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
Consider Supporting SPLAB during Give Big
I am asking your support for SPLAB during Give Big and contributions are being accepted now. As you may know, SPLAB is the non-profit organization that facilitates the Poetry Postcard Fest....
A Birthday Wish for the National Poetry Month (from Nina Murray)
My birthday falls during the National Poetry Month in the U.S. I also happen to be a poet, so when people send me texts, presents, and other nice things for my birthday, I feel like poetry and poets...
Karen Loeb Reading
Wisconsin postcard poet sends news: Hi Paul-- I'll be giving a presentation at the U. of Wisconsin-Stout in celebration of Nat'l Poetry Month this coming Mon. Apr. 12 @ 7:00 pm CDT. I'll be reading...
The Lost Postcards of Diane di Prima
As mentioned in last week's post, the 15th year of the Poetry Postcard Fest will be in honor of two brilliant poets we lost in 2020, Michael McClure and Diane di Prima. Diane was an actual...
2021 PPF Tribute to Diane di Prima and Michael McClure
Two poets who had tremendous influence on USAmerican culture and poetry in the second half of the 20th century, both died in 2020, were good friends to each other and each had an influence on the...
Online Poetry Postcard Fest Exhibit Launch
Thanks to Kristen Ryberg and James Gaynor, the Online Poetry Postcard Fest Exhibit is up & running and was launched via Zoom, Sunday, March 28, 2021: https://youtu.be/2VI7zIVj8AY Registration...
Wish You Were Here (Drew Myron)
It’s postcard season, and I’m ready! Once, a young friend went to Europe. “Send me a postcard,” I said as she departed. She arrived in the foreign country, purchased a postcard, and had no idea what...
Eyeballin’ It with Kat: One Poet’s Approach to Writing Postcard Poems
Eyeballin’ It with Kat: One Poet’s Approach to Writing Postcard Poems by Kat Bodrie I call my method for hanging framed pictures “Eyeballin’ It with Kat.” (I told my husband it’ll be the name of my...
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...
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