Eligibility:

The White Lotus Haiku Competition (formerly known as the Zen Garden Haiku Contest) is open to all poets and haikuists over the age of 13 and from around the world. The Shadow Poetry owners, White Lotus Haiku Competition judges and the immediate family members of the Shadow Poetry owners and judges are not eligible. Haiku submissions must be unpublished, not under consideration elsewhere, written in the three-line traditional or contemporary form, and be the original work of the poet. Entries are unlimited. Please read the winning haiku for this competition or the haiku section in the Shadow Poetry Resources section for a better understanding of haiku.

Prizes:

Upon judges' final decisions, Shadow Poetry will award a total of 3 haiku winners the prizes listed below. Winners will also receive a poetry certificate, a copy of his/her winning poem, and a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place ribbon. The top ten placing haiku will be published in Shadow Poetry's White Lotus Magazine in the Spring/Summer 2009 issue.

1st Place: $100.00
2nd Place: $50.00
3rd Place: $25.00

Poem Entry Requirements:

Submit any number of haiku written in the three-line traditional or contemporary form. Haiku must not be submitted with a title. Shadow Poetry will only accept haiku in English.

Sorry, but previous winners may not enter the same poem with which they have already won any previous Shadow Poetry contest. We also ask for poets to refrain from entering the same haiku that they have previously entered into a this haiku competition.

Fees:

There is an entry fee of $2.00 (US dollars) per individual haiku -OR- $5.00 for three (combo entry). To use the three for five entry, all three haiku must be entered at the same time, but poets are required to follow the entry format of one haiku per page/card. These fees may be paid by mail or PayPal (online payment service). There is no limit to the amount of haiku that may be entered, but each haiku entry/combo entry must be paid individually if using the PayPal payment option. Deadline to receive payments/entries is December 31, 2008. Should payments be made or postmarked after this date, or poems not meet the stated requirements, the entry fees will not be refunded, and the poem(s) will not be considered for judging. Submitted poems that come without an entry fee payment will be disqualified. Shadow Poetry will not accept any foreign currencies as payment. Cash or International money orders may be used for international entries.

If sending entry fees via mail, Shadow Poetry accepts cash, money orders, cashiers check and personal checks. All fees paid must be in the form of US dollars/funds. Shadow Poetry will not refund entry fees under any circumstances. All entries are final.

*Shadow Poetry is also unable to accept IRCs; therefore, International poets wishing to receive a winners list, please provide a SAE with and extra $1.00 for postage.


Poetry Entries Via PayPal:

1. Before entering the White Lotus Haiku Competition via PayPal.com, (an online payment service) you must be a PayPal member. PayPal allows you to pay anyone who has a valid email address with a credit/debit card or checking account.

2. If you are a registered member, you will need to sign in to PayPal.com to complete your poetry entry transaction. Please only use the PayPal link on the "White Lotus Haiku Competition Entry Methods" page to enter.

3. The entry fee of $2.00 or $5.00 will already be entered depending on how you wish to enter. After completing the transaction, you will be sent to an entry form.

4. You will have to repeat these steps for each poem you wish to enter. For more information send a message to Contests or view PayPal Screenshots.

5. All transactions are final. Shadow Poetry will not refund poetry entry fees for any reason.

6. Only one poem entry per PayPal transaction. Please see #4.


Entering Via Mail:

1. Print out the Mail in entry form.

2. Fill out the entry form with your current and accurate information.

3. Include Haiku - Haiku entries must be typed on 8.5" x 11" paper, submitted in duplicate. The poet's name, address, phone number, and email address (if applicable) in the upper left-hand corner of one sheet. If submitting more than one haiku, each poem must be typed on separate sheets. 3" x 5" index card entries welcome. Submit haiku entries in duplicate, neatly handwritten or typed, with poet information on the back of only one card. Repeat method for multiple submissions.

4. Include payment $2.00 for each individual haiku entered -OR- $5.00 for each set of three haiku along with a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope for contest results. Include an additional SASE for entry receipt (optional).

5. Make personal checks or money orders payable to "Shadow Poetry". Cash payments are accepted, but will be sent at your own risk. Bounced/Returned checks will be subjected to a $20.00 fee. Shadow Poetry is not responsible for lost entries or payments. Deadline for entry: December 31, 2008.

Mail Entries to:

Shadow Poetry
White Lotus Haiku Competition
1209 Milwaukee Street
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
USA

6. Entries will not be returned.


Contest Deadline:

Contest deadline is December 31, 2008. Winners will be announced on February 1, 2009, and then later published in Shadow Poetry's White Lotus Magazine Spring/Summer 2009 issue. Future contest will be held once per year until further notice.


Judging/Judges:

Haiku entries are judged upon uniqueness, artistic quality, structure, correctness, and effectiveness. Two judges will be reviewing entries. All decisions of the judges are final.


Rights:

All haiku remain the property of the poet/author. By submitting a haiku for this contest, the poet may also be eligible for the publication in Shadow Poetry's White Lotus Magazine. Only the top ten placing haiku per the judges' final decision will be featured from this contest, and those contributors will receive one free copy. The poet is under no obligation whatsoever to purchase additional copies of this publication in which his/her haiku may appear. The poet understands, however, that by entering his/her haiku into the White Lotus Haiku Competition automatically gives Shadow Poetry permission to publish his/her haiku in the publication (if applicable).


Notification:

All prizewinners will be notified by email and mail. The top three winning entries will be posted on the Shadow Poetry site. Non-winners will not be notified unless those contestants sent a SASE for contest results/winners list.