UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
April 14 (Sunday) @ 3pm – Poetry Rocks presents Bolton Poet Laureate Bessy Reyna, physician-poet Srini Mandavilli, Glastonbury poet Andrea Barton, and award-winning Iris Hida reading at Arts Center East, located at 709 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. Following the reading will be an open mic, refreshments and a book sale. The event is free and open to the public, but donations of $5 are appreciated. For more information, contact [email protected]. April 18 (Thursday) @ 7-8:30pm EST - Hosted by the Connecticut Poetry Society, poet-educator Philip Terman presents "Wild Perfection: The World of James Wright ," a Poets on Poetry (PoP) program. FREE. Online & register to receive the Zoom link: bit.ly/3wwDeJ8. April 19 (Friday) @ 7-8pm EST - Hosted by Ridgefield Library and Ridgefield poet laureate emerita Barb Jennes, a reading and talkback with CT State Poet Laureate Antoinette Brim-Bell and 2023-24 CT Youth State Poet Laureate Mercuri Lam. FREE. Online & register to receive the Zoom link: bit.ly/49EiePm. April 20 (Saturday) @ 11am-2pm – The Poetry Walk will run from Effie's Place to Playhouse on Park, 91-244 Park Road in West Hartford. Free, family-friendly event. 20+ local poets will be reading a few verses as you stroll along. Books are available for purchase from the poets at their booths. If you’d like to participate as a poet, fill out the registration online. April 25 (Thursday) @ 6pm-9pm EST – CT State Community College Quinebaug Valley will hold its 17th Annual Julius Sokenu Poetry Prize Celebration at 729 Main Street in Willimantic. Free and open to the public. Sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, sweets, and cold beverages will be provided. The event will feature a reading by award-winning student poets and Ines P. Rivera Prosdocimi, a Caribbeanist poet. April 26 (Friday) @ 5pm – Finalists for the Fresh Voices Poetry Competition will read before a panel of judges and an audience at the Hill-Stead Museum, located at 35 Mountain Road in Farmington. 4-6 WINNERS will be announced, and after the reading, a reception will celebrate the completion of the Fresh Voices 2024 Competition and all entrants. April 29 (Monday) @ 8pm EST – Pitt Poetry Series Book Club online. Join poet V. Penelope Pelizzon and the Pitt Poetry Series editors, Terrance Hayes, Nancy Krygowski, and Jeffrey McDaniel, for a virtual discussion of A Gaze Hound That Hunteth By the Eye, followed by a reading by the poet and a Q&A. Free to attend. April (anytime) – C.H. Booth Library is sponsoring a poetry walk around Newtown featuring the work of 20 poets (map on website). May 7 (Tuesday) @ 3pm-4:30pm – The Ekphrastic Poetry Trust of Connecticut monthly poetry group at the Guilford Community Center, Menunkatuck Room on the 2nd floor. Takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Hosted by Edward Lent. All ages welcome. Ekphrastic poetry is poetry based on a work of art. 30 mins learning “what is and how” to write ekphrastic poetry, then a 30-min writing session, followed by a 30-min reading/discussion section. Show-ups are fine, but RSVPs help with seating set up! Email: [email protected]. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: Connecticut River Review Deadline: April 15, 2024 Send up to 3 poems of no more than 4 pages. Simultaneous submissions accepted. No fee to submit (donation optional), no payment for publication (receive 1 copy of journal where your poem is published). Publisher: West Hartford Public Library and the Faxon Poets Group Deadline: April 20, 2024 One submission per person, no longer than 20 lines. There will be three winners, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. First prize will win $200. Second and third-place winners will each win $50. To submit, please send an e-mail to West Hartford Public Library’s Publicity Specialist, Maura Beaudreault, at: [email protected]. Subject Line should read as followed: “West Hartford Public Library Poetry Contest.” Winners could be published by the library. Publisher: Sixfold Deadline: April 23, 2024 $1000 for best story and poems; $5 to enter. Submit a poem, get voted on by other members, and also read and vote for the winners. Publisher: 2024 Oversound Chapbook Prize Deadline: April 30, 2024 Manuscript length: 15-30 pages. Blind read. Simultaneous submissions okay. Multiple submissions okay (each with an entry fee). Winner receives $1000 and 50 copies of their chapbook. $18 to enter. Publisher: The Peseroff Prize Poetry Contest Deadline: May 1, 2024 Submit up to 3 poems of any genre or subject for an entry fee of $10. Prize is $1000 and publication. Publisher: Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition Deadline: May 6, 2024 A prize of $5,000, an interview in Writer’s Digest, and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference is given annually for a single poem, a short story, or an essay (among other categories). $1,000 each and publication on the Writer’s Digest website are also given for a rhyming poem and a non-rhyming poem. Submit a poem of up to 40 lines. The entry fee for poetry is $20 ($15 for each additional poem).
