Time is running out to enter the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award for new poets aged 11-17. The deadline is 31 July. Hannah Lowe, pictured, who is one of the judges of this year’s award, and author of the acclaimed collection Chick, has joined forces with former winner Tallulah Hutson to encourage young people to draw on real-life experience in their writing and enter this year. Lowe's first collection of poems, Chick, is an exploration of the turbulent life and death of her father, a Chinese-black Jamaican migrant who disappeared every night to play cards in the East End of London to support his family. You can read Lowe's top 10 tips for young - and not so young - poets here. 

Tallulah Hutson, from north London, now 17, was one of 15 winners in 2012 with the poem ‘The Accident’ which referred to a real-life childhood tragedy when Tallulah’s father was severely injured in a car accident. In the poem she talked about life before the event, and later visiting him in hospital.

Lowe said: “Tallulah’s poem is a moving evocation of childhood memories, both good and bad. I would always encourage young writers to ‘write what they know’ and express their feelings and frustrations. We feel this competition can be a positive outlet for them.”

Tallulah said: “I was just attempting to record some memories in the poem, but somehow it ended up depicting feelings I can’t otherwise express, although to anyone read­ing it, it is not immed­iately obvious who or what it is about. In many respects it is still quite personal.”

Last year’s competition attracted entries from 7,351 young people from 60 countries, making it one of the largest literary competitions in the world. The award is supported by the Foyle Foundation, is free to enter, and more details can be found here.

The top 15 poets will be published in an anthology, which is sent out to more than 20,000 people worldwide in March 2014. The current anthology ‘Gorgeous like a thunderstorm’ celebrates last year’s winners. Free copies for schools and individuals can be requested by emailing fyp@poetrysociety.org.uk.

There are two prizes available for the 15 overall winners of the award. The 14-17 year olds get the chance to attend a week-long residential course at an Arvon centre, where they will be tutored by this year’s judges Hannah Lowe and David Morley. The younger age range winners (11-14) will receive a visit to their school from a professional poet, followed by distance mentoring. The 85 commended winners also receive book prizes and a year's youth membership of the Poetry Society. All 100 winners of the award get support and encouragement, via publication, performance, promotion and internship opportunities throughout the UK.