Eligibility:

THE POET - Best New Poets will only accept submissions from writers who have NOT published a book-length poetry collection (Poets with forthcoming books may only enter if their first book's publication date is after November 1, 2010). This includes self-published books if they were sold online, in stores, or at readings. Writers who have edited and published an anthology or a similar collection of other writers' works remain eligible.

THE POEMS - Work submitted may be unpublished work or work published after April 1, 2009 for which the writer currently retains all rights (allowing the writer to publish it again). Because many of our initial readers are former/current editors of Meridian, poems previously published in Meridian are NOT allowed. There are no preferences on theme, style, or content. We just want the best poetry out there.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSION - Writers in the Open Competition may enter multiple times so long as they are willing to pay the modest fee associated with each entry. We do not recommend entering more than two or three times (we begin to feel exploitive and you begin to get mad if you're not selected) and we do not believe mutiple entries increase a poet's chances significantly. Writers nominated by literary magazines and programs may also submit work to the Open Competition. Our target date for announcing the winners is July 20, 2010. Poems under consideration for our anthology may be simultaneously submitted to other magazines.

INELIGIBLE POETS - Some writers may NOT enter the Open Competition or be nominated by writing programs and magazines for the anthology. These include former editors and staff of Meridian; friends, former professors, and family of current Meridian editors and staff; friends, family, and former and current students* of the series editor, Jeb Livingood; and friends, family, and former and current students* of Claudia Emerson, our 2010 editor. Current University of Virginia MFA students and those who graduated after April 2008 are ineligible. Additionally, the poets we featured in our 2009 edition may not submit work for the 2010 anthology.

* We define a "student" as someone who has done semester-length coursework with the editors, or someone for whom the editors served as an undergraduate or master's level thesis advisor. Poets who attended 1-2 week workshops or retreats with the editors remain eligible.

LETTING YOU KNOW - After our May 20, 2010 cutoff for all submissions, we will make every effort to quickly announce our final selections. We will e-mail the address you supply when you enter.