Poets invited to submit work for anthology

It’s been running for 12 years and is designed to get more people interested in writing poetry. It’s been a huge success and every year there are tens of thousands of entries from people who have never written poetry before.

Two hundred and fifty thousand entry forms are sent to all UK libraries but you can also enter online at www.unitedpress.co.uk, or ring for details on 0844 800 9177.

A winner is picked from each town or region of the UK and United Press will with your help, pick a winner from the Londonderry area.

All winners - over 250 - get their poem published in the National Poetry Anthology. All the regional winners get a free copy of the book and get to vote for their favourite poem in it.

The author receives 1,000 and a magnificent trophy in a presentation at their local library. This year’s winner is Daphne Warrick of Bedford. You can see full details on the United Press website. Entries for this year’s competition close on June 30th.

Peter Quinn, editor of Anthology, commented: “The National Poetry Anthology has been running for 12 years and is now the biggest free-to-enter annual poetry competition in the country.

“It’s designed to encourage more people to get involved in poetry. It’s a fallacy that fewer and fewer people write poetry. The truth is actually the opposite.

“100 years ago very few people wrote poetry but now because of improvements in education and lifestyle, we have the time and skills to write great poetry.

“There are 1500 writing groups all over the country and poetry, is a very popular subject in schools. Poetry is also the most accessible art form. You can write a poem on the back of your shopping list when you’re walking round Tesco.

“ Also, poetry is great therapy and it’s a great way to express your feelings and communicate them effectively. In poetry we can express our inner most passions within a short span of words. What other art form can offer something as powerful and relevant as this?”