually and collectively allow ourselves the space to mourn and feel what has been lost while holding optimism and being open to possibility? What might renewal look like in nature, ourselves, our families, and our communities? What does it feel like to be hopeful, imagine a better world, and create the future?”

Entry Limitations

Two poems per person
Each poem may not exceed 32 lines
All entries must be typed on standard 8.5″ x 11″ paper, double-spaced, in standard font
Entries must be unpublished at the time of submission
Entries may be two of one category or one of each category
At the top of each poem, indicate contest category and, if under the age of 18, grade in school
Do not put name of poet on any submitted poem: put name on cover page or entry form only
No plagiarism or offensive language.

Contest Winners
Contest winners will be notified by email (or mail, when email is unavailable). Poets will be invited to read their winning poems on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 1:00 PM at the McHenry Museum, followed by light refreshments.
Winning poems will be printed in a booklet that will be placed in the Poets’ Bookshelf, which contains published works by local writers and will be kept at the McHenry Museum. Each winner will receive a copy of the booklet.

2023 Aileen Jaffa Young Poets Awards Ceremony
2023-05-13 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Carnegie Arts Center, 250 N. Broadway, Turlock, CA, 95380, United States
AILEEN JAFFA YOUNG POETS CONTEST
Co-sponsored by MoSt (Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center) and the National League of American Penwomen (NLAPW), Modesto chapter.
This contest is offered as a means of encouraging young writers throughout Stanislaus County and as a way to remember poet Aileen Jaffa, the founding President of the Poets of the San Joaquin and member of the Modesto Branch of the National League of American Pen Women.
Awards and Recognition
First, second and third place winners in each category will receive cash awards from the MoSt Poetry Center. Prizes are: First Place $25, Second Place $15, Third Place $10. In addition, the Modesto Branch of the National League of American Pen Women will award a $60 Aileen Jaffa Outstanding Poem award in each of two combined categories, Categories 1 and 2, and Categories 3 and 4.
The current president of the NLAPW Modesto chapter will present the awards, and the winning poems will be read at an Awards Ceremony at 2 P.M. on Saturday May 13, 2023 at the Carnegie Arts Center, 250 N. Broadway, Turlock.
For more information, contact info@mostpoetry.org

Mini-Workshop for Teens: Write a Tiny Poem - Contest Deadline Jan. 31
2026-01-17 13:00 - 14:00
Mini Workshop & Youth Poet Laureate Q & A
Valentina Zeff, current Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate, answers your questions!
Teens are invited to join Valentina on Zoom on one (or both!) of these two dates: Saturday, January 17 and Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Valentina shares great tips on how to write a tiny poem for the Woven Words Teen Contest.
Then you can easily submit your poems to our contest! Deadline for that is January 31, 2026.
Feel free to drop in and meet Valentina and learn about the Woven Words: Teen Voices from the Central Valley Anthology.

January 17 Zoom Meeting
January 24 Zoom Meeting

Write a Tiny Poem: Workshop with Youth Poet Laureate Valentina Zeff
2026-02-28 13:00 | Zoom
Tiny Poem Workshop With Stanislaus County Youth Poet Laureate Valentina Zeff. All are welcome!
Learn how to write a tiny poem + enjoy a Q&A with the Youth Poet Laureate. Find out how to submit your poems to the contest. The Woven Words Tiny Poem Contest is FREE and open to teens who live in or attend high school in Stanislaus County. The contest is a publication opportunity–the entries will be woven into a larger poem and published in a book, and we will celebrate together a bit later in the spring!
PLUS YOU CAN WIN PRIZES–top poem in each theme wins $50. Note: all poems will be accepted for publication. Please see contest guidelines for details.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85093492645
