Okay there is no time to rest as competitions are coming in thick and fast: 2009 Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets, sponsored by the Malcolm Robertson Foundation. The major prize is $3000, with two minor prizes of $500. Closing date is Monday 7 December 2009. It's an award specifically designed to encourage new poets and new poems. You can find out more information about how to enter on the Overland website and here is the link - http://web.overland.org.au/?page_id=1549

As part of Girls Night In (guys are welcome) events for October Greentrees Guesthouse, corner Lysterfield & Pinnacle Roads, Orange is hosting a night of food, fun and bush poetry on Friday 16 October at 6.30pm. For $30 enjoy enjoy finger food, dessert, tea or coffee and a performance by acclaimed bush poet Frank Daniel. There will be a raffle and lucky door prizes. All proceeds will go to the Cancer Council NSW. To get your tickets call Carol on 6362 8182.

Overland and the Malcolm Robertson Foundation have joined forces to create the Overland Magazine Judith Wright Prize for New and Emerging Poets. In 2009 the prize money is $3000, with two minor prizes of $500 each. Poets are eligible if they have not yet had a collection of their work commercially published. A maximum of three unpublished poems is allowed per entry. Two copies of each poem must be submitted. The poet's name must not appear on the manuscript, as all poems will be considered anonymously. The entry is to be accompanied by a $9.90 ($5.50 for Overland subscribers) administration fee. The poems will be judged by Overland's poetry editor Keri Glastonbury, and the winning poems will be published in the magazine. All submissions will be considered for publication in Overland. The entry form and guidelines are available at: www.overland.org.au Judith Wright, one of Australia's greatest poets, had a long and fruitful connection with Overland, and her last published poem (which appeared in Overland in 1999), was entitled 'To Younger Poets'. Entries should be sent to: 'Overland Judith Wright Poetry Competition' VU–Footscray Park Campus PO Box 14428 MELBOURNE VIC 8001 by 7 December 2009. Winners will be announced at the 2010 Melbourne Emerging Writers' Festival.

Submissions invited before 30 September for VERA NEWSOM POETRY PRIZE 2009 - administered and awarded by Youngstreet Poets. 1st & 2nd Prizes, $300 & $100 respectively. Entries can be sent to Receiving Officer, Sue Watson, PO Box 71, Avalon 2107, By closing date of 30th September 2009. For Australian residents only. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

1. Entries must be unpublished, not currently submitted for publication, in English, the original work of the entrant, and must not have received a monetary award in, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition. 2. Maximum of 32 lines per poem, typed on A4 paper, one side only. Two copies of each poem required. Author's name must not appear on manuscript. 3. There is no official entry form, but a separate cover page must be provided, listing title of poem, number of lines, entrant's full name, address, telephone number and/or email address. 4. The judges decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. No entries will be returned. 5. Entry fee of $5 per poem. 6. Entries to Receiving Officer, Sue Watson, PO Box 71, Avalon 2107, by closing date of 30th September 2009. Late entries will not be considered. 7. Winners will be announced as soon as possible, but prizes will be awarded at the Youngstreet Poets Christmas luncheon on Friday 27th November 2009. 8. SSAEs required for notification of results and/or acknowledgement of receipt of submission.

Three opportunities for poetry publication:

1. Melaleuca is a free e-zine of Australian poetry, delivered monthly through your email in-box. For submissions and subscriptions, contact the editor, Phillip A. Ellis, at phillip.a.ellis@gmail.com

2. Meuse Press is publishing an e-anthology - "from this Broken Hill" - of poetry, short prose & photography celebrating the people, culture, history & landscapes of Broken Hill which is currently being considered for National Heritage listing. The anthology will not appear on paper & there will be no money in, so no payment out to contributors. You are invited to submit up to 3 pieces. Submissions should be in the body of the e-mail, single spaced Times New Roman 12p & be accompanied by a 3 line bio. Prior publication is no problem but you should include acknowledgement. It will be edited by Barbara de Franceschi, Marvis Sofield & Les Wicks. Send to leswicks@hotmail.com, deadline 30 October.

3. dotdotdash is taking submissions for Issue 2. The inaugual issue of dotdotdash will hit the streets on September 5th! So get writing or drawing again because submissions are now open for dotdotdash Issue 2. The theme is 'ugly', but unthemed work is also sought. Submissions close 30th September. To submit visit http://.dotdotdash.org/

And a poetry workshop on publishing with Les Wicks will be held on Sunday 30 August from 1 - 5pm at the West Room, next door to Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange. Cost $20. Please book on 6393 8125.

