My journey, your sign

Hey there, YWS! This is Alex, hopefully the spark that revives the writer's market here.

Let's start with the situation and some context first, for which I'd like to refer this particular post of a past Squills issue: Squills 2/1/26

Plus here's a great detailed guide by the wonderful @alliyah right here: Literary Submission Database Recommendations

And my recent wallpost I wrote right before making this thread: profile.php?u=246758&c=1846675

Now that you know all of what prompted this, let me tell you what all this thread is going to include-

1) Some of my poetries you've never seen before
Even if you're not looking to publish or unwilling to go through the hassle, this might be reason enough to check up on this thread. Imagine, it's like a premium section for VIP readers only. Convinced yet?

2) Past contests as example
These very contests may have run past their deadline, but they serve as a great template to study how they operate, what possible themes are set and how to work with them. It's a perfect practice space for beginners to try poetry on a theme with an example alongside it. I'll even include the winner's entries if available to give you guys more material.

3) Get to know more about me
The least exciting perhaps but maybe decoding me can give you a glimpse into a poet's mind if you're struggling with the process of it all yourself. Plus you get an inside scoop into my life, almost like a blog but more fun. I'll even sprinkle in some gossip for good measure!

4) You don't make the same mistakes as me
I'll tell you all the bumps I encountered to make sure your publishing journey is a much smoother one. Doing it on your own is amazing but if you need a guide, you've got me! Someone's silly mistakes are another's stepping stones. You don't learn if you hide your fumbles out of embarrassment, afterall.

5) Golden tips
Some of my best inferences and tricks that work wonder. You'll find these personal suggestions nowhere else, I swear. This one might be the cream AND cherry of the cake XD

I get how scary everything can look at a time, so baby steps with me. I've been you not so long ago dear but I know enough to light the path ahead. We'll face the rejections together and not give in to them. And with some beginner's luck, if you inherit it from me, your first may not even be stained as a failure! Either way, I've got your back - through the good and bad.

My limitations -

1) I can help out with poetry alone, as it's only what I research. At most, I can mention what contest was allowing other forms of entry as well but my knowledge is extremely limited here. Unless I get a storywriting buddy, in which case, please PM me! Let's work together to lead YWSers to the next step.

2) The contests remain exclusively online. I understand the desire for local offline contest some people might have but like YWS, all the writing opportunities I have involve a screen. I don't know much about similiar local offline contests and they'd pose an extreme geographical restraint anyways. So for better or for worse, this is staying online for now.

That's all for now! Please have patience until I share my first submission story here. Spoiler- it's the most special, and not just because it was my debut <3

Warning : The external links and spoiler entail my real life name, kindly refrain from reading if that makes you feel uncomfortable. Also, please consider that I'd still very much like to go only by my pen name 'Alex' here and not my real name. Kindly don't use it around to refer to me as I'm not completely okay with it. If you really wish to talk about it, please PM me. Your cooperation shall be deeply appreciated <3

Oh sweet beginnings, how do I even describe the feeling..

My experience / process:

I remember mentioning to my college bestfriend about YWS the first time. He was supportive of course, but he raised a question that changed everything- "That's all okay but if you're really so passionate about poetry, why not enter in online contests for them, some of which even award suitable prizes upon winning- money or otherwise?"

It hit me deep, for I didn't have a real reason. Just the same excuses you all must have right now- too much effort, insufficient awareness, don't have enough time and won't get selected anyways. The storm rested though, until the discussion about writer's market ignited it again. I then read @alliyah's post about the opportunities and began exploring my options. Having read the guidelines multiple times, I picked out this particular contest to start and it unfolded so beautifully.

I saw the prompt and was coincidentally struck with the memory of my novice writing style of personification or conversing with inanimate objects. It's childish I know, but in my defense, I was a ninth grade kid afterall. Anyways, time passed and that idea brew for a while but I didn't act upon it. Until one day, when the spirit of writing possessed me and I finished it in almost one go. And boy, didn't it turn out my best work until then..

I submitted the entry, so did my friend. It became our shared thing over time. His was a little unpolished but the emasculate vocabulary and captivating style definitely compensated for its shortcomings. The result day and I was nervously checking their Instagram handle all day: @thechai.magazine
I was shaking on the verge of impatience. Unfortunately, it didn't come out until the next day. I hadn't even put on my glasses when I found the results were out, time for the reveal!



