America is now accepting submissions for the Foley Poetry Contest. Details here. Last year we received over 1,000 entries from all over the world. “The youngest writer was 8, the oldest 89,” according to poetry editor James Torrens, S.J. The winner was John Slater, a Trappist monk from the Abbey of the Genesee. Look here for an interview with the young poet. In our Christmas issue Fr. Torrens offered some words of advice to writers thinking of entering the fray. First prize is $1,000, and the top three entries will be published in America. Tim Reidy

Tim Reidy is the deputy editor in chief of America Media.