shining light on amazing literature

Poet and poem of the Month

Welcome to our Poem of the Month Winners Page! We are delighted to honor poets from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience who have contributed their incredible work. Our mission is to celebrate the transformative power of poetry and offer a stage for new and upcoming creatives!

Submission Details

1. Eligibility:
   - Open to poets in the U.S.

   - Poets should be eligible in the first five years of their publishing journey.

  - Must be 18 or older. 

   - Submissions must be original work and unpublished elsewhere.

2. Submission Format:
   - Poems should be typed and submitted in a PDF.
   - Each poem should not exceed 40 lines.
   - Include a title for your poem.

3. Number of Submissions:
   - Each poet may submit up to 3 poems per month.

4. Deadline:
   - Submissions are due by the 25th of each month.

5. Selection Process:
   - Poems will be reviewed by our panel of judges.
   - Selected poems will be featured in our monthly newsletter and on our website.

6. Rights:
   - Poets retain all rights to their work.
   - By submitting, you grant us the right to publish your poem in our newsletter, future anthology and website.

7. Feedback:
   - While we cannot provide individual feedback for each submission, we appreciate your participation and support of the poetry community.

Additional Information

- Selected poets will be notified by the end of the month.
- We encourage diverse voices and perspectives, and we look forward to reading your work!


Thank you for considering sharing your poetry with us! We are excited to celebrate the beauty and diversity of poetic expression together!!

Prizes:

  • Winner's Spotlight: Featured in our monthly newsletter and on our website

  • Exclusive Magazine Feature: Winning poem in our Quarterly Magazine, The Writing Fae

  • Showcase Open Mic: Headliner for your month’s Open Mic in Charleston, SC

  • Anthology: The writer’s work will be included in the 2026 WBP Poetry Collection Book

Poem Submission Rules: Must-Follow Guidelines

  • Originality and Plagiarism: All submissions must be the poet's original work. Any form of plagiarism or AI usage will result in immediate disqualification and a ban from future competitions.

  • Theme Adherence: Poems must align with the monthly theme provided. Submissions that do not reflect the theme may be rejected.

  • Line and Length Limits: Each poem should not exceed 40 lines. Poems exceeding this limit will be disqualified.

  • Language and Content: Poems must be written in English unless otherwise specified. Submissions containing offensive language, hate speech, or inappropriate content will be banned.

  • Anonymity and Identification: Poets wishing to remain anonymous must clearly state this in their submission notes. Any breach of anonymity will lead to disqualification.

  • Number of Submissions: A maximum of 2 poems per poet is allowed. Submitting more than this will result in all entries being disqualified.

  • Deadline Compliance: Submissions must be received by the 25th of each month. Late entries will not be considered.

  • Copyright Infringement: Poets must ensure that their work does not infringe on the copyrights of others. Violations will result in disqualification and potential legal consequences.

  • WBP Partners: WBP partners, authors, or freelancers cannot participate in POTM contests.

  • Ethical Standards: Poems must not promote violence, discrimination, or any form of harassment. Any work found to violate these ethical standards will be rejected, and the poet will be banned from future contests.

each Month’s Theme

*

each Month’s Theme *

  1. January: New Beginnings

       - Fresh starts and new opportunities

       - Setting intentions for the year

       - Renewal and rebirth

    2. February: Love and Compassion

       - Self-love and self-care

       - Celebrating relationships and connections

       - Acts of kindness and empathy

    3. March: Growth and Transformation

       - Personal development and change

       - Embracing imperfections

       - Overcoming challenges

    4. April: Courage and Strength

       - Facing fears and uncertainties

       - Stories of resilience

       - Inner strength and bravery 

    5. May: Joy and Gratitude

       - Finding happiness in small moments

       - Appreciating beauty in everyday life

       - Expressions of thanks and contentment

    6. June: Freedom and Exploration

       - Exploring new horizons

       - Embracing individuality

       - Breaking free from limitations

    7. July: Awakening and Awareness

       - Discovering inner truths

       - Mindfulness and presence

       - Nature's rebirth and its parallels with human life

    8. August: Reflection and Introspection

       - Looking back and learning from the past

       - Deep self-reflection

       - Understanding one's purpose

    9. September: Harmony and Balance

       - Finding equilibrium in life

       - Balancing work, play, and rest

       - Inner peace and serenity

    10. October: Mystery and Depth

        - Embracing the unknown

        - Delving into deeper emotions

        - Mysteries of the human experience

    11. November: Legacy and Memory

        - Honoring ancestors and heritage

        - Reflecting on personal legacy

        - Memories that shape us

    12. December: Hope

        - Looking forward with optimism

        - Spiritual renewal and reflection

        - Celebrating life's journey and the promise of tomorrow

MEET OUR JUDGING PANEL

  • Poet Angela Feathers

    Angela Feathers

    POET and WRITER

    Angela Feathers fell in love with poetry at 11 years old and has been writing ever since. She is an honors graduate of the College of Charleston’s creative writing program and has had her poetry and photography published in various journals such as Miscellany and FiveTwoOne literary magazines. She is a Charleston native and a member of the South Carolina Bards.

  • Poet Cory Stegelin

    Corazon Stegelin

    POET and EDITOR

    Corazon Stegelin is a pixie poet through and through. In addition to being a prize winning poet and the founder of the Bespoken Poet, they are also the co-director of the Charleston Fairy Coalition. Their greatest passions in life are social justice, poetry, and building community through mutual vulnerability. They are thrilled to be one of the founding poetry editors of The Writing Fae, and they cannot wait to build community with you! 

  • Georgia Nubia

    Georgia Nubia

    POET and EDUCATOR

    I am Georgia Nubia, born and raised in Macon, Georgia. I moved to Charleston in 2016 to live my dreams of poetry and became an entire business. I have 5 books of published poetry and my artwork in 15 states. I’m an award winning Moja Artist and now I teach children entrepreneurship, social studies, science and creative writing.

Submit Your Poetry

Submit your masterpiece today and be part of a community that cherishes the art of poetry. We can't wait to read your work!

Donating tips to our poetry judging panel is an investment for poet-centered events and a celebration of diverse voices. With your support, we can offer better resources and tools to our judges, ensuring a fair and thorough evaluation of each submission. Donations allow us to reach more poets, providing a platform for emerging talents to shine and connect with a broader audience.

Support our growth