The Wick Poetry Center is accepting submissions for its annual Wick Chapbook Competition for Ohio Poets until Oct. 31. The competition is open to writers who want to get their manuscripts published in the Chapbook Series, a collection of about 25 poems published each year.

Two winners will be announced in January: one from the open category and one from the student category. Both winners will have their manuscripts printed in the Wick Chapbook Series published by the Kent State University Press. The winners will also have the opportunity to give a reading at Kent State.

Nicole Robinson, outreach manager of the Wick Poetry Center, said Maggie Anderson founded the Chapbook Competition in 1995 in order to create a venue to promote talented local poets. Anderson made the competition exclusive to Ohio residents and has stood behind her mission to recognize poets throughout Ohio, Robinson said.

Jessica Jewell, program manager of the Wick Poetry Center, said Peter Campion will judge the competition this year. Jewell said Campion’s ability to help new poets makes him a good judge as does his criticism of poetry, literature and art.”

“For most of the winners, this is their first time being published,” Robinson said. “The Chapbook competition is long-standing and well-known. Being published in the series gives the poet more prestige.”

Submissions and a $15 entry fee must be submitted online at wickpoetrycenter.submittable.com. The competition is open to current Ohio residents and students enrolled in an Ohio college or university.

Contact Danielle Hess at [email protected].