Young Poets Network is challenging anyone aged 25 or younger to write new poems.

This writing challenge has been created with two other organisations: Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts and the Human Cell Atlas project.

The Human Cell Atlas is a big, worldwide research project.

Scientists all over the world are working to identify every cell in the human body.

This has never been done before, and will help scientists to treat diseases in the future.

This writing challenge is inspired by the Human Cell Atlas project.

We are asking you to write a poem that begins with a scientific word linked to human cells.

We have included a list of words you can choose from on the next page. You can choose one of these, or you can find any other word related to human cells.

You do not need to understand the meaning of the word you choose. You can choose a word that sounds interesting to you.

· Genome

· DNA

· RNA

· Mitochondrion

· Cytoplasm

· Organelle

· Membrane

· Oncogene

· Centriole

· Reticulum

· Cilia

· Golgi Apparatus

· Ribosome

· Mapping

You can find even more words related to cells on the Human Cell Atlas website.

Once you have chosen your word, write down other words and phrases that sound similar.

These words do not have to be related. In fact, the more random they are, the better!

For example, you might link the sound of the word ‘genome’ to ‘garden gnome’ or ‘jeans’.

Write down as many of these as you can.

You could also think about whether the sound of this word gives you a feeling, or a memory.

Do not worry about whether it ‘makes sense’. Write down anything that you think of.

Once you have lots of ideas, write more about each one.

Adding specific details will help your reader.

For example, if you wrote ‘jeans’, now you might write ‘my favourite blue jeans with rips in them’.

Once you have written as many things as you can, begin to put your phrases in order.

Which phrase is an exciting place to start your poem?

Which phrase is a good place to end your poem?

You do not have to include everything you have written.

You can also add something new if you think it will sound good.

Try re-arranging your phrases in lots of different ways, until you are happy with the order.

Title your poem with the original scientific word you chose.

That scientific word does not need to appear in the poem.

You can write as many poems like this as you like.

When you have finished, submit your poem or poems to the writing challenge.

The deadline for entries is 11.59pm, Sunday 31st January 2021.

Please submit your writing before this time.

To submit your work, email it to educationadmin@poetrysociety.org.uk.

In the subject line write ‘Human Cell Atlas challenge’.

Paste your poem or poems into the email.

Please also include:

· your name

· your age

· your gender

· where you live

· and how you found out about this challenge.

We use this information to help us understand who is submitting to Young Poets Network challenges.

Except for your name, we will never share this information with anyone without asking you for permission to do so.

You can read more terms and conditions for Young Poets Network challenges here.

If you would like us to confirm that we have received your poem, please write ‘confirm receipt’ in the subject line.

If you would like to be receive email updates about Young Poets Network, please write ‘add me to the mailing list’ in the subject line.

After you have submitted, we will send you an optional survey asking about your experience writing these poems.

You do not have to respond to this, but it will help Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts to run more projects like these.

Everyone who submits to the challenge will be informed of the results by email.

We hope to announce the results in February, or March 2021 at the very latest.

We will award a 1st prize, 2nd prize and 3rd prize. We will also announce up to 7 commended poems.

We will also publish the names of poets on the ‘longlist’. People on the longlist are poets whose work nearly made the list of winners.

This challenge will be judged by poets and scientists, including Sinéad Morrissey and Theresa Muñoz, Suzy O’Hara, Muzz Haniffa.

We will publish the winning and commended poems on Young Poets Network. They will also be published in the Human Cell Atlas zine.

They will be invited to read their poems at a future event.

Winning and commended poets will also receive prizes in the post, including a Young Poets Network notebook, poetry books and other goodies.

They will receive a one-to-one mentoring session with a poet where they can ask questions and for feedback.

The 1st prize winner will receive £50 in book tokens.

The 2nd prize winner will receive £30 in book tokens.

The 3rd prize winner will receive £20 in book tokens.

If you have any questions about this challenge, please email us at educationadmin@poetrysociety.org.uk.

We can’t wait to read your writing.

Good luck!

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