Hey Poets: Win $50 and Get Published

I'd like to imagine she's speaking in a poetry voice. You know the one that has dramatic pauses between words like "the" and "apple.

Have you always thought of yourself as a poet but never told your friends because you thought they’d call you a pussy?  I hope not, because that would be pretty tragic.  But whether you fall into the category or not, I’m here to tell you that you could actually get paid and published for the stuff you write.  Then you could say to your friends, “I may be a pussy, but who has $50 bucks bitches?”.  Of course only if you’re into that whole spite thing.

Anyways, Friends of the SFPL and the SF Public Library have teamed up to bring you the Poets 11 2010 Contest.  I’ve cut an pasted all the info below because, well, it’s already there.  Why rewrite it?

POETS 11 2010

CITY-WIDE POETRY CONTEST NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS!

SAN FRANCISCO, CA '“ San Francisco poets, get your pens'”Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and their Poet-in-Residence Jack Hirschman, together with the San Francisco Public Library are pleased to announce Poets 11 2010. This citywide poetry contest and reading series collects poems from every neighborhood and features poetry readings at branch libraries in each of the City’s 11 districts.

Submissions will be accepted January 1, 2010 through March 1, 2010.

Local poets are encouraged to submit up to three poems. Poetry is chosen by Hirschman and selected poets are announced at each of the branch events. All types of poetry are accepted. Writings which reflect San Francisco’s diversity of language and culture and those written in languages other than English are highly encouraged.

Selected poets will be presented with a $50 honorarium and their poems will be published in an anthology. Now in its third year, Poets 11 celebrates San Francisco’s rich literary life and thriving poetry community.

Beginning in March, selected poets will take the microphone and share their works in a variety of languages and topics. Eleven events will take place at branch libraries, concluding with a final event featuring all participating poets at the Main Library’s Koret Auditorium on May 8th.

Submission Guidelines

'¢ Must be 18 or over to participate.
'¢ Must reside in one of San Francisco’s 11 Districts. For information on city districts, visit sfbos.org.
'¢ Submissions must include a return address, email or phone number and district number for response.
'¢ Poets can submit up to three poems
'¢ Submit by email to poets11@friendssfpl.org, drop off at any branch library or by regular mail to:

Poets 11
Book Bay Fort Mason
Fort Mason Center, Bldg. C
San Francisco, Ca 94123

For more information or to download the submission form, please visit friendssfpl.org or call (415) 626-7500.

p.s. Jack Hirschman is a bad ass!

image from ethnicnewz.org