My friends and family were very happy for me, I felt at the top of the world. It may not have been first prize, but hey third's no bad for a debut try! It was good for me and it's all that mattered. Later, my friend was also selected to be published though he couldn't secure a position on the podium. We both had a treat in college group afterwards, such good times..

About the contest (Theme):

Guidelines:

Rewards:

Terms & Conditions:

My poetry submission:

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
Ever in motion you stay, tirelessly-
What is it that you're running from?
Stuck in the same old vicious loop
Are you trapped in a rat race too?
Hustling to avoid reflecting on self
Is your pace a mimicry of humans?

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
Do you also feel things like we do?
I see you bleeding at the sunset
Are you just as afraid of changes?
Taking the night by yourself to mourn
Does overthinking trouble you as well?

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
Do you put on a mask like the rest?
I see you spinning round on your axis
Do you dance just to forget the pain?
Entertaining yourself in the darkness
Is it an act to cover up the loneliness?

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
Do you have friends & family like us?
A nurturing mother who goes beyond
Do you have a sibling to share with?
Or a father who gives you the world
Do you love them with all you've got?
Holding on when times get tough

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
Is there someone you secretly love?
Your relationship too complicated to label
Is your heart too timid for a love confession?
Biting your tongue and not making a move
Tell me- to fill the void deep in your core
Is it someone's company that you look for?

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
Do you also have some insecurities?
Not closest to the Sun, neither farthest
Nor the evening star, or bearer of rings
Do you wish you were different too?
When you see excellence all around
Does jealousy also consume you?

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
Do you realise the legend you are?
Sprouting life from a barren ground
Like a butterfly- future of the caterpillar
Home to all the creatures and many trees
You're the definition of a transformation
Do you know yet how amazing you are?

Riddle me this, enigmatic Earth
How are our existences so similar?
Bound by the same unresting time
Is all your struggle as good as ours?
An insane thought hits me as a wave
Is our life a mere reflection of yours?

Results announcement:

Photo of my poem published:

Winning poem:

Overall thoughts

It was a great way to debut, and I say that not just because of the favourable results. It made me realise a lot of things about what I was really looking for. First it was a shared activity with my bestfriend, but it soon grew to be something more. Over time as I began to submit to more and more contests, I could see my poetry getting substantially better. Despite the flexibility no theme contests may suggest, I found out that a guiding hand is always best, regarding what exactly they're looking for. But you NEED to add your take to it in order to emerge victorious. Take the winner for example, who compared all the topography of land to a human body and that created a imagery to add to the impact of defilement he later describes. The writing is so captivating though, that you first mistake the tone to be plainly romantic. My poem also featured an extensive metaphor between Earth and human's avoidant and workaholic tendencies to highlight how they might actually be a reflection of the other. Both these ideas weren't unthinkable but the way we carried it really sealed it.

Now let's compare my poetry to the winner's and determine if the results make sense. First, let's look at the rhyme scheme. My poem had none, but the meter tried to compensate for it. I rarely wrote anything other than free verse at the time, so this was a masterpiece in that category. But the point here clearly goes to the winner for the intricate rhyme scheme they pursued and managed to pull off beautifully. Next comes imagery, where my work gave a little more of a competition. I had plenty of them, but I failed at trying to tie them together. On the other hand, the winner very strategically blended it in the very core of their concept. I sprinkled imagery while they anchored it. It served more to them than to me. Another point to the winner! Let's discuss the message or purpose offered. The winner dressed the crisis of pollution artistically to make it more appealing without taking away the depth of it. Whereas, I focussed solely on pointing out the hypocrisy, flawed nature or emotional calling of humans through the comparisons to earth in what I'd call a 'mirro-piece'. I would this was the closest I got to giving the winner a fight but they clearly had this in the bag too. My idea is by no means inferior but for a addressing a world concern in such a well written definitely deserved the upper hand. Plus check out the vocabulary and the astounding expression, I really had no chance!

