The Showtime writing competition for this year

You don't need a thermometer to tell that summer is well and truly with us. With the advent of the seasonal heat, the entries for the Showtime writing competition gather pace and pour onto the Showtime desk. And we have to say the general standard of the entries, around 200 plus received so far, is absolutely brilliant. And the interesting thing is that although we have received entries from established literary figures - and why not? We have also received outstanding contributions from names that do not register 10 on the poets Richter scale, which we think shows that there is a deep well of writing talent out there. We certainly don't envy this year's judges their job of picking a winner.

This year we are asking you to write a poem focusing on the environment. You can write on any environmental aspect, from whatever viewpoint you choose. Maybe you'll go for global warming, over-development, deforestation, the disappearance of species and the rainforest, etc... Your poem can be whatever you want it to be, dramatic, romantic, satirical, funny. In strict iambic pentameter, blank verse... whatever.

We'd like you to confine your entry(ies) to between 10 and 20 lines, or even shorter. No epic poems, please.

As usual, entries should be sent to:

The Showtime Writing Competition 2008, Allied Newspapers Ltd, 341 St Paul Street, Valletta.

The competition is open to all readers of The Times and Sunday Times, but not to employees and dependents of Allied Newspapers Ltd.

Each entry (you may send as many as you like) must be your own work and previously unpublished. It must also be in the English language.

All entries must reach us by October 31 and will be judged by a panel of distinguished local writers. And of course the judges' decision is final.

This year we are expanding our prize base. The winner will be entitled to a luxury weekend for two at the five-star Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard. He/she and his/her partner will also be entitled to one free meal at the Corinthia's famous Rickshaw restaurant.

And that's not all. The winner will also receive:

From Allied Retail And Commercial Ltd: €120 worth of books.

From Masquerade: Two tickets for each of their performances throughout 2009.

From the St James Centre For Creativity: Two tickets per month to the St James Cinema.