My Fertility Plan Launches the 1st Annual International Infertility Haiku Contest

Infertility is difficult. In terms of mental health, research shows it ranks up there with a cancer diagnosis.

Identifying and expressing our emotions is just one of the ways we can cope. To encourage reflection, celebrate strength and tenacity, and maybe even laugh, My Fertility Plan announces the launch of the 1st Annual International Infertility Haiku Contest.

Why haiku? Anyone can do it. A haiku is a three line poem, made up of only 17 syllables. The first line has 5 syllables. The second line has 7 syllables
The third line has 5 syllables. That’s it.

Your haiku must relate in some way to your family-building journey and it must follow the haiku-syllable rules. There are 2 categories – Serious and Silly. Just make sure you label which category your poem falls in (even if you think it’s obvious). If your entry relates to medication, it will also be considered for the medication-related haiku award.

It is free to enter – and you can enter as many times as you want. Each haiku must be in a separate e-mail. Please include your name and email as well. The contest is open to international entrants, but the entry must include an English translation.

Awards and Sponsors

Grand Prize $100
Theresa Erickson, esq
http://www.ericksonlaw.net/

Special Award Medication – Related Haiku
Village Pharmacy: $50 gift certificate
(http://www.villagepharmacy.com/)

Special Award Adoption-Related Haiku $25
Colleen Marea Quinn, esq
http://www.cantorarkema.com/adoption-surrogacy.asp

Light-Hearted
Conceiving Concepts (http://www.conceivingconcepts.com) $50
Parents Via Egg Donation (http://www.parentsviaeggdonation.org/) $25
Infertility Answers (http://www.infertilityanswers.org) $15
Little Blessings Surrogacy (http://www.littleblessingsinc.com) $10
1 Runner-up will receive his or her choice of autographed books: the forthcoming, “Budgeting for Infertility: Bringing Home Baby without Breaking the Bank” or “Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation.”

Serious
Clear Passage Therapies (http://www.clearpassage.com/) $50
Robert Terenzio, esq.
http://www.reproductive-alternatives.com/
$25
Pamele Madsen (http://www.thefertilityadvocate.com/) $15
Little Blessings Surrogacy (http://www.littleblessingsinc.com) $10
1 Runner-up will receive his or her choice of autographed books: the forthcoming, “Budgeting for Infertility: Bringing Home Baby without Breaking the Bank” or “Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation.”

Judges:
Tracy Morris, How to Make a Family (http://howtomakeafamily.typepad.com/)
Vic Belonogoff, Conceiving Concepts (www.conceivingconcepts.com)
Sharon LaMothe, Infertility Answers (http://www.infertilityanswers.org/)
Belinda Wurn, PT Clear Passage (http://www.clearpassage.com/)
Pamela Madsen, (http://www.thefertilityadvocate.com/wpblog/)
Evelina Weidman Sterling, PhD (http://www.myfertilityplan.com)

Entries will be accepted beginning Monday, October 28 through Monday, November 24th at noon, ET. Information on how to enter may be found at http://myfertilityplan.typepad.com/.