With more than $10,000 in cash and prizes on offer, the State Library of Queensland is encouraging all poets, hip-hop artists and outspoken wordsmiths to polish their rhymes and lyrics and enter the national competition.

Queensland Slam heats will be held throughout August in Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Yeppoon, Townsville, Longreach/Barcaldine, Toowoomba and Cairns.

Contestants will have just two minutes with a microphone to speak, scream, howl, whisper or sing their original poem and impress the judges who are randomly selected from the audience.

Two finalists from each heat get to take part in the Queensland finals at the State Library of Queensland in October, State finalists then travel to Sydney to compete for the Australian title.

Returning to coordinate the 2008 Slam is award-winning performance poet David Stavanger, aka "Ghostboy".

"Slam in Queensland has only just begun to tap into the rich vein of poetry hidden away in people's notebooks and diaries," says Ghostboy" Stavanger.

"From bush bards to punk poets, hip-hop MCs and haiku masters - slam competitions are breathing fresh life back into poetry."

Ghost boy will also be conducting free workshops at each heat to introduce budding slammers to this unique form of performance poetry.

For details visit Australian Poetry Slam '08 website.

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