top of page

McLellan Poetry Prize
 
2024 Competition 

Welcome to the 2024 McLellan Poetry Competition. The simplest way of entering the competition is to submit your poem(s) and fee online from this page.  

 

Alternatively, you may submit your entry by post. Please click the pink button for a postal entry form that you should print to accompany your poem(s).

​

Please review the Competition Rules at the foot of this page before submitting your poem(s). 

​

The closing date for this year's competition is midnight, Sunday 2nd June 2024.

2024 Competition Rules

​

  • The competition is open to anyone except members of the McLellan Festival Team. You may enter any number of poems and on any subject. This year we shall be running both the main International Competition in English plus a separate competition for the best poems in the Scots language. 

  • The closing date and time for all entries is midnight on Sunday 2nd June 2024.

  • Poems should be of no more than 90 lines (excluding title), in English for the main competition or in Scots for the separate Scots Poetry Competition and your own original work (no translations).

  • Poems must not have won a prize in any other competition or have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online at the time of the closing date. Entrants must notify the organisers promptly of any change in circumstances that occurs after the date of entry.

  • Each poem should be on a separate sheet in black Times New Roman 12 point font and in A4 format (one side only). Poems will be judged anonymously and must NOT include the poet's name or any other distinguishing mark.

  • No alterations may be made once an entry has been received, nor fees refunded.

  • The entry fee is £7.00 for the first poem and £5.00 each for subsequent poems submitted on the same form.

  • If payment has not been made already online, please send cheque (in pounds sterling) from a UK bank made payable to Arran Theatre and Arts Trust Ltd.

  • Copyright remains with the author but Arran Theatre and Arts Trust reserves the right to publish winning and shortlisted poems for two years from the date the results are announced.

  • The judge's decision is final. Neither the judge nor the organisers will enter into any correspondence. Entry implies acceptance of all the rules and failure to comply will result in disqualification.

  • Prizewinners and commended poets will be notified individually on or before 5th August 2024 and invited to read at the award ceremonies with William (Billy ) Letford and Jim Mackintosh respectively on the Isle of Arran on Saturday 7th September 2024. 

  • Electronic copies of the winning poems will be required from the winners. The results of the competition with copies of the poems will be published on the festival website as soon as possible after the award ceremonies.

  • The competition organisers reserve the right to change the judges if necessary and not to award prizes if, in the judge's  and organisers' opinion, such action is justified.

bottom of page