Join in this poetry workshop designed to help poets of all ages. Participants will benefit greatly from learning insider's hints on how the poetry scene works. Poems are examined with a view to finding outlets that fit your own style. Other topics include running your own projects, establishing a poetry audience, taking up opportunities offered by the internet and getting published. Les Wicks is widely published both in Australia and overseas with 8 collections to his name. He's also been involved in dozens of editing projects over his 30 years as a writer. Bring along multiple copies of one poem and writing materials for this poetry workshop on Sunday 30 August from 1pm - 5pm at the West Room, next door to Orange City Library, Byng Street, Orange. Cost $20. Please book your place by calling the Central West Writers' Centre on 6393 8125. For more about Les and to see his work please go to his website: www.les wicks.tripod.com/lw.htm

Congratulations to poets Josh Simpson, of Bathurst, and Alan Fragar, of Cowra, who just edged out Frank Daniel, of Canowindra, to win a place in the Australian Poetry Slam State Final coming up in Sydney on 13 November. The winning poets along with Kim Core, Matthew Ryan, Seamus Leyland and Dimas Bakini performed well and entertained the large crowd at Cowra Library. The Australian Poetry Slam 09 is an initiative of the State Library of NSW, and is supported by state, territory and public libraries and festivals across the country. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding & advisory body. Pictured above is Frank Daniel, 3rd place, host Miles Merrill, and Poetry Slam winners Josh Simpson and Alan Fragar.

Poem of the month. Here is a nonsense poem just for a bit humour and to get you thinking about making up your own words. It is Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll and published in From Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (1872). Enjoy!

Jabberwocky By Lewis Carroll

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun

The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:

Long time the manxome foe he sought --

So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through

The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head

He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?

Come to my arms, my beamish boy!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'

He chortled in his joy.

Just in case you are wondering what a poetry slam actually is - here is the lowdown:

•A poetry competition with a live audience. •The contestant has two minutes to impress the judges with their own original word artistry – using spoken-word, poetry, hip-hop, monologue and even story, contestants can choose to speak, sing, scream, rap, howl or whisper their words. •Poetry Slam heats are limited to 20 contestants. •Five judges are picked randomly by the host who throws gifts into the audience. Whoever catches the gift is a judge. •Five judges hold up score cards and give performers marks out of 10. Only the middle three scores for each performance are calculated. •The judges decision is final. •The performer with the highest score wins. •Two winners only from each heat will compete in a state final, to be hosted from State and territory libraries. •If contestants tie for a place, there will be a "slam –off" to decide the winner. •Heat winners secure a place in the State Final at the State Library of NSW on 13 November, 2009. •The grand final will be held in Sydney on 3 December, 2009 at the Sydney Opera House. Poetry Slams have had popular appeal in the US for over 20 years. The interest in the dynamic art form has increased in Australia in the past four years. The Australian Poetry Slam 09 is an initiative of the State Library of NSW, and is supported by state, territory and public libraries and festivals across the country. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding & advisory body. For more information about the event please contact Cowra Library on 6340 2180 or Central West Libraries Reading and Writing Coordinator Jasmine Vidler on 6393 8125.

With this chilly and bleak weather it may be just the time to think about beaches. Meuse Press is publishing an e-anthology of poetry tentatively titled Guide to Sydney Beaches. It will explore the essential qualities of Sydney's various beaches and will be placed on the internet in such a way as to draw readership that may not normally read the poetry art form. The anthology will not appear on paper and there will be no money in, so no payment out to contributors. You are invited to submit up to 3 poems. Submissions should be in the body of the e-mail, single spaced Times New Roman 12p, and be accompanied by a three line bio. Your e-mail should indicate which beach each poem concerns. Prior publication is no problem but you should include acknowledgement. There will be a broad definition of Sydney beaches, from Terrigal to Thirroul. Send contributions to Les Wicks. Email leswicks@hotmail.com Closing 20 June. And just to let you know Les is leading a poetry workshop in Orange on Sunday 30 August. Cost $20. All enquiries to Central West Writers' Cente phone 6393 8125 or email: writing@orange.nsw.gov.au