Litfest & Wayleave Press Poetry Pamphlet Competition: Shortlist Reading

As part of Litfest’s Autumn Weekend 2024, and in collaboration with the wonderful Wayleave Press,
we are delighted to invite poets from the north-west to submit their pamphlet collections for publication.

For this competition, we are inviting the north-west’s poets to submit complete pamphlet typescripts. Ten poets will be shortlisted and invited to read at a special event as part of Litfest’s Autumn Weekend, MC’ed by poet and Lancaster University Creative Writing tutor Eoghan Walls.

The shortlist will then be judged in November by poets Ian Duhig and Jane Routh, with three poets being selected for print publication and pamphlet launch at Litfest 2025.

How to submit:
The deadline for pamphlet submissions is 28 September 2024.
Submissions should contain between 16 and 20 pages of poems to make a pamphlet of 24 pages

To submit, email [email protected] with the following information:

  • In the body of your email, include your name, location, a contact telephone number and a short biography (up to 100 words).
  • Please also include a synopsis of your pamphlet in the body of your email, which can be up to 250 words in length.
  • Send your pamphlet as an attachment, with the filename yourname_pamphlettitle.
  • Attachments must be in .doc, .docx or .pdf form.
  • The subject line of your email should be ‘Poetry Pamphlet Submission’

Terms and conditions:

  1. When you submit to the Litfest Poetry Pamphlet Competition (“the Project”) you are confirming that you have read and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
  2. These terms and conditions are governed by English law and take precedence over any local rules or laws pertaining to the same subject matter.
  3. Any decision of Litfest and associated judges in respect of matters to do with the Project will be final and no correspondence will be entered into unless initiated by Litfest or associated judges.

  1. Submissions should contain between 16 and 20 pages of poems.
  2. Poems must be written primarily in English (a few words in other languages are permitted).
  3. Poets must be from the north-west region of the UK, officially defined as Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
  4. Poems must be written by the Participant. They must not have been created using AI.
  5. Submitted collections must not have been published in print, self-published, published on any website, blog or online forum, broadcast, have won or been placed (2nd, 3rd, runner up etc) in any other competition.
  6. If parts of your collection have been published previously (e.g. as individual poems), contact Litfest at [email protected] before submitting to discuss eligibility.
  7. Simultaneous submissions are allowed but will become ineligible should they be accepted or win a prize elsewhere, be published, or be scheduled for future publication prior to the date of the Event.
  8. No responsibility is accepted for poems that do not fit the Submissions Criteria above, and these poems will not be considered by the judges.
  9. Litfest reserves all rights to reject entries which it considers in any way unsuitable for publication, or if publishing it would violate English copyright law.
  10. Any poem that is plagiarized or accompanied by false information will be rejected from the Project.

  1. Poems may be submitted from 00:01 BST, 12 August 2024 until 23:59 BST, 28 September 2024.
  2. Participants may cancel their submission by emailing Litfest ([email protected]) at any time.

  1. Of the submitted entries, Litfest and associated judges will shortlist up to ten poets to be a part of a Litfest event.
  2. By submitting to the Project, Participants acknowledge that the poem will be considered for selection to be read at the Event by the Participant or a nominated reader, as well as for publication.
  3. All submissions will be judged and selected Participants will be contacted via email prior to the event.
  4. Event participation is optional and contingent on the agreement of both Litfest and the Participant.

  1. Upon submission, copyright of all submitted poem(s) remains with their original authors.
  2. In submitting an entry, the Participant grants a worldwide, royalty-free licence to Litfest for use of the poem as part of the Project, including on the Website and through other channels as Litfest deems appropriate (including but not necessarily limited to social media channels).
  3. By submitting to the Project, Participants warrant that the personal information provided on the submissions form and in any subsequent dealings with the Project is accurate. Every Participant is fully responsible for the consequences of providing false/misleading information.
  4. Participants warrant that: (i) the Submission does not violate any laws of the United Kingdom or infringe upon another party’s trademark or copyright or other intellectual property right (ii) the Submission contains nothing obscene, defamatory or libellous nor is in any other way unlawful.
  5. By submitting to the Project under these terms and conditions, each Participant indemnifies Litfest against any loss or damage resulting from the submission(s), their associated activity and any breach of any warranty.
  6. Personal information will only be used in administering the Project. When you provide this information you are giving your consent for it to be used for this purpose. Litfest will handle personal information in accordance with the provisions of English law, and will only retain your personal information for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in these Terms and Conditions.
  7. If you wish to be informed what personal information we hold about you, or if you want it to be removed from our systems, please contact us at [email protected].