Out of consideration for the busyness at the start of the academic year among many writers, the deadline for application to the 2024 Ellen Conroy Kennedy Poetry Prize has been extended to Tuesday, October 15th, at 11:59 p.m. There is no change in the date of the award, which will be communicated by no later than November 15th. We hope that you will join us in sharing your words.

Held annually in loving memory of HoCoPoLitSo’s co-founder, the 2024 Ellen Conroy Kennedy Poetry Prize is open to all entrants— whether you are a life-time poet or have never written a line before, we invite you to share with us whatever moves you to poetry.

The author of the poem selected for first place will be awarded a cash prize of $500, celebrated on HoCoPoLitSo’s website, social media, and in our annual report— and have their winning poem published in The Little Patuxent Review and right here on HoCoPoLitSo’s front page.

To enter, click here, or visit the contest’s page to learn more or to read past winners’ poems. A reading fee of $10 per entrant supports a panel of fair and balanced judges.