Following on from the success of this summer’s Milestones poetry competition, judged by legendary Liverpool poet Brian Patten, Write Out Loud are busy compiling an anthology which will showcase the best of the poems entered. In it, you’ll find the winning and commended poems for the main and under-16 competitions, and the shortlisted poems – plus Brian Patten’s thoughts on the winning poems, and an introduction by Write Out Loud’s very own Julian Jordon.

We hope to have the books delivered by 7 October, in time for the awards ceremony which takes place in the afternoon of the same day at Long Compton village hall in Warwickshire, in conjunction with the AGM of the Milestone Society, for whom we organised the competition. Poets whose work features in the anthology will receive a free copy, after which it will go on general sale at £6.50 + p&p.

Early birds can buy discounted copies for just £5 + p&p by placing their order this week. Simply email info@writeoutloud.net before midnight on Saturday 23 September with your name, the number of copies you require, and your address, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can with details of the total amount due, and how to pay.

If ever you doubted the state of contemporary poetry, this book shows it to be alive, kicking, and blessed with rich and distinct voices. Are we biased? Yes. But this is highly recommended.

PHOTOGRAPH: ROBERT NORBURY 

Background: John Baylis Post wins Milestones competition