Winlock ready for second annual poetry contest

The Winlock Timberland Library has announced their second annual poetry contest with writers encouraged to begin preparing submissions for next month.

Open to all area residents, the purpose of the contest is to celebrate April as National Poetry Month, as well as provide an opportunity for writers of all ages and skill levels to develop and publish their work.

Entries will be accepted between April 1 and 15 in four age categories (7 and younger, 8-12, 13-18 and 19 and older) while winners in each category will be selected by a panel of judges then published in an upcoming issue of Town Crier.

Contest rules include:

- Each entrant can submit up to three poems.

- Poems must have a title and must not exceed 30 lines and 200 words (excluding title).

- Poems must be the original work of the entrant, and may not have been submitted to the library's previous contest.

Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity and artistic quality, while the names of entrants will be withheld from judges to preserve impartiality. Those wishing to enter do not have to be library members, nor do they have to live within Winlock or the Timberland Regional Library District. Winners are expected to be announced by the end of April.

For a complete list of contest rules, as well as entry forms, drop by the Winlock Timberland Library at 322 NE First St., in Downtown Winlock, or call with questions at (360) 785-3461.