Golden advice

1. Rhyme pays- As I looked at the winning piece, a question struck me. Is it always the rhyming works that win? So I researched a little around the past issues of The Chai Magazine and found most of the works did in fact rhyme. But these were normal publications hadn't ever been contests. Before Prithvi, they had conducted just one. Coincidentally or not, the winning piece there was a rhyming one as well. I then pondered over it a bit- and I thought, of course it's at least more likely to win. Rhymes suggest extra work has been out in, and they sound good to read. Until the rhymes are awfully forced, there's no logical reasoning as to why that doesn't give them an upper hand. But you'd argue my piece had none- that's also true! I'm sure it won over many pieces that would've rhymed more than mine. But that further feeds into my point of it giving a better of winning, not ensuring it. Judging is made on several categories but I'm sure rhymes happen to be one of them. The idea is simple- in two equally great poems, the one that rhymes wins. Unless the other has some insane formatting or perhaps another perk to add to the equation. This was actually the turning point where I rebounded into rhymes myself. I had done them before so I was capable plus that extra effort might just carry me to victory!

2. Coherency- One similarity between the pieces of the winner and me was held the everything together. It's so important, if you really think it through. Staying true to the theme of your poem without any distractions is actually a more difficult of a task than it appears. Especially as you switch stanzas and are expected to expand or talk of something new. Both our specific ideas gave the winner and me to explore different facets while sticking to the core, but I can imagine a situation where it turns out a major challenge. The solution is simple- sometimes, you need to cut off lines that work well or even great catching ones for the overall bigger picture and the better of the poem as a whole.

3. Focus on strengths- I'm particularly vocal about this as I dug up a forgotten special talent for this- the ability to imagine the struggles and story of inanimate objects. Earth never told me it's a reflection of us, but I could see it. I'm sure the winner similarly, knew of their skill of imagery to disguise ugly themes and played on that. What I mean to say is you'll always find yourself on the back foot if you don't play by your strengths. Study yourself and realise what you can do fairly better than others, something that gives you am edge over the others and exploit it! Think of this as a job interview question- what makes you special? Improve on you weaknesses, sure. But make sure to flaunt what you're good at too, it adds a feeling of confidence in the work.

4. Nature of idea- This makes or breaks your poem. Romance is a good theme when you've nothing special to offer. But a good philosophical and reflective piece would easily best it, as you can argue mine must have. There's something special about a revolutionary tone that can't be challenged though- but it's remarkably more tough to pull off. Then there are major world issues- insanely impossible to write on while still maintaining the poetic interest and leaving an impact, but equally undefeatable if it's unsuccessful. For most people though, I'd suggest starting the theme you best shine in. It might be comedy, nature or pretty much anything. But for the majority bracket of writers, I think romance comes most naturally. If you're fairly good at it too, you might have a real chance.

5. Have patience- I had beginner's luck. You might not. Doesn't matter- everyone faces rejection. Oh boy, just hang on to this thread and you'll see how many I ended up getting. You'll feel lost and incapable but it's vital that you keep going on- just think why you started and you have the reason now. I think the advice applies to waiting for the results as well, which can take about a month depending on the magazine. It's a journey so enjoy the ride and keep calm through it.

Oh well, the string of rejections begin..

My experience / process:

To be added..

About the contest (Theme):

What they accept:

Who can submit:

Submission guidelines:

Publication rights:

My poetry submissions:

Poem 1- Glow, Shine, Lustre and Smolder

Glow
That of the moon
Strong enough
To reign the darkness
Of the infinite space

Shine
That a youth radiates
In their pace
Rising beyond the ashes
Of all the betrayals
They've faced

Lustre
Of the metal
In a wife's necklace
Overjoyed
That it's her first gift

Smolder
In a dying fire
As two lovers argue
One walks out
They've been put out
Just like that

Poem 2- Light

Light is the fodder on which life feeds
Without it, all functions would cease

Travelers would be lost at the vast sea
Poets would die in their muse's yearning
If not for the glow of the moon and stars

No furnace to bring lovers closer
Or fire to destroy damaged homes
What's living without the anti-villian?

People would hide the truth in dark
Behind a pretense, if not for the Sun
No eyes on us and conscience dead

The sword hanging from the neck
Tis light- that keeps us grounded

Published issue:

https://substack.com/@phosphorescentlit ... edded-post

Some selected poems:

Thoughts

To be added..

Golden advice

To be added..