.pdf download available at foot of page.

CHARLES BENNETT is a highly–regarded, prize-winning poet whose work has been published to wide acclaim in Europe and America. His first full-length collection was Wintergreen, and his second, How to Make a Woman Out of Water, appeared with Enitharmon in 2007. He is currently collaborating with composer Bob Chilcott and working on a non-fiction book set in North Norfolk. He is Field Chair for English and Creative Writing at the University of Northampton and a former Director of Ledbury Poetry Festival

Write a poem on any topic of no more than 40 lines for a chance to win a cash prize. Entries accepted from NOW until the closing date; July 4th. 2011

MAJOR PRIZES:-

• 1st. Prize £200
• 2nd. Prize £100
• 3rd. Prize £ 50
• Three runners-up £15
• + Certificates of Distinction & Merit
• Prize-winners may be published on the festival website

Performance Prizes:

Short-listed poems will be showcased at a festival reading before any announcement of the competition results and prizes awarded by audience vote.

LOCAL AWARDS

Poem by a resident living within a 10 mile radius of Mere. (Please tick box on Entry Form if eligible.) Eligible local entrants entering the Open competition are entered for this separate competition.

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JUNIOR SECTIONS

FOR AN ORIGINAL POEM NOT EXCEEDING 40 LINES

AGE AS AT CLOSING DATE OF COMPETITION.

1. 11 years & Under
2. 12 – 16 years inclusive

JUNIOR CASH AWARDS + THE GRACE WINES MEMORIAL PRIZE for the best poem from an entrant resident in Mere or attending a Mere School.

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ENTRY FEES:-

Please make cheques or POs payable to Mere Literary Festival

OPEN:-

• £.3 50 per first poem
• £3.00 second and subsequent entries

JUNIORS:-

• £1.50 per poem
• £1 second & subsequent individual entries
• 25% discount on school entries of 10 or more poems where, if preferred, one entry form, together with a list giving details of entrant’s name/age/title of entry, may be sent.

Please send entries by post as early as possible to -

MLF Competition, Lawrences, Old Hollow, MERE, Wilts. BA12 6EG

NB Please ensure correct postage for size of envelope.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES:- JULY 4th. 2011

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ADJUDICATION & AWARD CEREMONY - SUNDAY OCTOBER 16th. 3p.m.

with CHARLES BENNETT and the Local & Junior judges.

All short–listed entrants and merit awards will be informed by 30th. Sept and invited to the awards, although you don’t have to be a winner, or even an entrant, to come along to this event. Talks and Adjudications given by experienced and successful writers are a great way to learn.

Please read the competition rules before completing your entry form and posting off your poem. Your entry will help the work of the Mere & District Linkscheme (Reg Charity No;1062328) and your support is much appreciated.

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MERE LITERARY FESTIVAL COMPETITION RULES

1. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not have been previously published, broadcast on radio or TV, or awarded a prize in a competition.
2. Entries must be in English and typed or very clearly written on one side only of A4 paper.
3. Submissions should be titled but must not bear the name of the author.The author’s name must only appear on the Entry Form. Submissions bearing any author identification will be disqualified and entry fees will not be returned. Entries will be coded for the judging.
4. Any number of entries may be submitted providing the relevant fees are enclosed. The Entry Form may be photocopied.
5. No competitor may win more than one prize. This does not apply to supplementary or special prizes.
6. Entries will not be returned and competitors are advised to keep a copy of their work. All reasonable care will be taken, but the Mere & District Linkscheme accepts no responsibility for the loss or damage to manuscripts.
7. Submissions will not be acknowledged unless a suitably worded, stamped addressed postcard is included with the entry.
8. The Judges decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into.
9. Copyright of material remains with the author but the Mere & District Linkscheme reserve the right to use entries at festival events.
10. Trustees of the Mere & District Linkscheme and anyone helping to organise the festival are not eligible to enter any competition.
11. Short-listed entrants and merit awards will be notified by September 30th and all winners will be announced at the Festival Sunday Event. Results will be made available to the Local & Writing Press. Competitors wanting a copy of the results or monies raised should enclose sae marked RESULTS or MONEY with their entry.
12. In the event of the festival being cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, all monies will be refunded in full.

Entrants are asked to pay particular attention to rules 1 – 3

Entries should be sent by post to arrive by the competition closing date to:

MLF Competition
Lawrences,
Old Hollow,
MERE
Wilts.
BA12 6EG

PLEASE CHECK YOU HAVE PAID THE CORRECT POSTAGE UNDER THE NEW POST OFFICE PRICING STRUCTURE BASED ON SIZE AS WELL AS WEIGHT OF ENVELOPE.

IT IS NOT ADVISABLE TO SEND YOUR ENTRY BY RECORDED DELIVERY AS IT WILL NOT BE DELIVERED WITHOUT A SIGNATURE AND AFTER ONLY THREE ATTEMPTS CAN BE SENT TO A PO HOLDING DEPOT.

WE DO NOT RULE OUT YOUR ENTRY BEING SUBMITTED SIMULTANEOUSLY TO OTHER COMPETITIONS BUT WE DO ASK THAT YOU INFORM US AND WITHDRAW YOUR ENTRY SHOULD IT BE SUCCESSFUL ELSEWHERE AND THUS NOT MEET RULE 1 ABOVE.

Mere Literary Festival

Rules & Downloads