For the first time this year, Live Canon are running a first collection prize, following the expansion of their poetry publishing press

and establishment of their first editorial board. The winning poet will have their first collection edited and published by Live Canon,

with a launch event, distribution to book shops, online sales through Amazon and distribution to the press.

his competition is aimed at discovering talented poets who are ready to publish their first collection of 30-45 poems.

Entries, in the first instance, should consist of up to 20 A4 pages of material.

Shortlisted poets will be asked to submit their full proposed collection by the end of August.

The entry fee is £10.

Live Canon hope, in the future, to establish this as an annual competition with no entry fee but at the moment they still have to cover administration costs.

Poets may have had poems published in magazines and online, but should not yet have had a full first collection published in book format.

If you have any questions about eligibility, don't hesitate to email them at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

For more information and to enter, download an entry form here.

Live Canon prefer to receive all entries electronically (to save paper, and to share documents amongst their team more efficiently).