William Bonar Poetry Prize
@wbonarpoetryprize.bsky.social
The prize is held annually in collaboration with St Mungo’s Mirrorball and Red Squirrel Press in memory of the Scottish poet William Bonar (1953-2021). More information on submission here: https://stmungosmirrorball.wordpress.com/the-william-bonar-prize/
Pinned
Submissions opened on Thursday 2 October (National Poetry Day) for the 2025 #williambonarpoetryprize! Red Squirrel Press in partnership with St Mungo’s Mirrorball. The deadline is 31 December 2025. Please see below for full details and rules.
📝 Two months to go!lEntries close 31st Dec.
Morag Smith, 2022 winner shares her tips for subs here: www.facebook.com/share/v/1BMq...
Tag your poet friends & get those poems in! #WilliamBonarPoetryPrize #PoetryCommunity #MoragSmith #WritingTips #PoetryPamphlet #redsquirrelpress #stmungosmirrorball
Morag Smith, 2022 winner shares her tips for subs here: www.facebook.com/share/v/1BMq...
Tag your poet friends & get those poems in! #WilliamBonarPoetryPrize #PoetryCommunity #MoragSmith #WritingTips #PoetryPamphlet #redsquirrelpress #stmungosmirrorball
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October 31, 2025 at 12:04 PM
📝 Two months to go!lEntries close 31st Dec.
Morag Smith, 2022 winner shares her tips for subs here: www.facebook.com/share/v/1BMq...
Tag your poet friends & get those poems in! #WilliamBonarPoetryPrize #PoetryCommunity #MoragSmith #WritingTips #PoetryPamphlet #redsquirrelpress #stmungosmirrorball
Morag Smith, 2022 winner shares her tips for subs here: www.facebook.com/share/v/1BMq...
Tag your poet friends & get those poems in! #WilliamBonarPoetryPrize #PoetryCommunity #MoragSmith #WritingTips #PoetryPamphlet #redsquirrelpress #stmungosmirrorball
The mulit-talented Julie Laing @j_a_laing, winner of the 2023 #williambonarpoetryprize, with Jim Carruth from St Mungo’s Mirrorball and Sheila Wakefield from Red Squirrel Press. Julie’s winning pamphlet, the edge of rhizome, is available from Red Squirrel Press www.redsquirrelpress.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The mulit-talented Julie Laing @j_a_laing, winner of the 2023 #williambonarpoetryprize, with Jim Carruth from St Mungo’s Mirrorball and Sheila Wakefield from Red Squirrel Press. Julie’s winning pamphlet, the edge of rhizome, is available from Red Squirrel Press www.redsquirrelpress.com
Submissions opened on Thursday 2 October (National Poetry Day) for the 2025 #williambonarpoetryprize! Red Squirrel Press in partnership with St Mungo’s Mirrorball. The deadline is 31 December 2025. Please see below for full details and rules.
October 6, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Submissions opened on Thursday 2 October (National Poetry Day) for the 2025 #williambonarpoetryprize! Red Squirrel Press in partnership with St Mungo’s Mirrorball. The deadline is 31 December 2025. Please see below for full details and rules.
Closing Date:
The closing date is 31st December 2025 and the winner will be announced on 17 February 2026, on what would have been William’s birthday.
The closing date is 31st December 2025 and the winner will be announced on 17 February 2026, on what would have been William’s birthday.
September 20, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Closing Date:
The closing date is 31st December 2025 and the winner will be announced on 17 February 2026, on what would have been William’s birthday.
The closing date is 31st December 2025 and the winner will be announced on 17 February 2026, on what would have been William’s birthday.
