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| The Neopian Poetry Contest |

If you should take a wrong turn sometime while merrily wandering around Neopia, chances are you might find yourself ambling down the dark corridors towards the catacombs. This underground world is a haven for artists, writers, and poets, a place which links all of Neopia's creative contests together. Here, within the shadowed realm one can follow the path towards the Neopian Times, the Art Gallery, or the Poetry Contest. And that is the exact reason this guide came to be. Above all this within Neopia, I enjoy the poetry contest. With only five spaces per update, it's a challenge for anyone who fancies themselves a bit of a wizard with words, or even those who just wish to try add another shiny trophy to an ever expanding collection. The poems selected here range from the absurdly hilarious to the somewhat dark and horrifying, all with one thing in common. They give the authors the honor of knowing they're work will be seen by all.

What is the poetry contest? A contest held on Neopets to display to poetic work of players on the site. The Poetry gallery can be found here. How often is the poetry gallery updated? Random Updates' appear twice a week. These updates include five poems per time, with no themed subject. On Neopets special days, such as Chia Day, another update takes place, with another five selected poems, this time based on the theme of the day being published. Do I need to use fancy wording? People have asked me this a few times as of late. Of course you don't! Write with natrual flow. You don't want to end up just looking like you've dug out a thesaurus to try sound creative! Be yourself! What is a special day? A day as marked on the Neopian Calendar. These days are sometimes dedicated to a pet species, a famous Neopian character, or even holidays and seasons celebrated in the non Neopian world. If you want to enter a special day Poetry Contest, make sure you get your entry in early enough for the poetry judge to read it! In addition to this, for every 100 poems published, a special 'anniversary' edition of the poetry gallery is published. This is a selection of what are deemed the best poems of the year. The gallery is longer on this day, ten poems in all. You cannot enter this special alone, the poems are chosen from those previously published in the last 99 editions of the gallery. The prize for being chosen in an anniversary special is often extra impressive. Click here for an example of an anniversary poetry special. The theory amongst players is that no one gets into an anniversary edition more than once in a Neopian lifetime! What kind of poem should I write? That's really up to you. Some people prefer a certain format, others like to be a little more random. Poetry comes in many forms, some of which I'll list below. No certain format would have any advantage over another. Remember, it's important to develop your own style, don't just copy the beat and rhythm of others! Why didn't the judge reply to my submission? I'm afraid I don't know. This is only a guide, and I'm only a poet, I don't know the inner workings of TNT. Maybe you should try again, or wait it out a little longer? Remember, they're very busy! What should I write about? Try keeping it original! For instance, no doubt the poor poetry judge has had to sift through a million poems dedicated to Fyora. Why not select a lesser known character? I find the best places for inspiration lie in the Daily News, or the Neopedia! If you're absolutely at a loss for a topic, take a little wander around the various Neopian worlds, and see what grabs your attention. What topics should I avoid? Anything non Neopets related is a strict no-no! The poems entered must be based on Neopets, and the Neopian world. This includes keeping unsuitable language and topics out of your work. In the real world, your ten page dedication to that popular band or singer might be amazing, but if it's not Neopets related, it doesn't belong on site. Are there rewards to be gained? A win in the Poetry Gallery will leave you with a beautiful shiny trophy on your lookup. You'll also find 1000 Neopoints credited to your account. In addition to these, a random item prize is awarded. Mostly it consists of a codestone, but now and then, a nice, rare item such as a paint brush might pop up! Entering creative contests won't make you fabulously wealthy, but it's a kind reward for doing something you love! A picture of the trophy is below. Should I run a spellcheck? Of course! Why make things harder on the poetry judge than need be? A spelling and grammar check is always a thoughtful thing, and besides, who wants to read poetry full of mistakes? Could I just alter someone else's work? No! A big No, No, No! Don't alter anyone's work, on site or off. Poetry is about expressing yourself, not copying the work of someone else. After all, stealing is wrong, and you're only cheating yourself. How do I submit to the poetry gallery? In the 'old days' of Neopia, poems had to be emailed. Now, TNT have given us poets a lovely new form, which submits your work straight to the judge! You can even select the category your poem belongs in, and know that not only will it arrive safe, but that the judge will know who wrote it.

Of course, I can't list every type of poetry format here! It would take forever, there are different kinds of poetry written all over the world. These are just a couple of ideas you might consider. Please note. Some of these examples have won poetry contest in the past, some I made up for this guide. I can tell if you're just taking my work and switching words around, and Poetic theft is just as lame art theft, and just as easy to report. ----------------------- Haiku: A traditional Japanese poetry style. A Haiku consists of three lines which don't rhyme, and the beat is based on a count of syllables. The first line should consist of 5 syllables, the second of 7 syllables, and the final line of 5 syllables. -Example- Clouds lined in white silk, Grace Faerieland's shining realm. Glowing, the tower. Limerick: Short, sweet and often very amusing! The first, second and fifth line of a Limerick should rhyme with one another, and lines three and four must rhyme with one another. Getting the rhythm right in a limerick can be tricky indeed! -Example- There once was a Lupe who was blue, So sad, he had nothing to do! A Chia walked past, He gave chase quite fast! The end? I'll leave that to you! Rhyming: Is a more common form of poetry. The most traditional format involves the last word of lines two and four rhyming. Each verse could be anywhere from four lines upwards, as long as the number of lines per verse is even. -Example- Even in Kadoatary, It's ebon night they dread. Sulking with that eerie call, No matter what they're fed. A Petpet most of us adore, (Though cranky, and not quiet!) Appreciate a Kad today, But don't turn out the light! Acrostic: The first letter of each line in this poetry format trails down to spell a word. Some Acrostic poems rhyme, however most do not, as the restrictions of having to begin a line with a certain letter often make things tricky. Notice in the example, the first letter of each line spells Lupe. For a further example of this type of poetry, I wrote a poem that was published for Scorchio Day. You can see it (Final poem listed) on this page. -Example- Lunging, dashing, wild and free, Under the searing sun. Prey doth flee in morbid fear, Eternal shall he run. Couplets: These poems consist of two lines, both which rhyme. Essentially, a couplet is a little similar to a Rhyming poem, however it's every two lines rhyming, not lines two and four! However many couplets used in a verse is the choice of the poet. -Example- Menacing, the hallowed breeze, Her name seems whispered by the trees. A myth most fear to dare explore, Her legend lost in ancient lore. Sequestered far from sunlight's sheen, Where jade-flecked wings are seldom seen. The name the trees alone will hear, A whispered word, Ilere, Ilere.

Neomail, Tapping at my chamber door? A few people have asked me about whether to expect mail from TNT regarding their poetry. Of course you can! They wouldn't leave us in limbo, poets are tortured souls enough without that! ; ) There are three possible Neomails connected with poetry gallery, examples of which I've screen-shotted below for your viewing pleasure. This mail is good news. You're published as a Neopian Poet! Excellent work! Your poem has been read, and is being considered. A fine job indeed! The poem won't be published. You could always resubmit in the future. A massive thank you to tj_wagner for lending this screenie to me! Remember, keep the topic original! Can you imagine having to read four hundred poems about Fyora, or a blue Lupe? This isn't to say those poems won't get in, but we might draw the conclusion that something a little different is eye catching, right? A big thank you to girlsrule3445 for lending this screenie to me!

Remember, the most important aspect of Neopian Poetry is having fun! Inspiration comes when you don't force it, so enjoy what you're doing. Best of luck with your poetic endeavors! If you have questions about anything on this page, please neomail Anjie. Want to Link Back? <a href="http://petpages.neopets.com/~Raven"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v725/Glittertrail/minibanner3.png"></a>

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