The Tilt: Girls & Gender-Expansive Teen Poetry Contest
In our inaugural contest year, Tilt invites girls and gender-expansive teen poets from around the world to respond to “The Grass Is Greener Within.”
The Shift highlights women’s stories through the lens of impact. It hopes to contextualize history and inspire action.
Introducing The Tilt: the Teen Voice of The Shift.
We’re often taught to look elsewhere for something better — a different life, a different future, a different version of ourselves. But what if what we’re searching for isn’t somewhere else at all?
The Grass Is
Greener Within
2026 Theme
In our inaugural contest year, The Tilt in partnership with Startup Girl Foundation invites girls and gender-expansive teen poets from around the world to respond to “The Grass Is Greener Within.”
What does the phrase mean to you? Does it feel true, complicated, comforting, limiting — or something else entirely?
Your poem can be personal or imagined, literal or abstract, hopeful or questioning.
You do not have to agree with the theme. Question it, challenge it, complicate it, reimagine it, or take it somewhere unexpected.
Our judging panel will include established poets, high school educators, and student readers.
The Winner and Runner-Up will have their poems published in a 2027 issue of The Shift.
Submission Guidelines
Eligibility
Open to girls and gender-expansive poets ages 11–18 from anywhere in the world. Entrants who identify as girls or use she/her, she/they, or they/them pronouns are welcome.
What You Can Submit
- Language: English
- Entries: Up to 2 poems • Length: Up to 80 lines per poem
Previously published poems are welcome, provided you retain the rights necessary for republication by The Shift. You may also submit the same poem to other contests or publications while it is under consideration by Tilt. Please inform us if you get published elsewhere before hearing from our contest.
Formatting & File Name
- File type: PDF, DOC, or DOCX
- Font: Arial, Calibri, or any sans serif
Intentional spacing, indentation, capitalization, and punctuation may be preserved.
File name: LastName_FirstTwoWords_26
Example: Shah_MorningLight_26.pdf
If submitting two poems, attach each as a separate file.
How to Submit
Email your submission to poetry@startupgirlfoundation.org.
Subject: Tilt Teen Poetry Contest 2026 — First Name Last Name
Include:
- Full name, age, city and country
- School name or homeschool
- Poem title(s)
- Contact number (optional)
- Previous publication details, if applicable — note where and when the poem appeared
Send each poem as an attachment. Do not paste the poem into the email body.
Originality & Use of AI
All submissions must be the entrant’s own original work. Plagiarism is prohibited, and plagiarism checks will be conducted. Work that reproduces another writer’s language without appropriate attribution will be disqualified.
AI-generated or AI-assisted writing is not permitted. Standard spelling and grammar tools may be used.
Deadline
October 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Late submissions will not be considered.
Judging
The judging panel will include established poets, high school educators, and student readers. Poems will be considered based on originality, voice, craft and use of language, and emotional depth.
There is no preferred interpretation of “The Grass Is Greener Within.” Your poem does not need to agree with the theme. Question it, challenge it, complicate it, reimagine it, or take it somewhere unexpected. Please limit submission to 80 lines.
Awards
1 Winner, 1 Runner-Up, and 5 Honorable Mentions. Results will be announced by December 28, 2026.
The Winner and Runner-Up will have their poems published in a 2027 issue of The Shift. Selected poets may be asked to provide a short biography and photograph. The Shift’s Poetry Contest winner will be invited to perform their poem at the Shiftmakers Awards at Harvard in March 2027. All travel and accommodation covered for the winner to participate.
Publication Rights
Entrants retain ownership and copyright of their work. Selected poets grant The Shift permission to publish their poem in print and/or digital form and to use brief excerpts related to the contest and publication.
Questions
Email Riya Tadinada, Poetry Contest Coordinator at poetry@startupgirlfoundation.org