0 Comments
UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
March 10 (Sunday) @ 4-5:30pm EST – Spring Poetry Series at Byrd’s Books, featuring Connecticut poets Gail Carson Levine, Phillip K. Lu, Nicole Caruso Garcia, and Susan Campbell Bartoletti. Located at 17 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel. Free to attend; poets’ books will be available for sale/signing. March 12 (Tuesday) @ 6pm – Black Rock Books is hosting their monthly poetry night, held on the second Tuesday of every month. Our very own Edwar Ahern will be one of the poets reading. Free, but $5 suggested donation at the door. Complimentary refreshments (wine) will be served. Black Rock Books is located at 3030 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport. March 16 (Saturday) @ 1-3pm EST – Springtide II: A Women’s Writing Workshop hosted by Karen Warinsky, it’s a supportive environment to write and share your foundational life moments through prompts and group work. Located at the Windham Arts Center East at 709 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. Technically, the signup closed on March 8th, but you can contact the organizer ([email protected]) to see if there’s still space. $35 per person, limited to 10 participants. March 16 (Saturday) @ 2-4pm EST – Hosted by the Blackstone Library, Branford Poet Laureate Judith K. Liebmann reads from her new collection of poems Ekphrasis. Located at 758 Main St in Branford. Free to attend, but registration is recommended. March 21 (Thursday) @ 4:30pm – The A.K Smith Reading Series presents Sara Berkeley. Her first poetry collection was published in Ireland and Canada when she was 19, and she has 6 further collections published since the. Located in the Reese Room at Smith House in Trinity College at 300 Summit Street in Hartford. Free to attend; food and beverages will be provided. March 23 (Saturday) @ 2pm EST – Wordhouse Reading Series presents a reading with poets Clare Rossini and Daniel Lawless. Located at Noah Webster House at 227 South Main Street in West Hartford. Reading starts with an open mic. March 27 (Wednesday) @ 2:30-4pm – Join Professor Julie Choffel for a discussion of National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes, followed by a playful generative workshop. Poets will try out the Golden Shovel, a poetic format invented by Hayes and inspired by Gwendolyn Brooks. Located at UConn Hartford in HTB 216. Open and free to all. For more information, contact [email protected]. March 27 (Wednesday) @ 6pm – National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes will read his poetry. Located at the Konover Auditorium of the Dodd Center, 405 Babbidge Road, UConn Storrs Campus. April 6 (Saturday) @ 2pm EST – Wordhouse Reading Series presents a reading with poets Pat Hale and Patrick Pritchett. Located at Noah Webster House at 227 South Main Street in West Hartford. Reading starts with an open mic. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) – 50 contests Deadline: March 15, 2024 Can submit 1 poem in each contest. 40-line limit (includes blank lines). No simultaneous submissions; no withdrawals. Entry fees from $1-$20; NFSPS members get a discount. Prizes range from $20 (3rd prize) to $1,000 (grand prize). Publisher: The Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition 2024 Deadline: March 16, 2024 @ midnight (UK time) Sponsored by The Limerick Writers’ Centre. Poems can be in either Irish or English. Any length okay, but recommended is no more than 40 lines. All entries are judged anonymously. Entry fees: 1 poem 3.50 Euro, 3 Poems 5.50 Euro. First Prize is 200 Euro, Runner-Up Prize is 50 Euro. Publisher: The Garlic Press Deadline: March 31, 2024 The Garlic Press publishes poetry and prose pieces that are “extra pungent.” We are looking for writing with the character of garlic: fresh, raw, sticky, wild, and/or strong to the senses. Sub up to 3 poems of no more than 10 pages total. Blind read. Simultaneous submissions ok. No reading fee; no payment. Publisher: Riddle Fence Deadline: March 31, 2024 Submit no more than 10 pages per submission (3 to 5 poems is best). Simultaneous submissions ok. No reading fee; pays $50 per page. Publisher: Black Fox Prize: Fairy Tale Remix Deadline: March 31, 2024 They’re looking for original work that reimagines fairy tales from around the world. Submit your strongest fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, and they will choose one winner that we feel interprets the theme best. The prize is $300 and publication in the Summer 2024 issue. Send up to 3 poems. The contest entry fee is $12. Publisher: Rattle Deadline: April 15, 2024 Theme: Tribute to Musicians. The poems may be any style or subject, but must be written by those who have been professional musicians at some point in their lives. Sub up to 4 poems. Blind read. No reading fee; payment of $100-$200 per poem. Publisher: Library Zine! Deadline: November 1, 2024 Theme: Progress is a Process. Poetry is for all ages (rated G), and should be single-spaced and not exceed 1,000 words or 8 pages. Submissions can be in any language. No reading fee; no payment. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
February 13 (Tuesday) @ 6pm EST - Poetry Night at Black Rock Books, located at 3030 Fairfield Ave in Bridgeport. About half a dozen poets will be reading, including our own Edward Ahern. $5-$10 suggested donation at the door. Complimentary refreshments will be served. February 14 (Wednesday) @ 7pm EST – Riverwood Poetry Series @ Real Art Ways will host the Poets Laureate: Andrea Barton, Tony Fusco, Ben Grossberg, Anthony Paticchio, Virginia Shreve, and Faith Vicinanza at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street in Hartford. An open mic will precede the featured reader—one poem, one page. They will draw 10 names from all those who sign up by 7 PM. The authors’ books will be available to buy for book signing & conversation, and beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks will be available for purchase. February 15 (Thursday) @ 7pm EST – Wintonbury Poetry Reading with featured poets Naomi Bindman and Charlie Rossiter, followed by an open mic. The program is on Zoom. Free to attend, but registration required to get Zoom link. February 15 (Thursday) @ 7pm EST – Judith K. Liebmann will be giving a reading/lecture, accompanied by music and song, at the Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, located