Open to teens in grades 6-12 living in or attending school in Kent County, Michigan
Attention aspiring poets: Enter your work into the Write Michigan Teen Poetry Contest!
The contest, organized by Kent District Library in Kent County, offers two chances to win prizes. Submit up to two poems for a chance to win a Meijer gift card. Then, read one of your poems at our 8th Annual Write Michigan Teen Poetry Slam for another chance to win! Performing at the teen poetry slam is optional; however, to be eligible for the teen poetry slam, you must submit a written work.
This programming is sponsored in part through the generous gifts of community donors.
Contest opens: February 1, 2026
Submission deadline: April 1, 2026
Contest Guidelines
- Contest is open to teens in grades 6-12 who are residents of Kent County, Michigan or attend a school in Kent County, Michigan.
- All poems must be your own original work.
- Poems must be submitted online via Submittable (a link is provided while contest is open).
- A maximum of two poems per person can be submitted. Past winning submissions are not eligible.
- Submitting a poem automatically makes you eligible to participate in the teen poetry slam.
- Winning poets will have their names listed in a blog post on the KDL home page.
- Ten winners from the written contest will each receive a $50 Meijer gift card.
- Seven winners from the teen poetry slam will each receive a $100 Meijer gift card.
- Winners will be announced at the Teen Poetry Slam.
- The Write Michigan Teen Poetry Slam is an uncensored event.
Write Michigan Teen Poetry Slam
- Grades 6-12: The poetry slam will be 6:00 PM on Thursday, April 30 at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch
Teacher Toolkit
Example newsletter text:
Kent District Library is currently accepting entries to the annual Write Michigan Teen Poetry Contest, open to teens in grades 6-12 living or attending school in Kent County. This is a great opportunity for teens to share their writing and win a cool prize. Teens are encouraged to submit up to two poems by April 1 to be eligible to win a $50 gift card to Meijer. Learn more at writemichigan.org/teen-poetry-contest.
Teen Poetry Poster (PDF)
Teen Poetry Flyer (PDF)
