Poesy writers' group was created on the 8th of December, 2015 by Olalere Ibrahim, a passionate writer, graphic designer and Biochemist, who sought to bring together poets storytellers and literary incliners.

The group consists of over 90 writers who are harnessing their gifts. Amongst these writers are also bloggers, book reviewers, spoken word artists.

After three years of growing together, we bring to you the maiden edition of The Poesy Writers' Writing Contest.

The Writing contest seeks to push writers to create something out of nothing, seeks to empower them, make them slay writer's block, have them believing in their art and finally, make them creative beyond the surface.

The theme for the competition is Mental Health; Suicide & Depression.

Writers are to write revolving the theme.

Here are the RULES and GUIDELINES to participate.

1. The competition is ONLY open to poesy writers' group members.

2. One flash fiction and One poetry work is to be submitted by each writer.

3. Flash fiction of not more than 1,500 words & poetry of not more than 25 lines, are required.

4. Email your submissions (PDF ONLY) to poesywriters@gmail.com using 'The Poesy Writers Writing Contest 2019' as subject.

- Font size 14 in Times New Romans with Line space 1.5, is the requirement.

- Participants should include their names, pen name, Instagram handles, phone numbers and email in the body of the email

- Names and other details MUST NOT be included in the PDF File.

- For Enquiries. Subject should be 'Enquiries' to poesywriters@gmail.com

5. After sending in your entry, you will get an acknowledgement, then proceed to post your story and poem on Instagram tagging us @poesywriters using the hashtags #poesywriters #poesywriterswritingcontest2019

Note that your story and poem should be in picture format using Textgram or notepad or Canva or any other suitable text app.

(N:B THE PICTURE FORMAT SHOULD BE 200 WORDS PER PAGE FOR LEGIBILITY GIVEN THAT THE MAX WORD COUNT FOR FLASH FICTION IS 1500 WORDS. THE POEM SHOULD FOLLOW. STORY AND POEM MUST BE IN ONE POST BUT POEM SHOULD COME LAST.)

6. Follow us on Instagram @poesywriters for a valid entry.

7. Follow the three Judges and two spectators  @adilsaperture @tolutoludo @the_zyzah and  @pyrokardia @elumike_works

8. Submissions are open from the 10th of January 2019 and will close on the 1st February 2019

9. Voting session will commence on Instagram soon after the deadline. Each like will count as a vote but for a like to be valid, contestants and the voters must be following @poesywriters on Instagram

Dates of voting result, spectators results, top 10 shortlist, and then, top 3 winners according to the Judges' result, will be announced later, on the blog.

Check our social media platforms for more updates.

PRIZES

The winner - N15,000

First runner up - N10,000

Second runner up - N5,000

PLAGIARISM IS HIGHLY DISALLOWED. ANY PLAGIARISED WORK WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.

MEET OUR JUDGES

1. Adil Dad

Adil Dad was born in Preston, England.

In his early career, he was a student of design but soon discovered a burning passion for writing. To evoke feeling using words. His first book, Pick Me Up, debuted in 2017, and has received 5-star reviews, around the world. His work continues to have a massive impact on social media. He is currently the director of Leaf Publishing House, an independent publishing house in the United Kingdom.

Instagram: @adilsaperture

2. Tolu Akinyemi

Tolu Akinyemi was born in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria and currently lives in the United Kingdom. He is an out of the box creative thinker, and a leader par excellence. Tolu Akinyemi is a business analyst and a financial crime consultant, as well as a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), with extensive experience working with leading investment banks, and Consultancy firms. Tolu is a personal development and career coach and a prolific writer with more than Ten years' writing experience. He is a mentor to hundreds of young people. In March 2018, he was endorsed by the Arts Council England, as an exception talent.

Instagram: @tolutoludo

3. Azeezah Adeowu

Azeeza Adeowu is a graduate of Nasarawa State University, Keffi. She's a writer, a blogger and a book reviewer. Besides spending her leisure time to read, rant or watch movies; she loves staring at the trees,  with ice-cream dissolving in her mouth. She has won writing and reading competitions due to her growing love for literature. Also, she receives free books from publishers who need the publicity for their authors, because her reviews are gold. She currently lives in Ibadan,  Nigeria.

Instagram: @the_zyzah

MEET OUR SPECTATORS

1. Pyrokardia

Pyrokardia is a licensed physiotherapist who specialized in healing poetry. He is the best selling author of "A Beautiful Mess" and "Broken Wishbones and Empty Spaces"

When he isn't at the clinic, relieving patients of their pain, he can be found in a quiet corner, lost to a world of music and poetry. He recently released a new book "Cycle"

Instagram: @pyrokardia

2. Michael Emmanuel

Michael Emmanuel is a fiction writer who hopes to be committed to creative non-fiction. He was shortlisted for the 2017 edition of Okike Prize for Literature in the prose category, and his works have appeared on Brittle Paper and Kalahari Review. He finds graphics design and basketball quite engaging. Most recently, he won the Quramo Writers’ Prize 2018. He works as an editor at Creative Freelance Writers.

Instagram @elumike_works.