River of Words: Contest

Introduction | How to Enter | For Educators | FAQ

Entering River of Words annual poetry and art contest is easy. Here’s all you do:

1. Read over the rules and guidelines. In summary, what you’ll learn is that you can enter as many times as you want, either poems or art, or both. The contest is free. You won’t get your work back—we keep it to share with youth and other people around the world. (And we’d need a whole other office just to process returning entries to each person!)

2. Go exploring the world around you and create your artwork and/or poem(s). For inspiration and ideas, visit our youth pages.

3. Download an entry form; it's available as:

4. Fill it out neatly and completely, then have a parent or guardian read it over and sign it, too. If you enter more than one piece, you’ll have to fill out an entry form for each one. Attach the entry form carefully to your work. For poetry, please staple the entry to the back of the poem, with the writing side out, so when we turn it over we can read the entry form. For artwork, carefully tape your entry, writing side out, to the back of your art. Make sure your name also appears on the front of your poem, and the back of your art.

5. Put your entry or entries into an envelope or mailing tube. Poems are fine folded but try not to fold your artwork. Get a mailing tube, large envelope, or flatten and then tape a cardboard box to make a sturdy sleeve for your work. Put all your entries in one package. (Teachers note: We prefer your entire classroom’s work to be submitted in one package, too.)

6. Mail your entry to:

River of Words Contest
PO Box 4000-J
Berkeley, CA 94704 USA

(note: this is a special address for the contest; please use our regular contact information for other correspondence.)

Your entry must be postmarked by February 15th, if you live in the United States. If you live anywhere else, we must receive your entry by March 1st.

7. If you’d like us to send you a list of the winners in April, enclose a self-addressed envelope with 57 cents postage affixed (US residents only).

Winners are chosen in mid April each year and are announced at a ceremony at the San Francisco Library. The Award Ceremony is at The Library of Congress in late April. Winning work is posted on our website sometime in May. Keep checking. Good Luck!

River of Words^® · 2547 Eighth Street, 13B · Berkeley, CA 94710 USA
info@riverofwords.org · Phone:510-548-7636 · Fax:510-548-2095