DO YOU HAVE THE WRITE STUFF? >>>

Admit it - you've scribbled a few lines yourself, secretly on cafe napkins or extensively in ornate notebooks.

Maybe it's time for you to go pro.

Urban Grace: the Downtown Church announces the third annual Soul of the City Poetry Competition, the winner of which will be designated Urban Grace Poet Laureate of Tacoma for 2010-2011.

Applicants must submit two poems and the completed application - which includes questions about why the applicant believes poetry is important and what he or she would like to accomplish as Poet Laureate of Tacoma - by Wednesday, March 24, 2010.

The Urban Grace Poet Laureate will hold the title for a period of one year from April 2010 to April 2011, and receive a cash prize of $1,000.  He or she will further provide, on behalf of Urban Grace, two workshops during the year relating to poetry and spirituality, as well as recite his or her original work once per month at Urban Grace services on themes that serve as liturgical, social, or spiritual commentary.

Current Tacoma Poet Laureate Antonio Edwards will host an event in conjunction with National Poetry Month in late April to announce the winner of the competition.

Applications for the competition can be picked up at Urban Grace's main office (902 Market in downtown Tacoma), online here, or by emailing npaso@urbangracetacoma.org.