Please do not put your name or any identification on the pages of your manuscript, so that all entries can be considered anonymously.  Identifying information will automatically disqualify your submission from consideration.

Only one manuscript per entry.

Submissions open on January 2, 2026 and close at 11:59 EST on February 29, 2026, unless the Submission Cap of 250 is reached before that date.

Manuscripts must be no more than 28 pages.  No more than one poem per page.  A poem that takes up more than one page will be counted towards the page count.  You may choose to include a table of contents and it will not count towards the total page count.

Any acknowledgements and a bio may be included ONLY AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT that will not be read in the initial selection process.

Please use 12 pt. type in a highly readable font such as Times New Roman. Documents may be submitted as Word or PDF files only.  Please do NOT put any identifying information in your manuscript.

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All entries will be considered anonymously.  

10 finalists will be selected by our readers for consideration by the judge, poet and essayist Aimee Nezhukumatathil. She will select one winner and two honorable mentions.

The winner will receive a $1,000 prize, 20 copies of the printed chapbook, and a reading on The Poets Corner on Zoom on June 14, 2026, hosted by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. 

Two Honorable Mentions will receive awards of $250 each.

The winner will be announced at the Camden Festival of Poetry on May 16, 2026, and all poets who have submitted will be notified after that announcement.

Honorable Mentions and the remaining finalists will be invited to read on The Poets Corner on zoom on July 12, 2026.

Toad Hall Editions will design, print, and publish the winning chapbook in an edition of 250. Toad Hall Editions retains North American rights for publication.

There will be the opportunity for feedback on your chapbook from one of our established reading poet/editors after the contest selections have been made for an additional fee of $75.00.  If interested, you may contact thepoetscornermaine@gmail.com.