We welcome all.

Rules and requirements.

What:

The Charles Potts Poetry Award is a yearly award presented to a writer for their first book of poetry. The criteria is simple. It must be the author’s first book of poetry with a total page count of 85 pages or more. Age, race, religion, sex, location, etc. are not important. Only one book can be submitted per author. Submissions are required to be sent via email in a file format that can be opened in Word or similar programs. We will work with the winning author on the cover design, etc. We will provide the ISBN. 

At this time there is no reading fee required for submissions. 

Award:

The award will include monetary compensation of $1,000 US dollars paid directly to the author. The award will also include publication of the book by Hand to Mouth Books. Digital publication through Amazon will also be included. 

Time:

Each year the contest will be announced publicly on August, 28th.

The press release will go out in time to be included in September issues of relevant publications and authors will have 45 days to submit their book. All entries must be submitted by March 31st, 2026. We will announce the winner before the end of the calendar year and schedule publication of the book for the spring of the following year. 

How to submit your book:

We are hoping this makes things easy. Email your book in a format that can be opened in Word to:

charlespottspoetry@gmail.com

Required info:

Your name, an address that we can physically send a check to, a phone number, the name of your book and the page count.

Terms & Conditions

These terms and conditions are applicable to all Charles Potts Poetry Awards (CPPA) contests unless otherwise stated. If a contest has different terms and conditions, these will be clearly stated on the contest page / contest entry form(s).

By entering contest, you agree to accept and be bound by these terms and conditions. All entry instructions form part of the terms and conditions of CPPA.

Terms of Entry

Terms of entry are as follows:

  • Entry to this contest is FREE and no purchase is necessary.
  • If your book is not chosen you may rework, rewrite, etc. and submit the book again next year.
  • You must agree to work with one of our editors if your book needs editing. Failure to work with an editor may disqualify you.
  • Family members of the CPPA board are not eligible for the contest.
  • Work must be original (not copied). Entries will be checked for plagiarism and the use of AI and all AI aided entries will be disqualified.
  • Book must be authors first book of poetry. All authors will be checked for a previously published book. Other book genres do not count against you.
  • Copyright remains with the author. The work will be published in a named title and assigned an ISBN. If the work is chosen as a winner the work will be published by Hand to Mouth Books. Book cover art will be discussed with author.
  • Contest closing date is clearly stated. CPPA will not accept entries after closing date.
  • All entries must be in English. Entries promoting racism, hate, sexism, etc. will not be considered.
  • If any contest results in less than 50 entries CPPA reserves the right to cancel the contest and move entrants to the contest of the following calendar year.
  • The promoter of CPPA contests is Hand to Mouth Books, PO Box 100 Walla Walla, WA 99362. Entries must be emailed electronically and physical submissions to the address will not be considered.
  • Winner will be chosen by the CPPA board and winner will be notified via email before the end of the calendar year. Prize money will be delivered by a physical check delivered by USPS. Winner must provide a physical address and legal name to receive prize money.

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