2011 Poetry Contest and It Gets Better project

Hey friends. I wanted to let you know about the It Gets Better project. It falls right in line with the goal of my blog YouMakeMeFeelLessAlone (a place where people can submit writing about mental illness or other things they are struggling with). Sparked by incidents of LGTB kids being bullied and committing suicide, Dan Savage (the well-known sex columnist) created the It Gets Better campaign of video diaries from LGTB and stright people who are speaking about how life gets better after those wretched teenage years. I am honored to know several people that have contributed videos. There is also an It Gets Better book available now! Check out the videos, the book, and the site. Maybe you'd even like to contribute a video. Go to: www.itgetsbetter.org

The sentiment of It Get Better doesn't have to be limited to LGTB issues. To celebrate National Poetry Month and get the word out about It Gets Better and YouMakeMeFeelLessAlone, I am holding a POETRY CONTEST (rules/prizes are below). Contribute your writing to YMMFLA and give others hope that dealing with issues like mental illness, addiction, sexuality, and relationships GETS BETTER!

The first-place winner will receive a prize back that includes:

It Gets Better by Dan Savage

I Don't Want to Be Crazy, by Samantha Schutz (me!): A poetry memoir about anxiety disorder

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini: A novel based on the author's experiences while hospitalized for depression

Cut by Patricia McCormick: A novel about self-mutilation

Talking in the Dark by Billy Merrell: A poetry memoir about the author's awakening sexuality, and his quest to find love and acceptance while discovering himself in the process.

The two second place winners will receive copies of:

It Gets Better by Dan Savage

I Don't Want to Be Crazy, by Samantha Schutz.

Contest rules:

How do I enter?

1) Email ONE poem to samanthaschutz@hotmail.com BEFORE April 30 at 11:59pm EST.

2) Put "2011 Poetry Month Contest" in the subject line.

3) Copy and paste the three questions below into the top of your email. Then fill in the answers.

Do you want to post anonymously?

If not, how would you like your name to appear? (first name only, full name, initials, etc.)

What is your age? 

What are the guidelines?

-Keep poems to under 500 words.

-Posts must be original. By submitting to this contest you are certifying that this work is yours.

-Submit only about how dealing things like mental illness, addiction, sexuality, and relationship issues GETS BETTER! Posts that are off topic will NOT be posted.

-Take care and pride in your post. Please review your submission carefully before emailing me.

What else should I know?

-All poems will appear on youmakemefeellessalone.blogspot.com and samanthaschutz.net sometime during National Poetry Month (April 2011)

-Your post is yours. By posting you are NOT giving me any rights to your words.

-I will put links to this contest and the submissions Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. 

-I am in no way affiliated with the It Gets Better Project