I’m not sure if this is the place to talk about it, but I wanted to start a thread for anyone applying to Foyle Young Poets 2020 from Poetry Society UK. Anyone have any tips or know about their preferred style?
Hey! I’m applying as well.
I tried last year and didn’t end up getting anything, so here goes another try. From people who have done well at Foyle, I’ve heard that it prefers narrative-driven poems but I’m not sure about the specifics
ahh that makes sense! tbh reading their winning poems it’s literally hit or miss…but since there’s no sub cap then i guess they’ll b receiving every poem i’ve written in the last three years lol
I know this is late but what I’ve analysed from reading their anthologies: They don’t lean towards jargon-filled poems, grouping aesthetically pleasing words MAY get you into the top 85, to get into the top 15 write narrative-driven poems with lots of imagery and preferably alliteration and similies and make sure it sends a clear, understandable message.I’ve entered the competition too, but I’m not counting my chickens before they hatch. Best of luck to all those who’ve applied.
Same. I entered some of my poems this year - as I didn’t know about this competition until a few months ago. There was definitely a pattern between the top 15 winners; Now I’m just waiting for results, though I’m keeping my expectations low.
Also, does anyone know how they will run the program for the winners or if it would be virtual because at the very least, I would like to watch the performances.
Just curious but, has anyone heard back yet - I’m a bit nervous because I had to retract two of the poems which I sent as they won a competition and became published after I entered
Has anyone received an email?
I emailed them last week and they said that they would come out either late last week or sometime early this week (per winners).
They replied to my email today asking whether all decisions have been sent out and they said that they’re currently “in the process of contacting the winners”
A few of the people I know have gotten results earlier today but I think they’re sending results out gradually. Those I do know got commended so I’m not sure if top 15 is out yet
Are they in the UK or abroad?
Also, whatever happens, I would love to see all of your poems! You can copy them here after all emails are sent out (as it would be considered as a “publication” by the competition) if you are comfortable in doing so. You could also send another poem that you have written recently, as personally, my poems have since evolved a bit.
@artivist247 They’re US
Foyle emailed me back today and they said they’re still in the progress of sending decisions to winners and I heard that someone got commended today
Thank you for keeping us updated! I think that the process may be taking longer this year if people are still getting commended
yup, i’ve got some friends who were commended and apparently foyle’s sending out the notifs in waves (ie one commended person’s confirmation forms were due last week, and on that same day they began sending out more notifs for commended people.) Just a little bit sad that I won’t even get a rejection letter…but i’m sure all of you are very talented so don’t worry too much, and its just one comp at the end of the day!
They aren’t sending rejection letters? And I know that it’s one comp - I’m just sad that the poems which I was most proud of per submitting became ineligible due to later publication (the other ones I just sent on a whim)
No, they aren’t sending rejection letters (sigh) because of the high volume of applicants, so the majority of us will have to wait in limbo until they announce the full list of winners. And I’m sorry to hear that, although congrats on the publications!!! Do you mind sharing which ones?
Where did you hear that they aren’t sending rejection letters? Last year they sent a mass one after all recipients had been notified.
On the rules page of the website, it says “Due to the sheer volume of entries, only successful entrants will be notified. Details of the full winners list will be announced publicly on The Poetry Society website in early October 2020.” I think they may have changed this policy this year as they’re probably getting lots more submissions since they removed the sub cap.