at 146 Thimble Island Road in Branford. The topic: “A Short Jaunt through the Long History of Poems of Love.” Free to attend, refreshments provided. February 18 (Sunday) @ 3pm EST – FUMFA Live, hosted by Vernon Poet Laureate Pegi Deitz Shea. Featuring new Enfield Poet Laureate Nzima Hutchings, Ridgefield PL Emerita B. Fulton Jennes, and new Manchester PL Nadia Sims. Also reading is award-winning Rockville High School student-poet Athena Lavigne. Located at Arts Center East at 709 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. Open mic, refreshments, book sales. A $5 donation appreciated. February 24 (Saturday) @ 5pm EST – “Perform Your Poems Like a Pro” with Ira Joe Fisher: a Poets on Poetry (PoP) program hosted by the Connecticut Poetry Society. A how-to workshop on performing poetry. Free to attend; registration required for the Zoom link. February 24 (Saturday) @ 7pm-9pm EST – “Home Grown,” a show featuring Pomfret Poet Laureate Nancy Weiss, Woodstock’s Karen Warinsky (Coordinator of Poets at Large and Emcee) and Thompson Poet Laureate Steve Veilleux. Located at The Vanilla Bean Café at 450 Deerfield Road in Pomfret. All three write about relationships, politics and life events with a mix of concern and humor. This is the “Winter Blues” night with a $10 cover. February 26 (Monday) @ 7pm-8:30pm EST – “African Americans and the Arts: Poetry with Frederick Douglass Knowles and Rhonda Ward” in a celebration of Black History Month. Event will be at the Willimantic branch of CT State Community College - Quinebaug Valley, located at 729 Main Street in Willimantic. In case of inclement weather date, the event will be held on Wednesday February 28 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Light snacks and refreshments will be available. For more information, please contact Jon Andersen, professor of English at [email protected] (phone: 860-932-4054). March 2 (Saturday) @ 9am-12pm EST – The Mural as Muse: An Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop with Poet Ed Lent, aka Ezra Lovecraft. Explore the intersection of art and poetry at this half-day creative writing workshop. Ekphrastic writing describes a work of visual art, using the artwork as a source for personal and imaginative interpretation. Facilitator Ed Lent will share examples of poems created in response to art, and offer inspiration and guidance as participants reflect on—and write in response to AMP’s mural. Participants will also have the chance to showcase their poetry in The Mural as Muse exhibit at AMP for National Poetry Month, April 2024. Pre-registration is required. Adults: $20, students (grade 6-college): $12. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: Baubles from Bones Deadline: February 21, 2024 Sub up to 3 poems. Any form, meter, or style of poetry that deals with the fantastical, supernatural, or speculative is welcome in our book. Give them poetry that challenges our perception of well-explored genre tropes, offering inventive explorations of what we think we know. All poems must be less than 40 lines long, and prose pieces must be less than 600 words. Pays $6 per poem. Sim subs okay; no reprints. Publisher: The Heduan Review Deadline: February 25, 2024 Theme: “Narratives of healing, reflection, and rebirth.” Sub up to 5 poems or 3 prose poems at a time. Sim subs okay. Reprints okay. All works submitted may be considered for their online magazine or eBook journal. Accepted works are paid 5¢ a word according to the final copy. Publisher: The Poetry Porch 2024 Deadline: March 1, 2024 Send 3 to 8 poems. They are looking for poetry that is formal or informal, that adheres to strict meter and rhyme or experiments with them, that is personal or objective, classical or modern, urban or pastoral. Also interested in original unpublished sonnets to add to The Sonnet Scroll. No sim subs. Publisher: Harpy Hybrid Review Deadline: Open; next issue pubbed in April Celebrates and showcases hybrid works in all their varied forms. Examples of hybridity in literature include, but are not limited to: prose poetry, lyric essays, ekphrastic poems, songs, broadsides, found poetry, digital literature, comics, and any other combination of the traditional elements of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art. No more than 5 pages writing or 10 pages writing & art. Accepts reprints from print journals only. Publisher: The Seraphic Review Deadline: No deadline. Sub 1-3 poems, up to ten pages total. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, as are previously published works. No payment; no reading fee. Publisher: Midsummer Dream House Deadline: No deadline. Send 1-6 poems or 1-2 prose poems. Midsummer Dream House accepts simultaneous submissions and previously published work. No payment; no reading fee. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
January 13 (Saturday, today) @ 2pm EST – Join James Merrill House’s current poet writer-in-residence, Adrienne Raphel, in conversation with former poetry fellow Christopher Spaide for an online reading. This event will be an online livestream, available on the JMH Facebook and YouTube pages. Free to attend, registration required for the link. January 18 (Thursday) @ 7pm EST – Wintonbury Poetry Reading, an online event featuring poets are Sean Frederick Forbes and Stephen Straight, followed by an Open Mic. Hosted by Sitara Gnanaguru. Free to attend, but registration required to receive the Zoom link. January 18 (Thursday) @ 7pm EST – Smith College Alum reading, featuring 7 poets: Stephanie Shafran ’72, Linda S. Greenebaum MAT ’78, Adrie Rose AC ’22, Patricia Lee Lewis ’70, Carla Manene Cooke AC ’01, Kathryn Tracy ’74. Free, but registration required for the Zoom link. January 18 (Thursday) @ 6:30pm-8:30pm EST – The Packing House listening room at 156 River Road in Willington will be having an open-mic Poetry/Spoken Word series. Two open mic segments (sign up at the door, walk-ins welcome), as well as a pair of 15-minute slots for each of the featured artists: James Berger and Pegi Deitz Shea, President of the Connecticut Coalition of Poets Laureate. Free to attend and you are welcome to Bring Your Own Beverages & Food. January 20 (Saturday) @ 2pm-4pm EST – The CT Poetry Society’s workshop at the Wilton Library at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton. Located in the Presidents’ Room. All that is required is the willingness to share some poetry that you have written