Monday, January 21, 2008
Poetry Contest Rules
So there's a contest I entered because it's free, it's for St. Louis poets, there are prizes of up to $700, and the final judge is Bob Hicok. All in all, a good deal. However, there was one rule that made me chuckle:
"Any person having won first prize in the contest twice within the last five years is ineligible for further cash awards but may be cited for honors."
Well, since that covers a potential maximum of two people, I assume this rule is there because one person actually has won twice in the past five years. Why not either make the rule broad and sensible ("No previous winners may win further cash awards") or incredibly specific and thus more amusing ("Jane Doe is not eligible to win this contest")?
"Any person having won first prize in the contest twice within the last five years is ineligible for further cash awards but may be cited for honors."
Well, since that covers a potential maximum of two people, I assume this rule is there because one person actually has won twice in the past five years. Why not either make the rule broad and sensible ("No previous winners may win further cash awards") or incredibly specific and thus more amusing ("Jane Doe is not eligible to win this contest")?
