Of course you're right, Jayne. But, as John says, if they adopt this criteria for their comps, "it would rather bugger up Drills and Amusements". There would be no one who would risk jeopardizing a possible prize by posting a poem here. Hopefully Vicky will reconsider this decision for the future, too, and not just for the works posted in this particular thread. I looked back in D&A, and it seems New Statesman has offered comps here since at least 2010! What a shame!

Rob, I hope other editors don't start taking the same line.

Caroline, never in my wildest imaginings would I have foreseen rubbing digital shoulders with Mrs Legal Beagle. Wha a surprise! Glad to hear the helpful hound is still at it and only wish I'd listened more attentively to his wise words on the JY prog.

Isn't there a way of closing the site to non-members? Or closing the bit that refers to the New Statesman. Aren't there parts of Eratosphere that are closed in this way. Yes, Lucy knows all about Eratosphere. I've emailed her for her ruling. You'd think Vicky would be glad to get entrie from all over the shop. But we can still enter the bloody things. Just not post the results.
And no-one has to BUY the Staggers. Thanks to Chris.

I've had no such email, but am removing from Eratosphere threads all my entries to current comps as a precaution, to avoid the recent 'prior publication' magazines edict that may otherwise disqualify them.

I'll continue to look in here for the competition notices and results... and any update on this situation.

Perhaps we should enlist the participation of the Blogmeister here?

http://nscompsandpoets.wordpress.com/

Lois, to the best of my knowledge, none of the magazines "offers" their competitions here. The results and new competitions are posted by helpful and diligent members - in the case of the New Statesman, Chris O'Carroll.

It does seem a bit spoil-sporty of the NS, and I can't for the life of me see what harm it can do for entries to be posted on a "work-shopping" site. Ah well, "moving in mysterious" ways is not the prerogative of God alone.

(after "Antigonish" by William Hughes Mearns)

Inert as usual in my chair,
I read a post that wasn't there.
I read another one today -
They're quickly read, I have to say.

My mistake, Brian. The phrase should have been "New Statesman comps have been offered here," obviously by our helpful and diligent members!

However, I do have trouble believing that NS were unaware of this, after all that time, and have suddenly become intolerant of our innocent intentions. It sure takes a lot of the fun out of D&A if we can't have the opportunity to appreciate our fellow members' ingenuity and humor, whether considered by NS as worthy of winning or not.

It is a really odd turn to an enjoyable romp. Maybe the solution is for ES'ers to post their losing entries after the contest is closed, plus adding any new efforts post-closing. The spirit of the D&A can still be had, the fun had, using the inspiration of the various challenges after-the-fact.