The Shel Silverstein Imagination junior contest
contest format
Shel Silverstein’s poems were weird, wild, and wonderful — full of talking garbage, runaway noses, and people who could never quite sit still. This contest invites you to write a poem or poetic story that’s full of imagination, playfulness, and just a little nonsense.
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Genre or Style: Poem or short rhyming story (free verse, rhymed verse, or silly narrative)
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Prompt: Write a short story about something totally made-up — a creature, a rule, a place, or a problem that’s delightfully odd.
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Word Count: Up to 400 words
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Unique Rule: Your poem must include at least one made-up word (invented by you)
CONTEST details
It doesn’t have to rhyme (but it can!). It doesn’t have to make sense (but it should feel fun!). The best entries will bounce, surprise, and leave us laughing — or thinking — or both.
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Be playful. Use silly sounds. Make up creatures. Invent strange rules.
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Use rhyme only if it helps the fun. Don’t force it — but if it sings, let it rhyme.
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Draw with your words. Can your poem create a picture in the reader’s mind?
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Let your imagination go too far. That’s okay. That’s perfect.
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End with a wink — or a twist. Silverstein poems often take a surprising turn at the end. You can too!
Submission form
Paste your text directly into the submission box. You may also upload a file.