The Rebecca Swift Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Degna Stone as its new project manager, in an exciting week for the charity as we wrap a vital crowdfunding campaign, Empowering Women Poets, exceeding our original target of £10,000. Stone joins the Foundation as the successor to Kirsten Luckins, who has been with the charity since the start …
In Search of Spring: Can Poetry Change the World? by Vanessa Kisuule
I’m often asked about the Purpose of Poetry. Usually, I’m armed with a scattering of stock answers, duty bound to extoll its virtues. I have a vested interest, of course; an irrational desire to account for my professional choices. But in times like these, its a question I’m taking more seriously. A pandemic. A war. A volatile government. Bills that …
Beyond Submissions by Naush Sabah
I found myself in conversation with another editor recently and realised that despite being a published poet herself, she didn’t send work out to magazines. I asked why. ‘Well, apart from the one I edit, none of them are any good.’ We both laughed at this and I managed to not indignantly exclaim Hold on, what about PBLJ?! It was …
Winners announced for the 2022 Women Poets’ Prize
Poets Prerana Kumar, Dillon Jaxx and Jennifer Lee Tsai have been announced as the winners of the 2022 Women Poets’ Prize at the inaugural one-day Women Poets’ Festival at the National Centre for Writing, Norwich. The biennial prize, founded by the Rebecca Swift Foundation and supported by FMcM, is awarded to three women writers who each receive a holistic package …
Women Poets’ Prize 2022 – our longlisted poets, in their own words…
We’re delighted to announce the thirty poets who make up our 2022 longlist for the Women Poets’ Prize
On entering poetry competitions: Tips from a sifter reader by Julia Webb
As a freelancer and believer in the power of the written word I have many hats – some I wear for money and some I wear for the simple love of the hat. Two of these hats involve poetry competitions – one I sift for (for money), the other I print all the poems for and send them to the …
Women Poets’ Prize 2022 launches with a new festival in partnership with the National Centre for Writing
Writers and artists including Helen Mort, Victoria Adukwei Bulley and Sophie Herxheimer lead programme of workshops and performances, with the 2022 winners announced live at Dragon Hall in Norwich New festival looks to prioritise accessibility and hybridity, ensuring remote attendees equally catered for Submissions now open for the third prize year, judged by Penelope Shuttle, Nikita Gill and Abi Palmer …