Open The Door 2020 Calm Slam

Calm Slam:

 

Are you bubbling up with words but terrified of slam poetry? Do you have so much to say but can’t stand the spotlight. Don’t panic! Out 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.

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!

 

How to enter:

All poems entered under your name must be your own work!

Send us a video of your poem – via We Transfer – on the theme of Speaking Up, 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.

Please label your poem with “OTD2020CalmSlam” your name and the poem’s title, for example “OTD2020CalmSlamMaryBriggsQuiet”

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.

Put your video in a folder labelled “OTDSlam2020yourname” along with a transcript of your poem in English and your short biography.

*Please be aware we will welcome all videos, however homemade! If you have a phone just flick to selfie and start recording, your Slam triumph could be only moments away!

Please check carefully!

Your WeTransfer folder – titled “OTDSlam2020yourname” should include:-

Your poem, correctly labelled.

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.

Now all you have to do is follow our website and social media platforms to find out who’s crowned the winner.

*Please be aware we will welcome all videos, however homemade! If you have a phone just flick to selfie and start recording, your Slam triumph could be only moments away!

How it works:

The judges will choose the top ten entries and those poems will be uploaded to our website, Vimeo and social media channels.

A winner and runner-up will be chosen.

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.

This year’s judges are poet, writer and Events and Volunteers Manager at the Scottish Poetry Library Beth Cochrane; writer and GWL’s National Lifelong Learning Development Worker Morag Smith, plus poet, writer and Open the Door 2020 co-coordinator Giovanna MacKenna.

The Calm Slam deadline is midday on Friday May 8th 2020

Terms and Conditions

Entries received after 12pm on Friday May 8th 2020 will not be eligible for the Open the Door
Calm Slam competition.

Writers may submit only once (one poem per entry).

Please make sure your WeTransfer folder is correctly labelled and contains all the information we need. See above for details. We cannot accept wrongly labelled entries, sorry!

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*.

There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary.

Who can enter? If you are a woman* you can enter our Digital 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.

Courtney Stoddart workshop at GWL

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, and why not try your hand at Slam Poetry with a workshop from the amazing Courtney Stoddart.

Glasgow Women’s Library, Thursday 7th May, 5pm to 7.30pm, Scottish Poetry Library, £2/Free, Women only, 16+

Don’t forget to enter our Calm Slam! Deadline is midday on Friday May 8th 2020.