Frequently Asked Questions

How many entries can my school submit?

There is no limit on how many entries you can send, though only one entry per student please!

Is this a contest where everyone is accepted to be published?

No, this isn’t the case. We read every entry that we receive and our editors decide which poems they would like to see published. We return unused work with feedback on how it can be improved. Our aim is to encourage young writers to enjoy reading and writing poetry, so all entrants have a realistic chance of seeing their work in print. Poetry is subjective so editors work to a selection criteria:

  • Creativity
  • Imagination
  • Use of language
  • Originality
  • Interpretation of theme (if applicable)
  • Age is taken into consideration
  • Any learning difficulties editors are made aware of are taken into consideration

Does the contest require a certain topic or a specific style of writing?

Each contest will have different criteria. For example, ‘Monster Poetry’ required the entries to be a narrative poem about a monster the young writer has created, whereas Spine-Chillers asks for a mini saga (a story written in just 100 words) that includes atmosphere, tension and suspense. The best thing to do is check the contest’s information packet or web page, or get in touch and we can advise you.

Do you charge an entry fee or to publish work?

No we don’t. Contests are free to enter. There is also no charge to publish the work if it’s selected. All participating teachers will receive a free copy of the book that features their students upon publication. This ensures that all students can see their work in print and that schools can celebrate their students’ achievement and showcase their creative writing talent to all.

Can I submit work that is written by more than one child?

Yes you can. Some schools submit work that has been written jointly, by two or more students. To publish the work with all students’ full names, we will require permission from each student’s parent or guardian. Only permission from one student’s parent or guardian may be received for the work to be published; any parents who do not give permission will only have their child’s first name and age included. We cannot publish work that has been co-written without crediting all authors involved.

I’ve found an entry that was missed and the contest has closed, can you help?

Give us a call or an email! If the closing date has passed we may be able to accommodate the late entry/entries.

I’ve received unused work back, can it be resubmitted?

Students can revise their work and pass it back to you. Please ensure their name, last name and age are included on their work. You then need to email the work to [email protected] stating the work is for resubmission. Our editors will re-read the work and contact you with their decision on whether they’d like to publish it. Please note: revised work needs to be resubmitted within 10 days of you receiving it.

Who owns the copyright to the students’ entries?

The student always owns the copyright to their work. If an entry is selected to be published, we ask for one-time permission to publish the entry. If the student’s work is chosen as the winning poem, we will publish the poem in full on our website so all entrants can read the winning work.

How do parent/guardians give permission for their child’s work to be published?

Students chosen for publication will be sent a letter via their school. A unique username and password is provided in each letter so that parent/guardians can access their online account. Their online account access makes it easy to give permission to publish, make changes to their personal details, submissions, and even order, should they wish to.

Please note: A parent or guardian must confirm that the work is written by the named author and give us permission to publish it by the deadline, otherwise we will not be able to publish the work. The permission is for one-time use. The contest winner will have their poem published in full on our website so that all entrants can view the winner’s work.

Why do you have several deadlines?

Our editorial, typesetting, design and production teams all work to schedules which are dependent on each other, so it is important everyone sticks to their deadlines!

How do you use students’ personal details?

Your students’ personal details will never be sold or shared with any other third party vendors, or marketing companies. Please note, parent/guardians’ personal credit card information is not stored on our system. All paperwork with sensitive personal information is stored in a secure area, and will be properly disposed of by a secure data shred company once the book has been published.

How to I change a mistake in students’ work or details?

The student’s parent/guardian will need to log in to their online account to make any changes. Here they can update any mistakes in the name, age or the work itself. If their child’s name has been spelt wrong they will be offered the option to request a new certificate too.

How do I change a mistake in my name / school details?

If we have made any errors with your personal or school address details, please log in to your online account and correct them. In the letter we sent you, we provided login details for your school’s online account. Alternatively, you can give us a call or email and we can correct any name or address mistakes.

Will you keep me up to date with the book’s progress?

If you provide your email address you will receive regular updates on the book’s progress until it’s published.

What does the book look like?

This 6” x 8” softcover book is professionally bound with a full colour cover. Entries are published with each student’s name, age, school and area on the page.

When will books be delivered?

Books are scheduled for publication at the end of the month stated in your letter. If any parents have ordered books, they will be sent to you by courier shortly after they are published. Each order will be individually wrapped and labelled with the student’s name. There will also be a list confirming who has ordered. We’ll also email you to let you know when the parcel is on its way!

