I enjoy writing poetry but there doesn't appear to be a big market out there these days. Most of us write poetry for the love of it, as it is sometimes easier to express your feelings in a poem than any other way.

Here are a few sites that run competitions for poetry, and some that pay you:

www.dorothyprizes.org/

The Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Memorial has a competition running that's now open for 2009.
Prizes ranging from $1,000 up to as much as $25,000 will be awarded for the finest lyric poems celebrating the human spirit.

Here are the guidelines for the 2009 Competition:

Each poem must be printed on a separate sheet.
Submit two copies of each poem. Write your name, address, phone number and email address clearly marked on each page of one copy only.
Include an index card with your name, address, phone number, email address and the titles of your submitted poems.
Include a $10 entry fee payable to the Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Memorial Fund. (This fee is not required for entries mailed from abroad.)
In summary, send two sets of copies of your poems, with your name on one set only; plus an index card with your contact information; plus a $10.00 fee if you reside in the U.S.
Mail entries to:
Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prizes
PO Box 2306
Orinda, CA 94563
 
Deadline: Entries must be postmarked on or before October 17, the third Saturday in October, 2009.

Poems will not be returned. Include a stamped addressed envelope if you wish us to acknowledge the receipt of your entry.

 

www.triond.com

Triond is another site you can join that publish poetry on sites that it feels relevant and you can get paid. Read the terms and submit!

How it Works

Using Triond is easy:

1. You create original and unique content in any format.
2. We publish your content on the most relevant website according to its topic.
3. You get more recognition and more readership while building a portfolio and earning revenue.

It's simple; you create, we publish, you earn.

Creating Your Content

Whether you write, photograph, record or compose, you can submit your creation to Triond. We accept all original content on any topic, including written articles, pictures, audio, and video. No matter how you created it, we can publish it.

Get Published Online

Once your content is submitted and approved, we will publish it on a website within our publishing network that best suits your topic and target audience. Our network includes niche websites with topics ranging from poetry and literature, to business, sports, travel, health and wellness, and many more.

You can easily keep track of all of your published items in your Triond account. You can even personalize your profile page to transform it into a unique, sharable portfolio that rivals any blog.

Readership, Recognition, and Revenue

There are a number of technical and financial challenges that individuals face when trying to make online publishing worth their while. With Triond, you can just focus on what you do best – create! We handle the technical, marketing, operational and financial details so you don’t have to.

Triond helps showcase your content so your work gets maximum readership and you earn recognition. As soon as your content is published, it begins generating revenue from several income sources, such as display and contextual advertising that appears on the pages of your content. We share with you 50% of the revenue generated by your content.

Payments are made monthly on the 15th of the month for earnings you have accumulated up until the end of the previous month. You can receive your payment by PayPal, check or Western Union money transfer

www.sps.com

Blue Mountain Arts have competitions for poetry, and also you can submit your poems for consideration. They pay well if accepted.

Here are the guidelines and closing date for their competition:

SPS Studios

Announces Its Fourteenth Biannual Poetry Card Contest
Deadline: June 30, 2009
1st prize: $300 * 2nd prize: $150 * 3rd prize: $50

In addition, the winning poems will be displayed on our website sps.com.
Please read the following, then scroll down to submit your poem.

 

Poetry Contest Guidelines:

1. Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, although we find that non-rhyming poetry reads better.
2. We suggest that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write.
3. Poems are judged on the basis of originality and uniqueness.
4. English-language entries only, please.
5. Enter as often as you like!

Poetry Contest Rules

All entries must be the original creation of the submitting author. All rights to the entries must be owned by the author and shall remain the property of the author. The author gives permission to SPS Studios, Inc. to publish and display the entry on the Web (in electronic form only) if the entry is selected as a winner or finalist. Winners will be contacted within 45 days of the deadline date. Contest is open to everyone except employees of SPS Studios and their families. Void where prohibited.

To submit your work, send to editorial@sps.com (no attachments, please) or write to us at:

Blue Mountain Arts, Inc.
Editorial Department
Post Office Box 1007
Boulder, CO 80306

 

Hope you find this useful -- happy poets day to you all!