Submissions are now invited for our annual Poetry Competition and we are delighted to announce the judge for 2024 is the incredible Susan Evans. We hope to receive a wide variety of poems and poetry styles on the theme of Food for this year’s competition.

Upon being invited by Hay Writers’ Circle, to be this year’s poetry competition judge, and performance master-class facilitator, Susan said:

“I’m thrilled to work with such a lovely group from Hay-on-Wye — the world famous ‘town of books.’ And get to pore over poems on the delicious theme of ‘food’. Moreover, visit gorgeous Hay, to deliver a joyful, in-person performance poetry workshop, in 2024 — exciting!” 

Susan Evans is a multi-award-winning, multi-disciplinary artist, poet, writer, author and educator from working-class East London, of Irish and anglo Indian parentage. She lives and writes in her spiritual home of Brighton, UK.

Susan has a BA in Theatre with Visual Arts Practice, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education; both from the University of Brighton, and an MA in Arts Therapy (Drama) from the University of Roehampton. She is also a classically trained chef; a culinary artist of distinction from Brighton MET. 

Susan was employed full-time, for twenty-five years, within the fields of arts and well-being, largely within the charity sector, across London and the South-East, and was writer and editor on a variety of in-house publications. Susan won a number of awards for innovation in engaging ‘hard to reach’ individuals, groups and audiences, before venturing freelance in 2014; writing and touring from London to New York, as an acclaimed spoken word artist.

A stage and page poet, Susan is widely anthologised and published in various, magazines and journals; nationally and internationally. Her poetry themes include food and travel, see Barcelona: CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE for Susan Evans’ debut poetry collection, Shift Happens (2020)

*POETRY COMPETITION – FIRST PRIZE £100*

The Hay Writer’s Circle Poetry Competition 2024 is open to everyone.

The first prize of £100 with additional cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd placed poems.

The closing date for entries is Tuesday 9th April, 2024
Results will be announced mid May.

Original, unpublished poems of up to 40 lines maximum on the theme of FOOD.

At our discretion, the winning poems will be published on the Hay Writer’s website. Publication may prevent eligibility for future competitions. All rights remain with the author.

For full competition guide lines and entry form please download the file below :

… or head on over to our Competitions page and read it there too.

Remember, anyone can enter this poetry competition and we can’t wait to read your amazing poems on the theme of FOOD.

Good luck!