Poetry Postcard Fest 2027
Registration IS OPEN
The Poetry Postcard Fest is an annual 56-day experiment in spontaneity and community building. This literarary event is a self-guided workshop in spontaneous composition where people sign up & must send 31 original poems on postcards to folks on a participation list before the end of August. The fest was initiated in 2007 by poets Paul E. Nelson and Lana Ayers, and has grown to include poets participating worldwide. Registration opens annually on September 1.
Poetry as Neuro-Resilience
Explore practices that help keep consciousness attuned to the realities of the world - and discover how poetry can emerge from that depth. In this five-week workshop, Paul E. Nelson guides participants through readings, interviews, journaling, and writing exercise rooted in the Cascadia bioregion. All levels are welcome; openness and a commitment to the practice are all that's required.
Learn more about Poetry as Neuro-Resilience →
Suggested donation: $130–$275
Saturday Cohort
Saturdays 9-11 AM Pacific Time
November 21, 2026 – December 19, 2026
Sunday Cohort
Sundays 3-5 PM Pacific Time
November 22, 2026 – December 20, 2026
How it Works
The fest is a self-guided 56 day workshop in spontaneous composition and community. Click to learn more about How it Works.
Poetry Postcard Fest News
PPF Open House Video and Q&A!
PPF Open House Video and FAQ! On June 16, 2024, CPL hosted a Zoom open house for the Poetry Postcard Fest, where the PPF committee answered any questions regarding the fest and postcard poems were...
Bonus for Non-U.S. Poetry Postcard Fest Participants
Bonus for non-USA Poetry Postcard Fest participants in 2024 for the 18th iteration of the event which starts July 4, 2024.
PPF ZOOM OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY JUNE 16!
PPF ZOOM OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY JUNE 16! Join the Poetry Postcard Fest project board on Sunday, June 6, 2024 at 1 P.M. PDT for a PPF Zoom open house! Now that we are less than a month away from the...
Press Release: Cascadia Poetics LAB to Host 18th Poetry Postcard Fest and Postcards From Here Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 8, 2024 Contact: Paul E. Nelson pen@cascadiapoeticslab.org CASCADIA POETICS LAB TO HOST 18TH POETRY POSTCARD FEST AND POSTCARDS FROM HERE EVENT By Veronica Martinez,...
Less Than One Month
18th Poetry Postcard Fest Registration Update with 13 groups already formed with less than a month to go.
The Power of PPF by Margaret Lee
From PPF Board Member Margaret Lee, June 1, 2024 Early in May I received a card in the mail on turquoise, marbled paper in a handmade envelope. I knew from the handwriting that it came from my poet...
Postcards from Mapes Creek Recap!
Yesterday, Sunday June 8, we hosted our 2nd Postcards from Mapes Creek event at Be'er Sheva Park in Rainier Beach. Although the weather was a surprising 87 degrees, we set up a potluck and postcard...
Postcards of the Past and Future
From PPF committee member Margaret Lee: I live in Tulsa on Route 66, where postcards are easy to find. You have seen the kind I mean: that map of the U.S. with a bold red line connecting Chicago to...
PPF Donor Workshop June 11
PPF Workshop for Donors! Postcard season is coming up soon! As a thank you to our dedicated postcard poets and generous donors, we are hosting an online workshop for supporters of the Poetry...
The Poetry Postcard Fest, initiated by poets Paul Nelson and Lana Ayers in 2007, invites participants to create and send 31 original poems on postcards throughout August. The fest emphasizes spontaneity, with poems written in one take directly onto postcards for recipients worldwide. Registration opens annually on September 1, and participants receive a list of fellow poets to exchange cards with. A $15 contribution supports the Cascadia Poetics LAB, and scholarships are available. For more details and resources on postcard poetry, visit How it Works or check out related essays and wrap-ups from past participants.
How the Poetry Postcard Fest Works
Abhaya Thomas Postcard
How the Poetry Postcard Fest Works
The Poetry Postcard Fest, initiated by poets Paul Nelson and Lana Ayers in 2007, invites participants to create and send 31 original poems on postcards throughout August. The fest emphasizes spontaneity, with poems written in one take directly onto postcards for recipients worldwide. Registration opens annually on September 1, and participants receive a list of fellow poets to exchange cards with. A $15 contribution supports the Cascadia Poetics LAB, and scholarships are available. For more details and resources on postcard poetry, visit How it Works or check out related essays and wrap-ups from past participants.
Abhaya Thomas Postcard