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
2021 Poetry Postcard Fest Stats
The numbers are in for year 15 of the Poetry Postcard Fest, as registration has ended (FINALLY) and the poets at Casa del Colibrí can move on to their own poetry postcard production and the next...
Linda Crosfield, 15 Year PPF Veteran
Linda Crosfield and I met in George Bowering's 2005 week-long class at the (now defunct) Victoria School of Writing Summer School where we learned, among other things, the importance of putting...
Lost & Found Postcards, di Prima Goodbyes
Our good friends at Lost & Found are at it again with subjects near and dear to our heart. From their e-newsletter, which went out this morning, find postcards, literary history and news of one...
Eileen Agar Collages
Postcarder Sally Hedges-Blanquez points us to the Paris Review and some AMAZING collages by the late artist Eileen Agar. From the article: In an undated note bequeathed to the Tate Archive in 1992,...
Fourteen Countries, 46 States, 4 Provinces
The 15th Poetry Postcard Fest is on and registration is in its final two weeks. 14 different countries are represented, along with 46 U.S. states (+DC), 3 Australian states and 4 Canadian provinces....
Poetry Postcard Orientation
We had an excellent time talking poetry postcards on Juneteenth, June 19, 2021. Over 30 people joined the Zoom affair as Poetry Postcard Fest Co-Founder Paul E Nelson talked about the origin of the...
31 Days Event in Ellensburg, WA
Inland Poetry Presents: 31 Days Join Inland Poetry in Ellensburg, WA on Saturday July 20, 2024 from 4-6 PM for a postcard poetry event! Poets Jillian Calahan and Rachel Karyo will share strategies...
Colleen Hein: Getting Ready for Poetry Postcard Fest
Getting Ready for Poetry Postcard Fest From Postcard Poet Colleen Hein: I’m simultaneously nervous and excited to send postcard poems to thirty-one strangers. The most important rule? Write the poem...
Postcards for Richard
Caring Bridge for Richard Osler “Did you know, a quick comment can boost morale by 28.2%”— Caring Bridge Longtime Poetry Postcard Fest participant Richard Osler has been diagnosed with Stage Four...
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