When are the prizes awarded?

The winning school(s) and student(s) will be awarded their prizes shortly after the contest has closed. We have to first publish all the books in the series and allow time for our judges to select the winners. We will write to the winners and then we will announce them on our website too.

The amount of prizes and the type of prize differs from contest to contest. The best thing to do is check the contest’s information packet or web page, or get in touch and we can advise you.

Can home school students enter?

Yes of course! When you are ready to enter, you can easily upload your child’s entry here, email it to [email protected] or mail it to us.

My child’s school is not entering the contest, can they enter alone?

Yes, your child can still enter the contest. Please include your child’s school information including school name, address, and teacher’s name. This helps your teacher to possibly receive a free copy of the anthology!

Does the contest require a certain topic or a specific style of writing?

Each contest will have different criteria. For example, ‘Monster Poetry’ required the entries to be a narrative poem about a monster the young writer has created, whereas Spine-Chillers asks for a mini saga (a story written in just 100 words) that includes atmosphere, tension and suspense. The best thing to do is check the contest’s information packet or web page, or get in touch and we can advise you.

Is this a contest where everyone is accepted to be published?

No, this isn’t the case. We read every entry that we receive and our editors decide which poems they would like to publish. We return unused work with feedback on how it can be improved. Our aim is to encourage young writers to enjoy reading and writing poetry, so all entrants have a realistic chance of seeing their work in print. Poetry is subjective so editors work to a selection criteria:

  • Creativity
  • Imagination
  • Use of language
  • Originality
  • Interpretation of theme (if applicable)
  • Age is taken into consideration
  • Any learning difficulties editors are made aware of are taken into consideration

Do you charge an entry fee or to publish work?

No we don’t. contests are free to enter. There is also no charge to publish the work if it’s selected. All participating schools receive a complimentary copy and ordering is not a condition of publication.

How do I give permission for my child’s work to be published?

A unique username and password is provided in your letter so that you can access your online account. Your online account access makes it easy to give permission to publish, make changes to your personal details, submissions, and even order, should you wish to.

Please note: A parent or guardian must confirm that the work is written by the named author and give us permission to publish it by the deadline, otherwise we will not be able to publish the work. The permission is for one-time use. The contest winner will have their poem published in full on our website so that all entrants can view the winner’s work.

Who owns the copyright to my child’s work?

Your child owns the copyright to their work. If their entry is selected to be published, we ask for one-time permission to publish their work and give all rights to them. If your child’s work is chosen as the winning poem, we will publish the poem in full on our website so all entrants can read the winning entry.

Why do you have several deadlines?

Our editorial, typesetting, design and production teams all work to schedules which are dependent on each other, so it is important everyone sticks to their deadlines! Please add any deadline dates to your calendar to ensure we receive your permission on time. With our mobile-friendly Online Acceptance system, giving permission is quick and easy wherever you are!

How do you use my child’s personal details?

Your child’s personal details will never be sold or shared with any other third party vendors, or marketing companies. Please note, personal credit card information is not stored in our system. All paperwork with sensitive personal information is stored in a secure area, and will be properly disposed of by a secure data shred company once the book has been published.

How to I change a mistake in my child’s work or details?

If we have made any errors with your personal details, please log in to your online account and correct them (you will also be given the option to request a new certificate as well). Alternatively, give us a call or email and we can correct any name or address mistakes.

To make changes to the work, you also need to log in to your online account and follow the instructions on screen. Alternatively, you can email us. Please note: we cannot take changes to work by phone, they must be in writing.

Will you keep me up to date with the book’s progress?

If you provide your email address you will receive regular updates on the book’s progress until it’s published.

What does the book look like?

This 6” x 8” softcover book is professionally bound with a full colour cover. Entries are published with each student’s name, age, school and area on the page.

When can I expect to receive the book that I ordered?

Books are scheduled for publication at the end of the month stated in your letter. If you have ordered books, they will be sent to you via your child’s school by courier shortly after they are published.

When are the prizes awarded?

The winning school(s) and student(s) will be awarded their prizes shortly after the contest has closed. We have to first publish all the books in the series and allow time for our judges to select the winners. We will write to the winners and then we will announce them on our website too.

The amount of prizes and the type of prize differs from contest to contest. The best thing to do is check the contest’s information packet or web page, or get in touch and we can advise you.