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The Accidental Historian Poetry Contest

Prompt: “Life in Central Florida Today”

Our next special exhibition, The Accidental Historian, opening September 21, looks at the way artists, photographers, poets, and others become the historians for the future simply by doing what they love in the present – recording life around them.

Every day, you too build the future history of Central Florida.

To warm up for the exhibit, we’re seeking your poetry and flash prose. Write about how you see and feel about Central Florida right now. How would you narrate life today to those living more than 100 years from now?

After submissions are received, a panel of judges will select a winner from each category from blind submissions (the authors’ names will be withheld to the judges).

The winning entry will be included in The Accidental Historian exhibition, as well as published in the History Center’s magazine, Reflections. The winners will also have the opportunity to read their poem at our Poetry Night, a public event presented in conjunction with The Accidental Historian.

(Two categories: Adult and Youth)

RULES FOR SUBMISSION

  1. Length limits: Poetry up to 20 lines or 500 words. “Flash” prose submissions of no more than 500 words.
  2. Deadline: Please submit poems by email to Catherine.Duffy@ocfl.net by August 23, 2019.
  3. Format: If possible, send your work in a pdf file. Please use widely available, legible typefaces and do not include graphics or images.
  4. Language: Entries are acceptable in any language; please supply a translation when submitting in a language other than English.
  5. Indicate if you are submitting for the Youth Poetry Contest (ages 17 and younger). Otherwise, the judges will assume entries are from those 18 and older.