Sonnet Competition Entries
Maximum of one sonnet. Traditional Format of 14 lines, 10 syllables per line, iambic pentameter, identifiable rhyme scheme such as: A B A B/ C D C D/ E F E F/ G G (Shakespearean), AB AB/ BC BC/ CD CD/ E E (Spenserian), or a modern variant.
Send sonnet by Email only. Copy sonnet into body of the Email; alternatively, use an MS Word (DOC, DOCX) or Adobe (PDF) attachment. Notification within eight to ten weeks. Sonnet entries are considered for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter issues (only one winner per issue). We require first serial rights for the poems we publish, with the copyright reverting back to the author upon publication. We do ask to be acknowledged in any future re-printing or publication of poems that first appear in our journal. We are also open to publishing poems that have already been published elsewhere (in print or electronic format). Simultaneous submissions are permitted. There is no entry fee. $15 prize money for the winning sonnet entry (for a given quarter) will be mailed by check to author's address.* Announcement and publication of the winning sonnet (including author's name, BIO, and favorite public domain poem) will occur in either a Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter Issue of The American Aesthetic.
Note: Sonnet prize winners outside the USA and Canada, instead of cash, will be entitled to receive a book or CD of their choice (not exceeding $15) from The Book Depository, which offers worldwide free shipping from the UK and Australia.
Email a single sonnet with "Sonnet Competition" typed in subject line.
Email link below:
Maximum of one sonnet. Traditional Format of 14 lines, 10 syllables per line, iambic pentameter, identifiable rhyme scheme such as: A B A B/ C D C D/ E F E F/ G G (Shakespearean), AB AB/ BC BC/ CD CD/ E E (Spenserian), or a modern variant.
Send sonnet by Email only. Copy sonnet into body of the Email; alternatively, use an MS Word (DOC, DOCX) or Adobe (PDF) attachment. Notification within eight to ten weeks. Sonnet entries are considered for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter issues (only one winner per issue). We require first serial rights for the poems we publish, with the copyright reverting back to the author upon publication. We do ask to be acknowledged in any future re-printing or publication of poems that first appear in our journal. We are also open to publishing poems that have already been published elsewhere (in print or electronic format). Simultaneous submissions are permitted. There is no entry fee. $15 prize money for the winning sonnet entry (for a given quarter) will be mailed by check to author's address.* Announcement and publication of the winning sonnet (including author's name, BIO, and favorite public domain poem) will occur in either a Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter Issue of The American Aesthetic.
Note: Sonnet prize winners outside the USA and Canada, instead of cash, will be entitled to receive a book or CD of their choice (not exceeding $15) from The Book Depository, which offers worldwide free shipping from the UK and Australia.
Email a single sonnet with "Sonnet Competition" typed in subject line.
Email link below:
- Copy sonnet into body of Email; alternatively, use an MS Word (.doc) or Adobe (.pdf) attachment.
- Maximum one sonnet, 14 lines, 10 syllables per line, iambic pentameter, and identifiable rhyme scheme.
- Please type "Sonnet Competition" in the Email's subject line.
- Prize of $15.00 awarded to one sonnet winner per quarter issue.
- Acknowledgement on front cover of the Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter Issue.
- No entry fee.
Sonnet Competition Winners:
Winter 2017-18 Issue: Tina Quartey "A Broken Heart" (New)
Summer 2017 Issue: James Brooks "A Falling Star"
Spring 2016 Issue: Claude Clayton Smith "Until"
Summer 2016 Issue: Brett Mertins "Short Song for a Stomped Cricket"
Fall 2016 Issue: Sara T. Baker "On Finding a Hummingbird’s Skull"
Winter 2016-2017 Issue: No Award Given
Spring 2017 Issue: No Award Given
Fall 2017 Issue: No award given
Spring 2018 Issue: No award given
Winter 2017-18 Issue: Tina Quartey "A Broken Heart" (New)
Summer 2017 Issue: James Brooks "A Falling Star"
Spring 2016 Issue: Claude Clayton Smith "Until"
Summer 2016 Issue: Brett Mertins "Short Song for a Stomped Cricket"
Fall 2016 Issue: Sara T. Baker "On Finding a Hummingbird’s Skull"
Winter 2016-2017 Issue: No Award Given
Spring 2017 Issue: No Award Given
Fall 2017 Issue: No award given
Spring 2018 Issue: No award given