The Chattanooga Writers’ Guild seeks submissions of Poetry with the theme Birds. Writers may interpret the theme as loosely as they wish. Deadline to submit up to three (3) works is January 31, 2026, with a 60-line limit per poem. Check out the full submission guidelines HERE.
Prize-winning poet and long-time CWG member John Mannone will judge this month’s submissions. Winners will be announced in February 2026.
This contest is available to members only. Log into your account to see the submission form HERE. To become a member, click HERE. If you need help logging in, please contact tech-support@chattanoogawritersguild.org.
Monthly Contests open on the first of each month and close on the last day, with one winner and one runner-up announced the following month. The first-place winner receives $50. The work of the winner and runner-up will be submitted for publication in The Chattanooga Pulse and considered for publication in our RidgeCut anthology. Writers included in RidgeCut will receive one free copy, available the following year.
The Monthly Contests rotate through a pattern of Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction throughout the year, with a new theme each month. Go to the 2026 Monthly Contest Series page to view the genre and theme for each month.