by reading it aloud to the group. Poets should email a copy of their poems to Ed Ahern at [email protected]. He will distribute the poems to the group shortly before the session. To facilitate discussion, space is strictly limited to just 15 attendees. No charge but online registration is required. January 20 (Saturday) @ 2pm-3:30pm EST – The Minor Memorial Library will host an afternoon of poetry and music, presented by Voices of Poetry. The library is located at 23 South Street in Roxbury. This free event will feature a quartet of acclaimed poets: Barb Fulton Jennes (former Poet Laureate of Ridgefield), Jack Powers, Dimitri Rimsky and Faith Vicinanza (Poet Laureate of Southbury); plus music by singer/ songwriter Don Lowe. January 21 (Sunday) @ 1pm EST – Connecticut Poetry Society presents Poets on Poetry: Contemporary Israeli Poetry with Rachel Neve-Midbar. Register to receive the Zoom link. January 22 (Monday) @ 6:45pm EST – Rose City Poetry Series, which is a new group hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Norwich at 67-69 Main Street in Norwich. Open mic – be there at 6:45pm to sign up, when the doors open. Also welcome music. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: Guernsey International Poetry Competition Deadline: January 15, 2024 (UK time) For the Open Poetry competition for poets aged 18 and over, entries are £4 to submit 1 poem, £10 for 3. Poems should be no longer than 14 lines. Prizes are 1st prize: £1000, 2nd prize: £500, 3rd prize: £250. 21 finalists will also be chosen to be exhibited at the Guernsey Literary Festival, with 9 top finalists to be featured at the Guernsey airport and also all over the island. Previous winners can be read on their website. Publisher: Rattle Chapbook Prize Deadline: January 15, 2024 (PST) 15-30 pages of poetry. Blind read. One winner will be an unpublished poet. 3 winners will receive $5,000 and 500 copies of their chapbook, as well as distribution to Rattle’s 8,000+ subscribers. $25 entry fee – all entrants receive a 1-year subscription to Rattle. (Also accepting ghazal submissions for their regular issue.) Publisher: Woodhall Press Deadline: January 22, 2024 Submit up to 2 poems. Blind read. Authors paid with one complimentary copy of the anthology, and invited to participate in a public reading. Publisher: Kent and Sussex Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition Deadline: January 31, 2024 (UK time) Poems should be no more than 40 lines, of any subject or style. Blind read. Entry fee: £5 per poem; or, for 3 or more poems, £4 each. Seven prizes: 1st Prize: £1000, 2nd Prize: £300, 3rd Prize: £100, 4th Prize: 4 x £50 Publisher: Magma Poetry Competition Deadline: January 31, 2024 (UK time) The Judge’s Prize – poems of 11 to 50 lines. The Editors’ Prize – poems of up to 10 lines. Entry fee: £5 for first poem, £4 for second, £3.50 for the third+. First for each Prize is £1000, second is £300 and third is £150. All winners will be published in Magma and there will also be five special mentions for the Judge’s Prize and for the Editors’ Prize. Winning and commended poets will be invited to read their poems at a Magma Competition Event in Spring 2023. Publisher: Grayson Books Poetry Chapbook Contest Deadline: January 31, 2024 Submit 16-36 pages of poetry. Blind read. Sim subs okay. Reading fee of $20. One winner will receive $500, publication of chapbook, and 50 copies. Publisher: Geminga competition (Sunspot Literary Journal) Deadline: January 31, 2024 Competition for small writing. Poems should be no more than 140 characters. Titles not included in the word count. Entry fee $12.50. Prize: $500 cash, publication for the winner, publication offered to runners-up and finalists. Publisher: Poetica # 4 anthology Deadline: January 31, 2024 Submit 1 poem per anthology. Recommended by our very own Ed Ahern. Very accepting of new authors. Each accepted poet receives a free e-copy of the complete anthology publication by email. Publisher: Woodbury Public Library Deadline: February 5, 2024 Woodbury Public Library and Woodbury Poet Laureate Sandy Carlson invite everyone who cherishes Woodbury’s natural treasures to contribute to an anthology that will be titled The Nature of Woodbury. Anyone who feels inspired by the natural beauty of the town is welcome to contribute. Booth poetry and prose are welcome, with a 500-word count limit on prose. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
December 9 (Saturday, today) @ 2pm EST – WordHouse Reading Series presents David Pontrelli and Terry Blackhawk at the Noah Webster House at 227 South Main Street in West Hartford. Free event, but consider making a donation. Program begins with an open mic. December 10 (Sunday) @ 2-3pm EST – Connecticut’s 8th Poet Laureate Antoinette Brim-Bell will do a reading in the New Britain Museum of American Art at the exhibit "Women Reframe American Landscape,” located at 56 Lexington St in New Britain. Tickets are between $5-$25. December 12 (Tuesday) @ 7pm EST – Zoom presentation from John and Alexis Serio's book Perennial Earth, winner of a 2023 PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award for Excellence. Free Zoom event. Register HERE. December 13 (Wednesday) @ 7pm - Riverwood Poetry Series @ Real Art Ways will host Luisa Caycedo-Kimura and Nadia Sims at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street in Hartford. An open mic for 10 poets will precede the featured reader—one poem, one page please. Free of Charge. Ample parking. December 15 (Friday) @ 7-8:30pm EST – Bethel’s Byrd’s Books, at 178 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel, will host a reading by Rick Magee, Bethel Poet Laureate, and his first book. Free event. December 21 (Thursday) @ 7pm EST – Connecticut Poetry Society presents Poets on Poetry: Contemporary Palestinian Poetry with Susan Muaddi Darraj. Register to receive the Zoom link. December 21 (Thursday) @ 7pm EST – Wintonbury Poetry Reading. The featured poets are Kathy Carle and D. Walsh Gilbert, followed by an open mic. People can sign up with the above link. January 3 (Wednesday) @ 7-8:15pm EST - Poems from CT's Four Corners, and online reading. Join them online for a reading by notable poets representing each of the state’s four corners, plus one from the central Hartford area. The January reading features Ralph Nazareth, Victoria Nordlund, Julia Paul, Rob Piazza, and Julia Maylor Simpson. Hosted and curated by Ridgefield Poet Laureate Emerita Barb Jennes. Free to attend; registration required. January 5 (Friday) @ 6:30-8pm EST - MoCA Some Noise: Open Mic at Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) at 19 Newtown Turnpike in Westport. Tickets are between $0-$10. Participants have 5 minutes to perform either acoustic music, poetry, or slam poetry. January 6 (Saturday) @ 2-4pm EST – Give me a break: Using Line Breaks in Poetry. Workshop exploring the use of line breaks in poems, both in established poets and in your own poems. Registration is $24.14 CAN. