I've heard it all, you know. Everyone complains that there are no challenging contest on dA, there are no fair contests, no fun contests, etc. I decided that I would try to change that. I would make it fun, I would make it fair, and I would make it challenging for everyone! But I needed help - this would be to large for me to handle. So, I teeamed up with the amazing =Flutterings and here we are. Hosting one of the biggest Lit contests on dA.

Now, you may ask - why is this such a fair contest if it is so big?

Here's your answer:

The judges for this contest are as follows:

=Mattiello (Me )
=Flutterings (the amazing)
^StJoan (your foremost Lit GD/ the one people complain to - I wouldn't though.)
`Beccalicious (I've seen her in a movie! )
^lovetodeviate ( the one you go to if you want to know something
`PoeticWar ( popularias senioritis - respect him or die )
`GeneratingHype ( your very own critic, Bill)

Yep, that's would be why it's fair.

So why is it so much fun?

Well here's your answer.

You will be writing a Villanelle!

What's that, you ask?

Well, young grasshoppers, I have written a tutorial on Villanelles for this specific purpose - so that you can find out!

The Amazing and Glorious tutorial on Villanelles! Check it out.

If you know what one is already, then you've got a head-start. But think fast, because once everyone understands what a Villanelle is and how to write one, they'll be able to write one just as effortlessly as you.



"Well if your the sort of person who thinks about rhyme structures like this...

A / B1 / C / B2

D / E1 / F / E2

G / H1 / I / H2

The letters signalize the audio-rhyme, the numbers show a difference in the actual word used to rhyme

The popular Villanelle 'Do not go gentle into that good night' by Dylan Thomas would be..

A1 / A2

A1 / B1 / A2

A3 / B2 / A2

A4 / B3 / A1

A5 / B4 / A2

A6 / B5 / A1 / A2

Only two sounds are repeated at the end of each line, in this case -ight and -ay. and some words (A1 and A2) are repeated at the ends of lines (night and light)."

_{Excerpted from the journal of =Flutterings}

Check the tutorial for a more thorough explaination by me, =Mattiello!

Contest Rules

Rules

- Visual poetry will be accepted! So, if you are good with photoshop too, then have a go at visual Poetry!
- Judges will not be eligible to enter
- Poetry that is not in Villanelle format will automatically rejected
- Your entry must be sent in a note to me, =Mattiello or =Flutterings. Do not send it to both of us
- All languages welcome but you must provide an English translation, so we can study the meaning behind the words as well as the content.
- You must link to this page in the artists comments! (=Mattiello)
- There is no age restriction on this competition, but if it is of mature content, I expect you to follow DeviantArt's rules
- We must have received your entry by the time the deadline closes on 22nd of August
- Prose will not be accepted
- One entry per person
- The entry must be new; therefore, it is to be posted after 1st of August
- Important the deadline is in GMT!
- The judges will not comment on your work until the competition closes (for fairness sake).
- We reserve the right to edit this information, including the rules and prizes, up to the date of 18th of August


Deadline

22nd of August

How To Enter

(+) Write a new Villanelle.
(+) Submit it to DeviantART (in the right category please of course)
(+) Link to the competition in the Artists Comments
(+) Copy the address URL
(+) Send a note to =Mattiello OR =Flutterings(not both!) with the link in it.
(+) They will post a comment on your deviation saying 'Thanks for entering'. Once you have recieved that comment you are entered in the competition.
(+) Tell your friends!

Here are your fabulous Prizes

1st Place:
- 3 month deviant art subscription from =Flutterings
- 3 month deviant art subscription from =evile33
- 3 month deviant art subscription from ^hellfirediva (9 months total!)
- A hand signed print from *sublime-nudes
- A feature in =Mattiello' journal
- A feature in =Flutterings' journal
- A feature in =evile33's journal
- A visual interpretation of your poem by =BobSmith006 (digital not print)
- A feature in ^StJoan's journal
- A feature in ~saturninesweetness' journal
- An indepth comment on one of your poems by *Bahama-dreams
- A custom drawing by *Somnambulist-theory (digital not print)

2nd Place:
- 3 month deviant art subscription from =Flutterings
- 1 month deviant art subscription from ^hellfirediva (4 months total!)
- A feature in =Mattiello's journal
- A feature in =Flutterings' journal
- A feature in :devdevevile33:'s journal
- A feature in ^StJoan's journal
- A feature in ~saturninesweetness's journal
- An indepth comment on one of your poems by *Bahama-dreams
- A critique by *Somnambulist-theory
- A critique by =BobSmith006

3rd Place:
- 1 month deviant art subscription from =Flutterings
- A feature in =Mattiello's journal
- A feature in =Flutterings' journal
- A feature in =evile33's journal
- A feature in ^StJoan's journal
- A feature in ~saturninesweetness' journal
- An indepth comment on one of your poems by *Bahama-dreams
- A feature in *Somnambulist-theory's journal
- A critique by =BobSmith006

More prizes will be offered as the contest goes on.

Current Entries

First Villanelle by ~EnkaOwakura

Inner Sanctum by *DragonsChest

Crumbling Soil at my Feet by ~saturninesweetness </div></div>

So, what are you waiting for?! Add yourself to the list - Send me a note with your entry!</