Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts: Call for Submissions for 'New Defences of Poetry'
2021 marks the 200th anniversary of the composition of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s ‘A Defence of Poetry’ (1821) – one of the boldest and most profound statements on the power of poetry to act as a social and political force.
In celebration of this seminal work, the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts is inviting submissions of short prose essays responding to the theme of ‘A Defence of Poetry’ from practising poets of all ages and backgrounds who write poetry in any language, though your submission itself must be in English.
The works selected will be published on the NCLA Archives website in July 2021, with the possibility of a print publication to follow.
The key questions contributors are invited to ask are: does poetry need defending, and what does it need defending against?
Submissions must be no more than 2500 words, and no fewer than 500. Your submission may draw upon numerous genres, including literary criticism and theory, lyric essay, autobiography, history, fiction, fable, or allegory. Creative and innovative interpretation of the brief is highly encouraged!
There are no age restrictions on submissions, and we very much encourage younger writers to get involved!
Find out more here
Deadline: Friday 8th May 2021