The Whispering Wisdom 2026 Poetry Competition 

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Last year, we had some fabulous entries. Thank you to everyone who took part - it was a real privilege to read your work and we were so impressed with the quality of each and every entry.  ​All the winning entries can be found here 

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Here are details of our 2026 competition. We look forward to reading this year's entries.

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Further to requests, we are now offering a SEPARATE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S POETRY COMPETITION  Click here for details.

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THEME: Feel free to write on any theme

Although we have no set theme for this competition, we’re looking for heartfelt, reflective, or surprising reflections on life. We are looking for poems that move us, slow us down, open something, encourage us to think about life in a new way. Whether rooted in personal memory, spiritual insight, or ecological wonder, your voice is welcome here. 

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PRIZES .....(because Artists should be paid for their creativity!)

• First Prize: £250

• Second Prize: £50

• Third Prize: £50  

All prizes are subject to entries.

Winners and a selection of shortlisted poems will also be published on the Whispering Wisdom website and social media (with your permission).​

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ENTRY GUIDELINES

• Theme: A theme of your choice

• Length: Up to 40 lines per poem (excluding title and line breaks). Poems exceeding 40 lines will not be considered.

• Language: English

• Format: Typed and previously unpublished. Poems must have a title but submissions are anonymous - see Submission Guidelines below.

• Deadline: Sunday 31st MAY 2026, 11:59pm (UK time) Late submissions will not be accepted.

• Winners: Winners will be announced on Friday 14th August 2026 and notified via email. Winning entries will be published on our website in September 2026.

• Entry fees: 1 poem: £5.00. Further poems can be submitted for  £4 each.

• If you wish to submit more than one poem, please make payment via PayPal - our account is info@whisperingwisdom.co.uk.

• Fees help fund the prize pot, cover admin costs, and support the development of future competitions from Whispering Wisdom.

• Fee Waivers: Please note we will be offering up to 3 fee waivers in this competition - if you wish to be considered for a fee waiver, please complete the application form by following this link: APPLICATION FOR FEE WAIVER

• Please see our writers' resources page for details of other poetry competitions (this is a new page and we will be adding to it over time).

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​​​​​​​​​​SUBMISSIONS - How to Enter

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1. To submit ONE POEM - you can pay your entry fee securely via  our website using the PAY NOW button OR via PayPal using the Buy Now  button above.​

2. To submit MORE THAN ONE POEM,  please visit PayPal directly and make a payment to our account at info@whisperingwisdom.co.uk  

3. Email your poems to info@whisperingwisdom.co.uk  with the subject line: Poetry Competition Entry – [followed by Your Name]

4. Attach your poem(s) as Word or PDF files. Please do not include your name on the poems themselves — all entries are judged anonymously. If you are submitting more than one poem, please submit all your poems on the one email, along with a list of their titles.​

5. In the body of your email, include:

• Your full name and address.

• Your contact email – if you have paid by PayPal and your PayPal uses a different email address, please tell us your PayPal email address.

• The titles of the poems you’re submitting  - Every poem entered needs to have a title as we are judging entries anonymously – DO NOT FORGET TO GIVE YOUR POEMS A TITLE!

• A statement confirming that the poems are your original work and unpublished.

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JUDGING

All entries will be judged blindly, based on creativity, resonance, and technical craft. We want pieces which only you could have written. We want your voice, whatever that may be. We want authenticity and originality, genuineness and sincerity. Poetry that makes us believe anything is possible.  We have very eclectic tastes, so any style and genre is encouraged. We do like risks and pushing the envelope -- but if a more conventional poem really speaks to us then that's great too.
We love poetry that is visceral, felt in the gut. Work that takes our breath away, inspires and moves. We need this now more than ever. Strong structure and form are necessary to support any poem. Themes and ideas are vital for longevity. Language and uniqueness entice and reward.

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JUDGES

Chris Allen, founder of  Whispering Wisdom, is delighted to be joined by award-winning poet and screenwriter, Peter Devonald on the judging panel. 

​About Peter: ​

​Peter Devonald is a multi-award-winning poet/ screenwriter, formerly senior judge/ mentor for the Peter Ustinov Awards (iemmys, New York). He set up and edited literary magazines at College and University and has gone on to win many awards as a poet, including the Broken Spine Readers’ Choice Award 2025, Loft Books Best Poem 2025, Heart Of Heatons 2023 & 2021, Waltham Forest Poetry Competition 2022 and joint winner FofHCS. He has received two Best Of The Net and a Forward Prize nomination. 
He is poet in Residence at Haus-a-Rest, published in hundreds of prestigious journals and anthologies including six Broken Spine anthologies, Broken Sleep, Abridged, Alchemy Spoon, Door Is A Jar, The Bluebird, Dreich and London Grip. He runs the monthly Poetry Corner in the Post newspapers including Stockport Post and Manchester Post.
Prior to focussing on poetry he was co-chair of Reel Islington and his films as a screenwriter screened in over 150 film festivals, including Venice, Encounters, Premiers Plans and BFI. He placed in over fifty awards including a WorldFest Houston Gold Remi, Branchage International Film "Cutting Hedge", Virgin Media Shorts Finalist, Kyiv International Film Fest "Molodist" Best Film and a children's Bafta nomination.

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AI-Generated Content Policy - Please read

At Whispering Wisdom, we celebrate the depth, nuance, and emotional resonance of human creativity and interaction. We recognise the growing role of AI in creative fields, but this poetry competition is intended to showcase the unique voice and lived experience of human writers.

Therefore:

• Submissions must be the original work of a human author.

• Poems that are fully or primarily generated by AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Sudowrite, Gemini, etc.) are not eligible.

• The core creative content — ideas, structure, voice, and language — must be your own.

• If we have reason to believe a poem has been AI-generated or substantially AI-assisted, it may be disqualified at the judges’ discretion.

We trust in the honesty and integrity of our entrants and ask that you submit only work that is genuinely your own. By submitting your poem/s to the competition, you are confirming that the poem is all your own work.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I submit more than one poem?
Yes – please  pay via Paypal  directly if you are submitting more than one poem - our PayPal account is called info@whisperingwisdom.co.uk -information on multiple entries is set out above.

Can my poem have been published elsewhere?
No — we only accept unpublished work (including blogs and social media).

Will I keep the rights to my poem?
Yes. If selected for publication, we’ll ask your permission. You retain full copyright.

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Spreading the Joy

5% of profits from these competitions will be donated to charity. This year’s chosen charities are Sarcoidosis UK and Narcolepsy UK. To find out more about the wonderful work they do, please visit their websites at https://www.sarcoidosisuk.org/ and https://www.narcolepsy.org.uk/ 

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