The International Festival of Authors and Toronto’s Now magazine have opened submissions for their annual Poetry Now Battle of the Bards competition. The March 30 reading event will spotlight 20 writers, selected by a random draw, with the winner getting a chance to read a selection of their work at IFOA in October and have their book advertised in Now. Susan G. Cole, the magazine’s senior entertainment editor, will host.

IFOA director Geoffrey E. Taylor, artistic associate Jen Tindall, and a third publishing professional to be announced will serve as the judging panel.

Candidates can be up-and-coming or established, but must have a book currently in print with a trade publisher and released in the past five years. Publishers can nominate poets until Feb. 29.