Winning Writers Announces the Winners of the 22nd Annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Winning Writers is pleased to announce the results from its 22nd annual Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, judged by Michal 'MJ' Jones with assistance from Briana Grogan and Dare Williams. D.T. Christensen of Stow, Massachusetts won the Tom Howard Prize of $3,500 for a poem in any style or genre, for "Shoulder Season". Serrina Zou of New York City won the Margaret Reid Prize of $3,500 for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style, for "Ars Poetica". 2,481 submissions were received from around the world.

"Shoulder Season" weaves a tapestry of memories of summer's first subtle turnings towards autumn. Time becomes more palpable, yet less linear, as the scent of apples in the orchard overlays a departed grandmother's baking and the sea air as children play on the beach at sunset. Jones said, "This is a poem of living, breathing, dying, decomposing, and remembering—all with the foreground of seasons we have no control over in this life. In fragrance, sensation, and hue, the poem asks us to live on purpose, without rush, no matter how an inevitable end of season rushes toward us."

An ars poetica is a poem that reflects on the art of writing itself. Zou's pensive lyric catalogues ephemeral but emotionally weighty items—a crumpled tissue, petals on a bridal aisle, the moon's reflection—to express the paradox that poetry is intuitively recognizable, but slips away when you try to define it. Jones said, "The poet seems to be shouting from the 'silk-spun cocoon of caterpillars' that the art of writing poetry is about discovery and surprise more than it is about directing. The poet's delicate and nature-rich imagery makes me want to fall into that discovery again and again."

Ten Honorable Mentions of $300 went to Jay Aja, R.H. Alexander, Shelly Cato, Ceren Ege, Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Lance Larsen, Em McCoy, Carla Schick, Jennifer Tubbs, and Elinor Ann Walker. All the winning poems are published online at Winning Writers.

The 2025 contest is now open through October 1, 2025. Michal 'MJ' Jones will return as final judge, assisted by Briana Grogan and Dare Williams. The cash prizes now total $12,000, with the Honorable Mention awards increasing to $500 each. See the contest guidelines and enter here.

Founded in 2001, Winning Writers has been named one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2024). In addition to the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, Winning Writers also sponsors the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest, the North Street Book Prize, and the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest (no fee). All of these contests are recommended by Reedsy.

CONTACT:
Adam Cohen
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413-320-1847

SOURCE Winning Writers