Eligibility:

THE POET - Best New Poets will only accept submissions from writers who have NOT published a book-length poetry collection (Poets with forthcoming books may only enter if their first book's publication date is after November 1, 2012). This includes self-published books if they were sold online, in stores, or at readings. Writers who have edited and published an anthology or a similar collection of other writers' works remain eligible.

THE POEMS - Work submitted may be unpublished work or work published after April 1, 2011 for which the writer currently retains all rights (allowing the writer to publish it again). Because many of our initial readers are former/current editors of Meridian, poems previously published in Meridian are NOT allowed. There are no preferences on theme, style, or content. We just want the best poetry out there.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSION - Writers in the Open Competition may enter multiple times, but we strongly discourage more than three entries per poet (send us a few of your best poems, not a scattershot of work hoping we'll take one). Writers nominated by literary magazines and programs may also submit work to the Open Competition. Our target date for announcing the winners is July 20, 2012. Poems under consideration for our anthology may be simultaneously submitted to other magazines.

INELIGIBLE POETS - Some writers may NOT enter the Open Competition or be nominated by writing programs and magazines for the anthology. These include former editors and staff of Meridian; friends, former professors, and family of current Meridian editors and staff; friends, family, and former and current students* of the series editor, Jazzy Danziger; and friends, family, and former and current students* of our 2012 editor, Matthew Dickman. Former and current University of Virginia MFA students are ineligible. Additionally, the poets we featured in our 2011 edition may not submit work for the 2012 anthology.

* We define a "student" as someone who has done semester-length coursework with the editors, or someone for whom the editors served as an undergraduate or master's level thesis advisor. Poets who attended 1-2 week workshops or retreats with the editors remain eligible.

LETTING YOU KNOW - After our May 20, 2012 cutoff for all submissions, we will make every effort to announce our final selections as soon as possible. We will e-mail results to the address you supply when you enter.