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The Messy Mediums Anthology 2026/2027
A poetry competition for work that feels raw, strange, intimate, funny, excessive, tender, uncomfortable or alive.
The 2026/2027 competition will feature the best work submitted. The collection will be max 200 pages, and will be titled 'Meanwhile, in the 2020s'. Poems can be about coming of age, world events, personal struggles and achievements... anything to do with the 2020s.Â
About
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Chosen work to be showcased in the published anthology
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Shortlist publication (online)
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Maximum length - poems must comfortably fit on 2 pages (40 lines)
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Book sizing will be 5inch x 8 inch, with .5inch margins, 12pt text.
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Successful entrants will be contacted by February 28th 2027.Â
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To enter: Go the submissions tab on the menu, fill out the form and attach your poetry (word or pdf). Minimum fee for entry is £2.50 which you will find on the form.
Deadline
January 30th 2027 at 11:59pm UK time.
How to Enter
The 2026/2027 anthology will feature the best emerging writers. The collection will be max 200 pages, and will be titled 'Meanwhile, in the 2020s'.Â
Eligibility
Submission
Open to writers aged 18 or over. International entries are welcome if the work is primarily in English.
Go to the submissions tab on the menu to find the submission form. There you can attach your poem and pay your entry ticket fee. Include in the message: Poem title, author name, and a short backstory about the poem (optional).Â
The submitted work must not be published elsewhere. Please read the terms & conditions.Â
Entry Fee
Entry fees help cover publishing and administration. Entry is £2.50, and entry tickets are bought via the shop page!