Themed Imagine Something Different, organisers are looking for short poems that convey the theme.
Stephen Slevin, Library Development coordinator, said: “We’re asking poets to imagine something different and infuse their verses with the essence of boundless possibilities, transcending the ordinary to embrace the extraordinary.
“Whether drawing inspiration from the tapestry of diverse cultures, envisioning utopian landscapes, or challenging societal norms, we encourage submissions that embody the spirit of courageous imagination.”
The festival will take place from April 25 to April 28.
The adult winner will be awarded an £850 cash prize, with the young people’s winner receiving £50 and £200 towards their school library.
Shortlisted participants will also have their work published in the Janet Coats Memorial Prize pamphlet and given a reading at the festival’s prize-giving event.
Several venues, including the new Paisley Central Library, will host the event.
Poems for the adult competition can be submitted either by email (either in a Word Document, MP3 or MP4 file) to jcmp@renfrewshire.gov.uk with Janet Coats Memorial Prize in the subject line.
Entrants to the adult prize should be 18 or over. Contestants can only enter one poem and submissions close at midnight on February 25.
Poems for the young persons’ competition of up to 40 lines should be emailed to sls@renfrewshire.gov.uk with Janet Coats Memorial Prize in the subject line.
Entrants must include their name, school and age in the email with the poem as an attachment.
They can also hand in their poem to their school librarian. Contestants can only enter one poem and the closing date for entries is midnight on February 25.
Shortlisted writers will be announced on March 29.
Those shortlisted will be invited to an Awards Ceremony at Paisley Book Festival, where winners will be declared.
Janet Coats, who influenced the prize, was part of the famous thread-making family, J&P Coats.
Her father, Thomas Coats, was a co-inheritor of the Paisley-based thread manufacturing firm J&P Coats.
Janet, also the spouse of publisher James Tait Black, authored two volumes of nature-centred poetry.
More information can be found on the festival’s website, www.paisleybookfest.com.
