Discovering Women Poets
2026–2027 Poetry Competition
Celebrate your voice. Share your original poetry. Be discovered.
Entries close January 15, 2027
How to EnterLet your poetry be discovered.
We invite women poets who are not currently members of the National League of American Pen Women to share their original work. Poems in English on any theme and in any structure are welcome. Branch winners advance to the national competition with no additional entry fee.
Official Rules & Guidelines
- Open to women over age 18 who are not currently NLAPW members.
- Submit one to three poems per $15 entry.
- Each poem must be 40 lines or fewer.
- Poems must be in English. Any theme or structure is welcome.
- Multiple entries are permitted, each requiring a separate entry form and $15 fee.
- AI may not be used to generate poems. Entrants must sign the declaration on the entry form.
- Do not put your name on poem pages. List your name and poem titles on the entry form.
- Competition opens November 15, 2026; deadline January 15, 2027.
How to Enter
Entering is simple! Follow these four steps to submit your poetry and pay your competition entry fee.
1. Prepare Your Poems
Select one to three original poems, each no longer than 40 lines. Save your poems as PDF or DOCX files. Do not include your name or identifying information on the poem pages.
2. Download & Complete the Entry Form
Download the official entry form and complete all required information, including your contact details, poem titles, and signed declaration confirming that your poems are original and not AI-generated.
Official Competition Entry Form
Download the form, complete all required information, and email it with your poems.
Download Entry Form (PDF)3. Pay Your $15 Entry Fee
Pay securely online using the PayPal payment button on this webpage.
The $15 entry fee covers up to three poems. For additional entries, submit another entry form and make a separate $15 payment.
Please keep your payment confirmation.
4. Email Your Completed Entry
Email your completed entry form and poem files to:
Email subject line:
Discovering Women Poets 2027 — Your Full Name
Include the name used for your PayPal payment so we can match your payment with your submission.
All materials must be received by January 15, 2027.
Poetry Competition Entry Fee
$15
One entry covers up to three poems.
Pay your entry fee using the secure PayPal payment button provided below this page.
You do not need to upload your poems during payment. Simply email your completed entry form and poems as instructed.
From local recognition to a national stage
The Palm Springs Branch will award a $35 branch prize. Branch winner(s) advance for national consideration. Three national winners will each receive $100 and publication of their poetry in The Pen Woman magazine. Branch winners are scheduled to be notified by February 15, 2027, and national winners by April 15, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to live in Palm Springs?
No. Entries are not restricted to the branch’s geographic region.
Can I submit more than three poems?
Yes. Submit additional entries with a separate form and $15 payment for each group of up to three poems.
Can I use AI to write my poems?
No. AI-generated poems are not permitted, and entrants must sign the no-AI declaration.
Can current Pen Women members enter?
No. The competition is for women who are not currently NLAPW members.
How do I download the entry form?
Click the “Download Entry Form (PDF)” button in the How to Enter section. Complete the form and email it with your poems to pspenwomen@gmail.com.
How do I pay the entry fee?
Use the secure PayPal payment button on this page to pay your $15 entry fee. Keep your payment confirmation.
Does paying online submit my poems?
No. Payment and submission are separate steps. You must email your completed entry form and poems to pspenwomen@gmail.com.
What file formats are accepted?
Please submit your poems as PDF or DOCX files.
Where can I ask a question?
Email pspenwomen@gmail.com.