Judges
Sheila Wakefield, Founder/Editor of Red Squirrel Press
Elizabeth Rimmer (Red Squirrel Press poet, reviewer, editor)
Eleanor Livingstone (Former Director of StAnza)
Padraig MacAoidh (Scotland’s National Makar, Gaelic judge)
Lynnda Wardle, writer and William Bonar’s partner
Sheila Wakefield, Founder/Editor of Red Squirrel Press
Elizabeth Rimmer (Red Squirrel Press poet, reviewer, editor)
Eleanor Livingstone (Former Director of StAnza)
Padraig MacAoidh (Scotland’s National Makar, Gaelic judge)
Lynnda Wardle, writer and William Bonar’s partner
September 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Judges
Sheila Wakefield, Founder/Editor of Red Squirrel Press
Elizabeth Rimmer (Red Squirrel Press poet, reviewer, editor)
Eleanor Livingstone (Former Director of StAnza)
Padraig MacAoidh (Scotland’s National Makar, Gaelic judge)
Lynnda Wardle, writer and William Bonar’s partner
Sheila Wakefield, Founder/Editor of Red Squirrel Press
Elizabeth Rimmer (Red Squirrel Press poet, reviewer, editor)
Eleanor Livingstone (Former Director of StAnza)
Padraig MacAoidh (Scotland’s National Makar, Gaelic judge)
Lynnda Wardle, writer and William Bonar’s partner
Prize:
The winner receives:
• Pamphlet publication by Red Squirrel Press
• Editorial support from Gerry Cambridge, ‘The Dark Horse’ founder, poet, editor, essayist and Red Squirrel Press's in-house typesetter and designer
• 30 free copies and 50% discount on unlimited further copies
The winner receives:
• Pamphlet publication by Red Squirrel Press
• Editorial support from Gerry Cambridge, ‘The Dark Horse’ founder, poet, editor, essayist and Red Squirrel Press's in-house typesetter and designer
• 30 free copies and 50% discount on unlimited further copies
September 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Prize:
The winner receives:
• Pamphlet publication by Red Squirrel Press
• Editorial support from Gerry Cambridge, ‘The Dark Horse’ founder, poet, editor, essayist and Red Squirrel Press's in-house typesetter and designer
• 30 free copies and 50% discount on unlimited further copies
The winner receives:
• Pamphlet publication by Red Squirrel Press
• Editorial support from Gerry Cambridge, ‘The Dark Horse’ founder, poet, editor, essayist and Red Squirrel Press's in-house typesetter and designer
• 30 free copies and 50% discount on unlimited further copies
Process:
• 10-12 poems, the original work of the poet in English, Scots, Gaelic
• Poems should not be more than 5 years old
• Entries accompanied by bio 600 words max. Poems & bio to be included in a single document
• Email entries marked ‘The William Bonar Poetry Prize’ to jimcarruth63@gmail.com
• 10-12 poems, the original work of the poet in English, Scots, Gaelic
• Poems should not be more than 5 years old
• Entries accompanied by bio 600 words max. Poems & bio to be included in a single document
• Email entries marked ‘The William Bonar Poetry Prize’ to jimcarruth63@gmail.com
September 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Process:
• 10-12 poems, the original work of the poet in English, Scots, Gaelic
• Poems should not be more than 5 years old
• Entries accompanied by bio 600 words max. Poems & bio to be included in a single document
• Email entries marked ‘The William Bonar Poetry Prize’ to jimcarruth63@gmail.com
• 10-12 poems, the original work of the poet in English, Scots, Gaelic
• Poems should not be more than 5 years old
• Entries accompanied by bio 600 words max. Poems & bio to be included in a single document
• Email entries marked ‘The William Bonar Poetry Prize’ to jimcarruth63@gmail.com
Eligibility
• Entrants should be over 18 and currently based in Scotland
• They should not have had a pamphlet or collection published by a publisher
• Entry is free but restricted to one entry per year
• Entrants should be over 18 and currently based in Scotland
• They should not have had a pamphlet or collection published by a publisher
• Entry is free but restricted to one entry per year
September 20, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Eligibility
• Entrants should be over 18 and currently based in Scotland
• They should not have had a pamphlet or collection published by a publisher
• Entry is free but restricted to one entry per year
• Entrants should be over 18 and currently based in Scotland
• They should not have had a pamphlet or collection published by a publisher
• Entry is free but restricted to one entry per year
Submissions will open for the 2025 annual poetry prize on National Poetry Day, Thursday 2 October for Scottish-based poets in memory of William Bonar. See posts below for details 👇
September 20, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Submissions will open for the 2025 annual poetry prize on National Poetry Day, Thursday 2 October for Scottish-based poets in memory of William Bonar. See posts below for details 👇