The Charles Causley International Poetry Competition 2018

The Charles Causley International Poetry Competition 2018 is now open for entries. They are delighted to announce that the competition will be judged by their patron, Sir Andrew Motion. When asked what he will be looking for in the winning entries, he said:

‘I’m looking for poems that surprise me – not by their ostentation, but by making me see, think, remember, recover things I’ve forgotten I already know’.

The 1st prize winner of the International Poetry Competition will receive £2,000 plus a one-week writing residency at Cyprus Well, Charles Causley’s former home in Launceston. The 2nd prize winner will receive £250 and the third prize winner will receive £100. Five Highly Commended poets whose work shows particular promise will each receive £30. Entries will be shortlisted by an expert panel with the final decision being made by Sir Andrew Motion.

There will be a prize-giving ceremony in early 2019. There is a limited travel budget to assist the first prize winner to collect their award. Any additional costs or arrangements are strictly the responsibility of the first prize-winning poet and the travel budget is not transferable. Sadly, there is no financial assistance for second and third prize winners to travel to any event. The winners are not obliged to attend this event. Entrants accept on submission that full costs of their travel to any prize giving may not be available.

Charles Causley (CBE, FRSL) was born on 24 August 1917 in Launceston, Cornwall, and spent most of his life there until he died on 4th November 2003. His father died shortly after the 1st World War of a lung condition induced by the conditions under which he served in the trenches. Causley was brought up by his mother to whose care in her later life he devoted himself. He showed early literary interests and talent, reading widely in his teens and writing plays for local production and publication. His first play ‘Runaway’ was published when he was only nineteen.