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: Orenaug Mountain Publishing Deadline: December 10, 2023 Orenaug Mountain Publishing will accept submissions for its winter anthology, Winter Glimmerings. Two poems per person. No submission fee. Previously published work welcome. Publisher: Meetinghouse Deadline: December 22, 2023 Five poems per submission. Keep subs under 7,500 words. Usually don’t accept previously published work, but have made exceptions. Simultaneous subs okay. $40 paid if pubbed online, $100 if pubbed in print. Like genre-bending and genre-blending work. Publisher: Poetry Box (Off Topic Publishing) Deadline: December 25, 2023 Submit 1-3 poems of any style and theme. The poem should be no more than 15 lines (including blank lines). One poem will be selected for publication each month and printed postcard-style to be mailed out to the Poetry Box subscribers, who receive the poem, tea, and chocolate in a box. These selections are made two months in advance. Publisher: Audience Askew Literary Journal Deadline: December 31, 2023 2-60 line per poem. Submit up to three poems at a time. No reading fee; no payment. Contributors will receive a free digital copy of the issue that their work appears in. Blind read. And they also take chapbook submissions. Publisher: Elm Leaves Journal (ELJ) Deadline: Rolling. Please send 1-5 poems. No word count limit. No fee; payment of a contributor copy. Publisher: Naked Cat Press Deadline: None. Send up to 6 poems at a time. No fee; no payment. Likes work that pushes the limits – nothing taboo. Publisher: Poetry Ireland Review Deadline: Not specified. Send a max of 4 poems of no more than 8 pages total. Simultaneous subs okay. Payment of 1 contributor’s copy and €50. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
October 18 (Wednesday) @ 7-9pm – Sponsored by Poets at Large, Julie Choffel and Doug Anderson will perform at this event, located at The Vanilla Bean Café, 450 Deerfield Road in Pomfret. Admission is $15.00 and includes a give-away. These events are recommended for ages 14 and up. There will be an open mic as time allows, 5-minute max, after the featured readers. To sign up email [email protected]. October 19 (Thursday) @ 7pm – Online special tribute of Sisters & Survivors, featuring poets whose work bears witness to the journey through breast cancer: Nicole Callihan, Valerie Duff, Barb Jennes, and Felicia Zamora. Register for the Zoom link HERE. October 19 (Thursday) @6:30-8:30pm – Packing House Poetry Series featuring Barbara P. Greenbaum and Victoria Nordlund at 156 River Road, Suite 1301 in Willington. Doors open at 6pm. Open mic after the readings, plus an intermission to talk to the poets. Free admission (donations welcome), and our very own poet Aaron will be there. October 20-22 (Friday-Sunday) @ multiple times – Saugatuck StoryFest at the Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road in Westport. Free to attend; headliner for the event is Neil Gaiman, and our very own poet Mitzy Sky will be presenting on Saturday from 1-2pm: “On Leaving and Returning: Writing the Body Home.” Don’t miss it! October 21 (Saturday) @ 2pm – The WordHouse Reading Series presents an afternoon of haiku and short poetry, featuring readings by Stanford M. Forrester, Denise Fontaine-Pincince and Tom Sacramona. Program begins with an open mic and is located at the Noah Webster House, 227 South Main Street in West Hartford. Free event, but donations are appreciated. October 21 (Saturday) @ 7pm – "Writing Survivance," an examination of contemporary Indigenous poetry with Cheryl Savageau, an Abenaki poet. A Poets on Poetry program hosted by the Connecticut Poetry Society. Free to attend, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link. October 21 (Saturday) @ 2-4pm – The Wilton Land Trust presents Poetry in the Preserve. Location in WLT’s Nick Parisot Memorial Trailhead, 77 Tito Lane in Wilton. Poets will include our very own Ed. Open mic after. Free, bring folding chair or blanket. October 26 (Thursday) @ 6:30-7:30pm – Writers in Conversation hosted by Laurel Peterson, featuring Edward Ahern and Jerry T Johnson, at the Norwalk Public Library, One Beldon Avenue in Norwalk. They will read from their poems, talk about the writing life, and answer your questions. October 27 (Friday) @ 7pm – The Arts Café Mystic presents poet Steve Straight with opening voice of Marguerite Keil Flanders and music from Mike Laureanno. Doors open at 6:30pm at La Grua Center, 32 Water Street in Stonington. Admission is $15. October 28 (Saturday) @ 1-3pm – To celebrate the spooky season, the Southbury Library is hosting an afternoon of scary poems and stories. Bring your spookiest poems and stories to share. Southbury Poet Laureate Faith Vicinanza will lead this program and bring some of her favorite scary works. Like all Southbury Public Library programs, this program is free to attend and open to anyone regardless of town of residency. Registration is required. November 10 (Friday) @ 6:30-8pm – Open Mic Night at MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), located at 19 Newtown Turnpike in Westport. Featuring acoustic music, poetry, and slam poetry. $0-$10 for tickets. November 14 (Tuesday) @ 6:30pm – Black Rock Books presents Poetry Night – an open mic event. Refreshments will be served, and they ask for a $5-$10 suggested donation. Ed has read there and encourages others to do so. RSVP on their website. Out now! – The Featherweight is streaming on Netflix, and our very own poet Dave Boston is an actor in the movie. Check it out! PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: Seaside Gothic Deadline: October 15, 2023 Submit a single poem no longer than 1,000 words. Simultaneous submissions okay. No reading fee. Payment of £0.01 per word. Publisher: God’s Cruel Joke Deadline: October 25, 2023 Looking for works that breaks down barriers