Lyrical Iowa Competition Deadline Approaching
The deadline for entering Iowa Poetry Association’s (IPA) 74th Annual “Lyrical Iowa” competition is February 28 and is open to interested poetry writers, said Pam Blomgren, IPA’s representative for Mahaska County. “Lyrical Iowa” is an annual anthology comprised of poems written by Iowa writers of all ages.
Each year, top-ranking poems are awarded cash prizes in each category and age level while many are showcased in the perfect-bound book. The 2019 edition will be printed and made available for public purchase later this year. Previous editions can be purchased through the IPA web site, www.iowapoetry.com.
“According to ‘Lyrical Iowa’ Editor Marilyn Baszczynski,” said Blomgren, “The 2018 edition contains 378 poems chosen from 1,840 entries which came from 73 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Poems were sent in by persons ranging in age from kindergartners to near-centenarians from well over 100 cities and towns.” One of Blomgren’s poems was chosen for inclusion in last year’s book though.
Blomgren is encouraging any Mahaska County resident who writes to consider entering this year’s contest. There are no entry fees. Up to five poems, 20 lines each, can be entered. Cash prizes, honorable mentions, and a first-time contributor award will be given. She also encourages entrants to carefully review the guidelines, rules, and submission information which can be found on IPA’s web site. Emailed entries are encouraged.
Complete information can be found online, www.iowapoetry.com. The Iowa Poetry Association is a non-profit organization whose sole objective is to promote interest and appreciation for better poetry by Iowans of all ages. It has over 350 members across the state, but membership is not a requirement for entering the competition or having poetry published in the anthology.
