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
451. Ruby Kane, Oakland, CA – Too Seedy
(Click here for audio)
450. Karen Lee Lewis, East Amherst, NY – Masterful Silence
(Click here for audio)
449. Denise Calvetti Michaels, Kirkland, WA – P.E.D. Scandal (2)
(Click here for audio)
448. Dean Pfaender, Forest Grove, OR – P.E.D. Scandal
(Click here for audio)
447. Jacqueline Murray, Pittsburg, KS – Certain Snorts (Nasturtium)
(Click here for audio.)
446. Lisa J. Cihlar, Brodhead, WI – Certain Unshakability (Blackberries)
(Click here for audio)
12.7.2020 Alicia Gignoux Poetry Postcard Fest Interview
Alicia Gignoux has enjoyed being part of the Poetry Postcard Fest poetry exchange. She taught Spanish at the university level in Montana for many years and spent time serving in Mexico with the...
Andrew Bell 12.4.2020 Poetry Postcard Fest Interview
Andrew Bell is a Poetry Postcard Fest poet living in Christchurch, New Zealand. He talked about his experience with the postcard fest and also USAmerican politics in the last weeks of you know who....
Philip Riley 12.2.2020 Poetry Postcard Fest Interview
From Philip Riley, Poetry Postcard Fest poet: Here’s a recent photo of me in front of a tiny 13th century Cypriot church. It was above a stream where I went to collect reeds to repair a Greek chair....
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