in theme and style. Can submit art or photos with writing. Simultaneous submissions okay. Submit up to 3 poems. No reading fee; $30 payment upon acceptance. Publisher: Haunted Words Press Deadline: October 25, 2023 Submit up to 3 poems, no longer than 2 pages. No reading fee; payment of a print copy of the anthology. Ghoulish grimoire. Youth/YA audience. Publisher: Zero Readers Deadline: October 27, 2023 Submit up to 5 poems. Max 5 pages. Simultaneous submissions okay. No reading fee; no payment. Publisher: Mid-Level Management Literary Magazine Deadline: October 31, 2023 Send up to three poems at a time. No word count limits. Theme: dress code. Simultaneous submissions okay. No reading fee; no payment. Publisher: Love Letters to Poe III (anthology) Deadline: November 1, 2023 Original gothic fiction and poetry directly inspired by "The Tell-Tale Heart." Simultaneous submissions okay. Payment of 1 cents/word. Up to 4,000 words. No AI. Publisher: Paper Dragon Deadline: November 4, 2023 Original poetry incorporating the theme of friendship must be previously unpublished in print or online. Poems must be submitted as a Word document (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) file. Up to 3 poems may be submitted at one time. Please submit each poem separately. No individual poem should exceed 50 lines or 250 words. Simultaneous submissions okay. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
August 13 (Sunday) @ 5-6pm – Jonathan Post lecture on Anthony Hecht: Celebration of a Great American Poet at the Stonington Free Library, 20 High Street, Stonington. Hosted by The James Merrill House. Free and open to the public. https://www.facebook.com/events/279403634778807/?ref=newsfeed August 15 (Tuesday) @ 6:30pm – “Open Mic Surgery” presents Judith Basya at Never Ending Books, 810 State Street, New Haven. Hosted by Brian Robinson. https://allevents.in/mobile/amp-event.php?event_id=200025051044834 August 16 (Wednesday) @ 6pm – A new poetry writing group that will meet on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6 PM in the Mystic Library's Ames Room. Each meeting we will explore a new poem to read deeply together and parse out its images, references, poetic devices, and possible meanings to cultivate a deeper appreciation for poetry. Then you will take the opportunity to generate your own writing in response to a prompt rooted in the poem just read. Sharing what you've written is not required. You are welcome to simply come listen. This free group is facilitated by the Library's Adult Services Programming Librarian, Ery Caswell. https://allevents.in/mystic/genesis-a-poetry-group/200025070131749 August 17 (Thursday) @ 6pm-7:30pm – Poetry Reading and Inspirational Talk with Dr. Marlou Newkirk at the Westport Book Shop, 23 Jesup Road, Westport. Marlou will be reading from her poetry collection and talk about how “It’s never too late” – she wrote her award-winning collection when 86. Free to attend, wine and cheese served. https://www.westportbooksaleventures.org/our-events August 18 (Friday) @ 10-11:30am – Online mini-retreat set in Ireland, hosted by Christine Valters Paintner. Christine will weave together poems from her newest collection with practices and creative explorations to encourage you to find your own path forward, steeped in the beauty and wonder all around you. Through poetry, reflection, meditation, and writing, you will make space for a pause in the rush of life. $40 to attend. https://www.mercybythesea.org/programs-and-retreats/upcoming-programs/love-holds-you/ August 24 (Thursday) @ 6:30pm – Poetry in the Park presents John Surowiecki and José B. González, plus featured open mic reader Ava R. Molnar. Located at Julia de Burgos Park at the corner of Curbstone Way and Jackson Street. Free and open to the public. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blanket, a picnic, and, if they wish, poetry for the open mic. Rain location at the Windham Community Center at 1 Jillson Square, Willimantic. https://www.facebook.com/CurbstoneLiteraryProjec August 24 (Thursday) @ 7-8pm – Poetry Night, hosted by the Trumbull Library at 33 Quality Road, Trumbull. Their second open mic night of the year celebrates poetry of all kinds! Read an original, a favorite, or even song lyrics. A sign-up sheet will be available at the event in the community room for anyone wishing to participate. https://trumbull.libcal.com/event/10669218 September 2 (Saturday) @ 3pm – Poetry Salon with featured readers Katie Farris, Ilya Kaminsky, and Joanna Fuhrman in Wilton, CT. Hosted by Erika Lutzner. Open mic, food and drink. For info and to RSVP, email [email protected]. September 16 (Saturday) @ 2pm? (email Ed for the time) – PoemAlley presents our very own Edward Ahern will give a presentation on getting your poetry published (Zoom & live at Ralph Nazareth’s house). PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: Grayson Books Poetry Contest Deadline: August 15, 2023 Submit your 50-90 page manuscript. $1,000 prize, publication, and 10 copies. Reading fee of $26. Blind read. Simultaneous and multiple submissions are okay. Publisher: Surely as the Sun Deadline: August 30, 2023 They seek any length poetry with Christian themes. You can make multiple and simultaneous submissions in up to three categories. Reprints accepted. No reading fee; no payment. Publisher: Letter Review Prize for Poetry Deadline: August 31, 2023 Poetry up to 70 lines. $800 USD total prize pool. No subject or style restrictions: all poems welcome. Open to writers who live anywhere in the world. Three winners are announced who are published and share in the prize money. Twenty poets will be longlisted. All entries are considered for publication, submission to the Pushcart Prize, and for further anthologies. The prize is judged blind. No reprints. Publisher: Wilderness House Literary Review Deadline: September 1, 2023 Poetry may be submitted in any length. No reading fee; no payment. Publisher: The Scribes Prize Deadline: September 1, 2023 Microfiction of 90-110 words. $5 entry fee and feedback on every submission by 2 editors. 18 cash prizes and publication, from $250 (first place) to $20 (honorable mentions). Simultaneous submissions and reprints welcome. Publisher: Sacramento Review Deadline: None No limits on length or content. Can either submit to the general submissions for the magazine or for “writers correspond” for the newsletter. No reading fee; no payment. Publisher: Mayday Magazine Deadline: None Submit 1-3 poems, up to 10 pages in total. Appreciate “purposeful experimentation.” Simultaneous subs okay. No reading fee; $10 payment per poem upon publication. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
