GUIDELINES Minero seeks poetry submissions on any topic related to life on the border. This can be either focused on one idiosyncrasy of the border or it can be as general as the author wishes it to be. The entry can be submitted in either English or Spanish. Minero is most concerned with the topic relatedness and originality of the poem as well as with the style and use of proper language.
Invites writers from this border to participate in Minero Magazine’s First Poetry Contest. OPEN TO Any person who would like to express themselves and submit a poem that speaks about the life on this border. PRIZES A first place submission will be selected and published in the 2018 fall issue of Minero Magazine. The second and third place submissions will be featured on mineromagazine.com and the magazine’s social media. DEADLINE All submissions must be entered by March 6. Please email to mineromagazineutep@gmail.com. Please provide the title of your poem followed by your name in the subject line. Contact information from the author must be provided as well. By submitting your work, you allow Minero Magazine to publish as necessary. GUEST JUDGES AND SELECTION PROCESS The poems will be reviewed by UTEP’s professor of linguistics Hector Enriquez, and bilingual author and UTEP’s creative writing professor Sylvia Aguilar. Minero Magazine’s editor-in-chief Grecia Sanchez will also be a judge. The poems with the best evaluation from the three judges will win. Every judge will evaluate entries according to Minero’s criteria detailed below. Winners will be notified by March 29 via email.
HIGHER CRITERIA FOR JUDGING SUBMISSIONS • Poem relates to the topic: the poem effectively relates to life on the border. It either talks about one aspect of the border or the border as a whole. • Original: the poem is original and it is unpublished. • Proper language: the poem is free from vulgar words or disrespectful vocabulary to any of the aspects of the border or people in general. • Style: the poem is written with a sense of style, it has been well thought out and makes sense to the reader. Thoughts are clear to and understandable. LOWER CRITERIA FOR JUDGING SUBMISSIONS • Meets length requirements: the poem stays within the 300-500 words. • Language used: is the poem written in either English or Spanish? (This will only be evaluated in accordance to each language’s style in creative writing. For instance, if a poem is written in Spanish, verses and other concepts will be used). • Grammar, usage, mechanics, spelling: the poem contains few or no errors in grammar, usage, mechanics or spelling. The poem is easy to understand as it contains clear writing. • Modesty: the author did not use arrogant expressions or inappropriate language. • Descriptive and appealing vocabulary: the poem is filled with descriptive and sound vocabulary that is clear and appeals to the reader.