YAKIMA COFFEEHOUSE POETRY CONTEST
2023 Submission Guidelines
1. What is an entry? One entry includes 3-5 poems, a $12 entry fee ($6 for students), and a separate cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, email address and a list of your poems’ titles. Poems longer than 1 page should include the title and page number on each page, but NOT your name.
2. Where to submit? Poems and cover letters should be emailed to ycpcontest2023@gmail.com. Snail mail entries (typed, please), and ALL entry fees should be mailed via USPS to Yakima Coffeehouse Poets, PO Box 2874, Yakima, WA 98907. Note: Emailed poems/cover letters are easier for us to process.
3. What is the Tom Pier Prize? For this prize, poets should demonstrate ability in the creation of at least three inter-related poems (theme, style, etc.).
4. What is the deadline? Entries must arrive or be postmarked no later than Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
5. Who is eligible? Poets residing in or hailing from Eastern Cascadia are eligible. That includes the north-central, central, and south-central regions of Washington State (also the Columbia Basin, Goldendale, Tri-Cities and Walla Walla).
6. Please do not submit handwritten poems. Please do not decorate your entry with artwork.
Download 2023 Submission Guidelines
This public event is held at the new Larson Gallery, 1606 W. Nob Hill Blvd.
For any 2023 Contest questions, please contact us at:
YCPoetrycontest2023@gmail.com
The event has a history, one that got its start in 1994 as the brainchild of Elizabeth Herres Miller, a former executive director of Allied Arts of Yakima who thought a literary event would complement the nonprofit’ s visual arts calendar. The contest quickly caught on. In 2006, a second event was later added: “Open Mic Night,” a monthly spoken-word forum for local poets to read their own poetry. Unfortunately, while the fortunes of these poetry events waxed, those of Allied Arts waned. The nonprofit closed its doors in December 2013.
The 2021 chapbook of winners, “twenty-sixth” are available for a $10 donation (plus $2.50 for postage) payable to YCP or at Inklings Bookshop in Yakima. This year’s and earlier chapbooks are still available by contacting Ed Stover at 509-833-8577 or via Email.
2019 Yakima Coffeehouse Poetry Contest Photo Gallery
Tom Pier Prize went to Terry Martin.
2017 Yakima Coffeehouse Poetry Contest Photo Gallery
2016 Yakima Coffeehouse Poetry Contest Photo Gallery