July 10 (Monday) @ 7pm – A Garden of Verse at Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main Street in Ridgefield. Poets: Jennifer Franklin, Sean Singer & Barb Jennes. Free; outdoors. Will move indoors if raining. July 14 (Friday) @ 6:30-8pm – MoCA Some Noise: Open Mic Night. MoCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) at 19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport. Formerly the Westport Arts Center. An evening of music and community. July 20 (Thursday) @ 6:30pm – Arts Center East is hosting the 4th annual Ekphrastic Extravaganza: Art & Poetry at the Arts Center East Eureka Gallery at 709 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. There will be a reception and reading. Free and open to the public. August 2 (Wednesday) @ 6:30pm – Poetry: Find Your Voice! Interactive poetry reading. 3-minute time slot to share your poetry or a poem that inspires you. Reading is optional. Free to attend; registration required. August 5 (Saturday) @ 7-11pm – The Underground Invitational Poetry Slam at Lynon’s Restaurant & Bar, 2151 State Street, Hamden. $25 admission. 11 of the top poets compete for a $1,250 cash prize. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: 2023 Experimental Poetry Contest (CT Poetry Society) Deadline: July 31, 2023 Sub up to 3 poems in an experimental format. Text, audio & video files & sim subs okay. Blind read. $1k prize to the winner. $15 reading fee. Publisher: 2023 Poetry Competition (Valiant Scribe) Deadline: July 15, 2023 Submit up to 5 poems written from a hopeful perspective. Welcomes entries on faith & social issues. FREE to enter. Blind read. $500 for the winning poem. 10 honorable mentions. All 11 poems will be published. Publisher: Rattle Poetry Prize Deadline: July 15, 2023 Send up to 4 poems. Blind read. Entry fee of $25 gets a one-year subscription to Rattle. One $15k winner & 10 $500 finalists will be published in the Winter 2023 issue; one $5k Readers’ Choice Award will be chosen. Publisher: Winchester Poetry Prize 2023 Deadline: July 31, 2023 (UK time) Poems no more than 40 lines. Blind read. Entry fee: £6 – 1st poem, £5 additional poems. First Prize: £1k, 2nd Prize: £500, 3rd Prize: £250. Winning & commended poems will be published in a competition anthology. Publisher: The Washburn Chapbook Prize (Harbor Review) Deadline: July 31, 2023 Sub exactly 10 poems. Sim subs okay. Eligible: women or non-binary writers; winner published digitally. $10 reading fee, which is waived for BIPOC writers. $200 prize. Finalists read blind by the judge. Publisher: Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Prize Deadline: July 31, 2023 Sub up to 3 poems. $15 fee. Each poem 1 page or less. Sim subs okay. Blind read. Prizes: $1k, $500 & $250. Winners & finalists published. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
June 11 (Sunday) @ 7-9pm – Spiritual Poetry Reading & Discussion Online with host Shanti Grace. An informal gathering to read and discuss spiritual poetry and wisdom quotes, with about 25 people attending each month. It’s an open and welcoming space exploring a deeper life. Free to attend. June 13 (Tuesday) @ 7pm – Book Launch for Debora Kuan, poet laureate of Wallingford, with Aaron Caycedo-Kimura. Debora is reading from her third and newest collection of poetry Women on the Moon, and Aaron Caycedo-Kimura reads from his first collection Common Grace. Readings will be followed by a Q&A and book signings. Located at the Sally Hart Lodge, Chaote Rosemary Hall in 138 North Elm Street, Wallingford. Free; registration required. June 17 (Saturday) @ 1pm – 2023 Rose Garden Reading with Cristina J. Baptista and Frederick-Douglass Knowles II, located Under the Tent in Elizabeth Park in Hartford. Other speakers include the Wallace Stevens Poetry Prize winner Asia Hamilton and Anita Durkin. Sponsored by the Friends & Enemies of Wallace Stevens. Free to attend; you can also become a member of the organization. June 25 (Sunday) @ 6pm – PechaKucha Volume #15, hosted by Erika Lesser-Eng, Museum Director, and including speakers such as the Poets’ Salon very own Mitzy Sky! Other speakers include: Alicia Cobb, Bill Derry, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Nina Lesiga, Mia Lipstick, Peter Moran, and Silent Quill. THEME: UNEARTHING. In the Planetarium of the Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center at 4450 Park Avenue in Bridgeport. Doors open at 5. Food available to purchase from Raquel Rivera's amazing "A Pinch of Salt" Menu. Program begins at 6. Free but only 60 spaces available. June 28 (Wednesday) @ 2:30pm – “Poetry in Art, Art in Poetry” presented by the Poetry Group. A journey into the artistic language of tea through the eyes of 45 artists, and a transforming performance of ceremonial poses. Event at Convenant Living of Cromwell @ 101 West Street in Cromwell. Tea will be served during the performance. RSVP and for more information, contact Ann Grasso at [email protected]. July 4 (Saturday) @ 5pm – Lit Balm: An Interactive Livestream Reading Series hosts readers every Saturday on Zoom. On July 4th, it will be Lit Balm’s Founders Reading: Jonathan Penton, Larissa Shmailo, and Marc Vincenz with special guests Jerome Sala, Elaine Equi and John Yau. Open mic, panels. Free to attend; link on the website. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: The Sappho Prize for Women Poets Deadline: June 15, 2023 The winning poet will be awarded $3000, publication, and a brief interview with Palette Poetry. Second and third place will win $300 & $200, respectively, as well as publication. The top ten finalists will also be recognized. $20 reading fee. Publisher: Mudfish Poetry Prize Deadline: June 15, 2023 A prize of $1,200 and publication in Mudfish is given annually for a single poem. Submit up to 3 poems of any length with a $20 entry fee via check or PayPal ($3 for each additional poem). All entries are considered for publication. Blind read. Send to Mudfish, Mudfish Poetry Prize, 184 Franklin Street, New York, NY 10013 with a SASE. Publisher: The Letter Review Prize Deadline: June 30, 2023 Poems of not more than 70 lines. No subject or style restrictions: all poems welcome. $15 USD to enter one poem, $27 to enter two, and $35 to enter three. First Prize is $400 USD, Second Prize is $250 USD, and Third Prize is $150 USD. Winning entries published at Letter Review. 