HeartWood Poetry Prize
Ends on
First Place
$150
Publication in Summer 2025
Judge HeartWood Poetry Prize 2026
Runner(s)-Up
$50
Publication in Summer 2025
2025 Judge
Winner of the 2024 HeartWood Poetry Prize, Bleah (blay-uh) Patterson is a queer, southern poet born and raised in Texas. Much of her work explores the contention between identity and home and has been featured or is forthcoming in various journals including Electric Literature, Pinch, Write or Die, Phoebe Literature, and Taco
GUIDELINES
- Submission Period: May 15 — June 15, 2025.
- All submissions through Submittable with $5 reading fee.
- Poets may submit up to 3 previously unpublished poems, 5 pages maximum.
- Cover letter should include a short biography under 75 words.
- Submission file should not include your name or any other identifying information.
- Previous first prize winners (including HeartWood’s former Broadside Contest) are not eligible, nor are associates, friends, or students of the judge.
- Current or past employees, current or past students, and alumni of the MFA program at WVWC are not eligible.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Let us know immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere by sending us a note through Submittable.
- Submissions not adhering to our guidelines will not be considered.