Edwin Morgan, who would have been 100 years old in 2020, published his breakthrough collection The Second Life at the age of 48. In recognition of that, Gutter magazine and the Edwin Morgan Trust are delighted to announce this new ‘All things are possible’ competition for poets over the age of 40.
The judges will be looking for fresh single poems that in some way relate to, or spring off from, any aspect of Morgan’s life or work. Entry is free, with a first prize of £500. The winning poem and ten highly commended poems will be published in Issue 24 of Gutter magazine (August 2021) and, COVID-19 restrictions permitting, the poets will be invited to read at a launch event in Edinburgh.
The entry deadline is Wednesday 31st March 2021 and the judges are Christine de Luca and Janette Ayachi.
Submission is electronic via a Google form using the following link: EDWIN MORGAN 100 ENTRY FORM
Poets unable to submit electronically should email gutteredwinmorgan100@gmail.com for instructions on how to send a printed submission. Visit Gutter Magazine for further details.
Conditions of Entry:
- Poets must be over 40 years of age on the competition closing date.
- Poets must not previously have published a full collection greater than 40 pages in length.
- Poems must be previously unpublished in print or online
- Poems may be in English, Scots or Gaelic.
- Poems should somehow relate to Edwin Morgan’s life and work. For example, thematically, formally or in their use of language and register.
- Poems must be no longer than 42 lines.
- Maximum of 3 poems per entrant.
- Poems should be set in Garamond, Times or Arial 12 point, double-spaced. ~
- Poems should be uploaded with title sheet & statements (see below) as a SINGLE Word document. If using unconventional typography or layout, please include a pdf. Please consider the magazine page format if sending experimental or visual work.
- Save your files with a title as follows ‘firstname_surname_poetry_EM100’
- Please include your name, address, postcode, and line) on a title sheet along with a 25 word biography. Put your name in the header of each page of your word document.
- By entering, you consent to publication of your poem, if selected, in one issue of Gutter magazine. Your copyright is not affected.
- The decision of the judges is final, we regret that we cannot enter into any correspondence or give feedback about the judging process.
About the Judges:
Christine De Luca writes in English and Shetlandic, her mother tongue. She was appointed Edinburgh’s Makar for 2014-2017. She has had seven poetry collections published and five bi-lingual volumes (French, Italian, Icelandic, Norwegian and English). She has also collaborated with musicians and artists: her most recent poetry collaboration is Paolozzi at Large in Edinburgh (Luath Press, Edinburgh 2018). She has also written and translated stories for children and recently completed a second novel. Christine has judged several poetry competitions, most recently for Wigtown Book Festival in 2019. She is a member of Edinburgh’s long-standing Shore Poets group.
Janette Ayachi(1982 – ) a Scottish-Algerian poet // BA Combined Honours in English Literature – Film & Media from Stirling University // MSc in Creative Writing from Edinburgh University. // Published in many literary journals and anthologies from presses such as Polygon; Seren, Jessica Kingsley, Salt, Luath Press. // Author of pamphlets Pauses at Zebra Crossings and A Choir of Ghosts // hardback children’s chapter book The Mermaid, The Girl and The Gondola. // Hand Over Mouth Music (Pavilion: University of Liverpool Press) won 2019’s Saltire Poetry Book of the Year Literary Award. // Arts & Culture guest critic for BBC Radio Scotland // BBC Radio 4 documentary commission // 2019 Appeared on BBC television in the art series Loop / 2020 on The Edinburgh Show and Damian Barr’s The Big Scottish Book Club.
edwinmorgantrust.com 