20 poets will be longlisted. All entries are considered for publication. Blind judging. Publisher: “A Walk at Christmas” Poetry Competition Deadline: June 30, 2023 Looking for six new poems to feature in their festive pamphlet for 2023. A Walk at Christmas will be published in October. Looking for walks in all manner of places – country lanes, city parks, town streets – whether alone or with friends and family. Poems 37 lines or less, including title and stanza breaks. No sim subs. Each entry of 2 poems must be accompanied by the PayPal transaction number as proof of purchase. In addition to publication, each of the six winners will receive £75 and 10 copies of the finished pamphlet. Publisher: The Magnolia Review Deadline: Open year-round Accepts poetry and experimental work. Blind read. Sim subs okay. Reprints okay. Max 8 poems per submission (recommend sending in at least 6). No payment; no reading fee. Publisher: The Rising Phoenix Review Deadline: Open year-round Submit 1-5 poems. Looking for diversity. No reading fee; no payment. Sim subs okay. Reprints okay. UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS
May 13 (Saturday, today) @ 2pm – ArtSpace Hartford Gallery presents “Ekphrasis: Poetry, Music & Dance Inspired by Visual Art.” Located at 555 Asylum Street in Hartford. Free and open to the public; event followed by a reception. May 15 (Monday) @ 2:30-3:30pm – Poetry Reading online with the theme of “Outcast.” Delve into literary works and enjoy masterpieces read out loud with Matthew Peter-Carter. Unlike other book clubs that expect participants to read in advance and prepare for the conversation, they welcome anyone to join the meeting without any preparation. Free (first 5 attendees)/ticketed price to attend. May 15 (Monday) @ 7-8pm – Celebrate the book launch of The Covid Chronicles, the compiled diaries of The Westport Library Advanced Writing class coping with the COVID-19 pandemic – a collection containing essays to poetry, art to articles. There will be readings at The Westport Library at 20 Jesup Road in Westport, from participating authors and insight from the book's editors, Mary-Lou Weisman and Gina Ryan. Refreshments will be served. Free to attend, but registration required. May 20th – 2-4pm (3rd Saturday every month) – CT Poetry Society Workshop at the Wilton Library @ 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton. Free to attend and in person; meeting on the 2nd floor. Bring 8-10 copies of poem to pass out. Ed usually attends. May 20 (Saturday) @ 7pm (doors open @ 6:30pm) – Southbury’s Got Talent presents a Community Talent Show as a benefit for the Southbury Food Bank. Acts will range from solo and duet singing, dancing, poetry, original songs, and comedy. $15 admission/$10 for seniors/children. Located at The Jewish Federation, 444 Main Street North in Southbury. May 27 (Saturday) @ 2pm – WordHouse Reading Series presents Christine Beck (former president of the Connecticut Poetry Society) and Sharon Lattig (book: Cognitive Ecopoetics: A New Theory of Lyric). At Noah Webster House, 227 South Main Street in West Hartford. Free event; starts with open mic. May 27 (Saturday) @ 2-4pm – Poetry Rocks presents an Artist-Poet Exhibit of visual arts and poems at the Arts Center East at 702 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon withan opening reception and readings. Artist-poets include CT State Poet Laureate and printmaker/collagist Antoinette Brim-Bell, painters Sherri Bedingfield, Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, Marilyn Johnston, Garrett Phelan; photographer Joan Hofmann; and multimedia artist Margaret Plaganis. The exhibit is dedicated to the late poet and photographer, David K. Leff, the Poet Laureate of Canton who died suddenly in Spring 2022. Proceeds from the sale of his books at the exhibit will be donated to the CT Coalition of Poets Laureate. For more information, email [email protected], or call 860-878-7016. PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY Publisher: Cow Creek Chapbook Prize (Pittsburg State University) Deadline: May 15, 2023 A prize of $1,000, publication by Pittsburg State University, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Submit a manuscript of 15 to 30 pages with a $15 entry fee. Publisher: Old Pal Deadline: May 20, 2023 Send up to 10 pages of poetry. No reading fee. Simultaneous submissions okay. $50 payments. Publisher: Poetry for Mental Health Deadline: May 31, 2023 Theme: addiction. From alcohol, tobacco and drugs, to gambling, cosmetic surgery, social media, sex and food, this title covers both substance and behavioral addiction. You can send up to six pieces of poetry. Reprints okay. No swearing. No payment; no reading fee. Publisher: Poet Lore Deadline: May 31, 2023 Submit up to 5 poems (max 10 pages). No reading fee. Simultaneous submissions okay. NO reprints. $50 payment per published poem. Publisher: Southern Poetry Review Deadline: May 31, 2023 A prize of $1,000 and publication in Southern Poetry Review is given annually for a single poem. Submit 3-5 poems totaling no more than 10 pages with a $20 entry fee, which includes a subscription to Southern Poetry Review. Publisher: Bridport Prize Deadline: May 31, 2023 A prize of £5,000 (approximately $6,034) and publication in the Bridport Prize anthology are given annually for a poem. Second-place prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,207) and publication. Submit a poem of up to 42 lines. The entry fee is £12 (approximately $14). Publisher: Scribes*MICRO*Fiction presents The Scribes Prize Deadline: September 1, 2023 90-110 words, with 18 cash prizes – $250, $125, $60, and 15 honorable mentions of $20 each, plus publication and award seals for the winners and honorable mentions. Semi-blind read (the finalists will be read/judged blind by a 2nd round of judges). $5 entry fee. |
About Us:The Poets' Salon is an all-inclusive group that gets together the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m in the Memorial Room at the Fairfield Public Library. We read our poetry aloud, politely critique each others' work (upon request), highlight publishing opportunities, and also talk about local poetry readings. Meeting Notes
April 2024
Years |