View the shortlisted poets for the Open the Door 2020 Calm Slam
Our Calm Slam 2020 is now closed for entries!
Are you bubbling with words but a little scared of slam poetry? Do you have so much to say but can’t stand the spotlight? Don’t panic! Our Calm Slam is for every woman* who loves poetry but likes the quiet life. Whatever your message we’d love to hear from you on the theme of Speaking Up. The theme might make you think about using your voice, or speaking about a particular issue – you can interpret the theme however you like!
We want your words and your videos – with you in front or behind the camera. If you have a poem that won’t stay silent then enter our Calm Slam – this is competition poetry for the introverted! Send us a video of your slam poem by midday on Friday May 8th 2020 to be in with a chance of winning our first ever Open the Door Digital Calm Slam.
If you have hidden talents to unleash or are looking to develop your creative voice keep an eye out for our assorted creative writing workshops in our printed programme. We even have the perfect Slam Poetry workshops with the amazing Courtney Stoddart! Taking place in Glasgow and Edinburgh, these workshops are a great opportunity to dip your toe into the world of slam poetry.
*All women-only events are inclusive of Trans and Intersex women, as well as non-binary and gender fluid people.
How Does a Digital Slam Work?
The judges will choose the top five entries and those poems will be uploaded to our website, Vimeo and social media channels.
A winner and runner-up will then be chosen and announced at the end of our Open the Door 2020 week of events.
The winner will receive a dedicated page on the GWL website, a congratulatory fanfare on all our social media platforms, and a selection of delicious prizes including books and GWL merchandise. All shortlisted poets will receive feedback from the judges.
How to Enter
Participants will need one video in response to the theme of Speaking Up – only your own, original work please!
All poems/videos must not exceed 3 minutes in length but there is no minimum length.
Videos do not need to filmed with special cameras or include any fancy edits – we welcome all videos, however homemade! Videos can be of you or, if you’re feeling camera-shy, of anything you like – but please make sure we can hear or see your poem clearly.
Sending Your Entry
Send us a video of your poem via We Transfer to hannah.wright@womenslibrary.org.uk along with a transcript of your poem in English and a short biography of no more than 60 words telling us a little about you and your poetry. If you’ve never used WeTransfer before, you can read this guide on how to add your files.
Please label your poem with “OTD2020CalmSlam” your name and the poem’s title, for example “OTD2020CalmSlamMaryBriggsQuiet”
Put your video in a folder labelled “OTDSlam2020yourname” along with a transcript of your poem in English and your short biography.
Please check carefully!
Your WeTransfer folder – titled “OTDSlam2020yourname” should include:-
Your poem
A transcript of your poem in English.
Your biography of no more than 60 words
Next, look out for the WeTransfer download confirmation email – that means we have your entry.
FAQs
What is the deadline for the Slam?
The deadline is midday on Friday May 8th 2020.
Is there a theme?
Poems should be based on this year’s Calm Slam theme of Speaking Up.
Can I enter more than once?
We ask that poets submit only once to the Calm Slam. If you feel like you’ve got more to say, why not enter our full Digital Poetry Slam?
Who can enter?
If you are a woman* you can enter our Calm Slam! We welcome entries from all nationalities and from poets who use sign language, but ask that all works are accompanied with a transcript in English.
*This is inclusive of Trans and Intersex women, as well as non-binary and gender fluid people who identify in a significant way as woman or female.
Does my entry have to be in English?
We welcome entries in all languages, but ask that accompanying English translations are included with your submission.
When will the Calm Slam announcements take place?
The slam will take place from Monday 18th May to Friday 22nd May, online.
Is there a fee to enter?
No. The Calm Slam is free to enter.
What do I win?
The winning poet will receive a dedicated page on the GWL website, a congratulatory fanfare on all our social media platforms, and a selection of delicious prizes including books and GWL merchandise. All shortlisted poets will receive feedback from the judges.
This year’s judges are writer and poet Beth Cochrane, who is the Scottish Poetry Library’s Events and Volunteers Manager; Morag Smith, who is a poet and GWL’s National Lifelong Learning Development Worker; plus poet and writer Giovanna MacKenna, co- coordinator of this year’s Open the Door festival.
Terms and Conditions
Entries received after midday on Friday May 8th 2020 will not be eligible for the Open the Door Digital Calm Slam competition.
Writers may submit only once.
Please make sure your WeTransfer folder is correctly labelled and contains all the information we need. We may not be able to accept wrongly labelled entries.
Writers retain full copyright of their work and we will only publish work on womenslibrary.org.uk and our social media platforms with the permission of each writer.
The competition is open to all women*. *All women-only events are inclusive of Trans and Intersex women, as well as non-binary and gender fluid people.
There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary.