George Elliston Poetry Prize Greater Cincinnati Writers League Gold Star Program Gold Star

Submission Guidelines

• US poets, 18 and older, may enter. (Past/present members or critics are not eligible.)
• Maximum 3 unpublished poems. Use 12pt easily readable font such as Times New Roman or Ariel.
• Single spaced with no artwork or images included. Poems aided by AI are not eligible
• Each poem should be a maximum 40 lines or fewer not including space between stanzas or title.
• Enter through Duosama (free access with Duotrope) or email your word doc or pdf to [email protected] with the poem titles in the subject line
• Entry fee: $10, payable through Duosama portal or, if submitting through email, Venmo @Joanne-Greenway-1.
• Entry deadline August 30th, 2026
• This contest will be judged blindly. Entries with the poets identifying information are not allowed. ID info will be attached through your online entry or email.
• Pauletta Hansel, Cincinnati Poet Laureate Emerita will serve as final judge for this contest.
• Winners announced by October 1st, 2026
• The top 3 poets will have their poems published on the GCWL website and be invited to read at a special event hosted by the Artifact in Cincinnati January 5th 2027.
• There will be 10 finalists with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ($250 / $100 / $50) and include a one-year membership in GCWL ($50 value) which includes at least 6 two-hour poetry workshops with established and award-winning poets and educators.

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