From our friends at the National Federation of State Poetry Societies: Submissions are now open for the Manningham Student Poetry contest (grades 6-8 and 9-12). Submit at nfsps.net/manningham-s....

Last call to register for what promises to be an amazing workshop by Geoff Anderson of DiVerses on Saturday October 11th at 1 p.m. both online (via Zoom) and in person at the Cooperative Chess Cultural Center in Columbus, Ohio. Sponsored by the Ohio Poetry Association.

From our President, @mothergusa.bsky.social: "I am absolutely honored by the spirit of this collaborative event with America's River Roots & OPA and encourage poets and poetry lovers and river lovers alike to join us [in Cincinnati] where river and freedom poetry will flow on Friday 10/10 at 10am!!"

Just a reminder that registration is open for our 11 October quarterly workshop, "How to Write Better Using Lessons from Haiku," presented by Geoff Anderson of DiVerses. Attend virtually or in-person in Columbus, Ohio. For more information and to register, please visit www.ohiopoetryassn.org/events.

Thursday in Kent, Ohio! www.kent.edu/today/news/w...

Arthur Sze Will Be the Next U.S. Poet Laureate www.nytimes.com/2025/09/15/b...

Come see and hear poet Jason Baldinger today at Mac's Backs Books in Cleveland Heights. Sunday, September 14th at 5 pm. Details: www.facebook.com/events/20060...

Pennsylvania Poetry Society's 2026 contests (several of these are open to poets from other states):

Thanks to Gennifer Harding-Gosnell and @signalcleveland.bsky.social for this great story about our free Inkubator Writing Conference which features interviews with several of the presenters. Check it out! signalcleveland.org/literary-cle...

🎉Announcing the 2025 Inkubator Writing Conference 🎉 #CleInk25 is one of the largest free writing conferences in the country and this year we have made it bigger and better than ever! Events September 5-14. Registration opens August 1. inkubator.litcleveland.org

To order your copy of The Roads at Night Looked Like Our Futures: A 40 Over 40 Poetry Anthology… 1. Visit www.akroncantonfoodbank.org 2. Click the ”Donate” button and donate at least $10. Books are $10 each. 3. Email your donation receipt and mailing address to [email protected]

Looking forward to having John Dorsey and Jason Baldinger return to Cleveland Heights for a poetry reading on September 14th, 5 p.m., at Mac's Backs-Books on Coventry. Hope to see you there! macsbacks.com/event/2025-0...

Visible Voice Books is on the move! www.clevescene.com/news/visible...

SAVE THE DATE: November 15th in South Euclid, Ohio! attend.cuyahogalibrary.org/event/13881294

September 9th in Columbus! @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social and @theferocity.bsky.social prologuebookshop.ticketbud.com/peoplesproject

From our friends at the Ohio Center for the Book: We'll be hosting an open mic poetry reading on Saturday, August 30th from 3-5 PM. We're offering this as an alternative to the other, better-known, airshow (although it will be in full view).

Bookfair! After Happy Hour, Brainchild, CLE State U Poetry Ctr, Crisis Chronicles, Dodge, Driftwood, Elizabeth's Bookshop, Eulalia, Last-Picked, Milk & Cake, Neighborhood Bookstore Pdcst, Painted Pebble, POP! Art Bks Culture, Rescue, 7 Kitchens, Wick, Wilkes MFA www.lityoungstown.org/2025-festiva...

Some news! 🎉🎉🎉

I'm so excited for The People's Project curated by @theferocity.bsky.social and @maggiesmithpoet.bsky.social! Out on September 9 from @atriabooks.bsky.social. islandbooks.com/book/9781668...

My poem AMESVILLE GIRLS, published in DIRT SONGS, is up on POETRY TOWN today. georgebilgere.com/so/edPX7sle9... THANK YOU #GeorgeBilgere! #ohiopoetlaureate #EastOverPress

Mark your calendars for 10/22! The OPA is happy to serve as a Community Partner with Gramercy Books Bexley for this free event featuring all three of Ohio's Poets Laureate (so far): Amit Majmudar, Dave Lucas, and Kari Gunter-Seymour. Tickets and more: www.gramercybooksbexley.com/event/evenin...

Mark your calendars for A Celebration of the Collected Work of Master Poet Stanley Plumly, November 8th at Gramercy Books Bexley. The Ohio Poetry Association is happy to serve as Community Partners for this special free event. Tickets and more information: www.gramercybooksbexley.com/event/celebr...

A special post by Chris Minton on our OPA blog: ohiopoetryassn.blogspot.com/2025/07/crea...

Join us either virtually or in Albuquerque for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies Conference. July 23rd thru 28th. nfsps.net/2025-enchant...

This Thursday, 7/17, at Heights Arts in Cleveland Heights! www.heightsarts.org/event/43378/

Tuesday evening reminder: Write the book. Make the zine. Pack the shelves. Fill the world with so many stories they'll never be able to silence us all.

Spent an afternoon with my inmate students at Chillicothe Correctional Institution. THERE WAS SINGING AND GUITARS. I presented THREE WRITING AWARDS (more here than at any other of the 18 prisons I teach at). But for addiction, many here would not be behind bars. WE HAVE TO WORK HARDER, FRIENDS!

From the Ohio Arts Council: Are you a poet with an interested in fostering the love and practice of the artform across the state? Consider submitting a nomination (of yourself or another) to be the next Ohio Poet Laureate! Deadline July 18. Nomination guidelines: oac.ohio.gov/ohio-poet-laureate.

Thursday, July 3rd, on the lawn of the Coventry library in Cleveland Heights, see poets @michael-salinger.bsky.social, @shelleychernin.bsky.social, and @jburroughs.bsky.social. More info at macsbacks.com/event/2025-0...

Words of wisdom from Maggie Smith: “Nothing that any of us makes or achieves happens without community. Period. We need each other.” #kidlit #writingcommunity #poetry #creativity #readingcommunity

Had a great time performing with these poets at the Peace and Healing pavilion during ComFest 2025 - 53rd Community Festival in Columbus today.

Looking forward to poetrying with some really good people this Saturday, 6/28, as the Ohio Poetry Association presents Eat Our Words: Social Justice Poetry" during ComFest 2025 at Goodale Park in Columbus, Ohio. More details at www.facebook.com/events/19276....

Yesterday, I was heartened to attend the Zoom launch for this book by writers at the Allen-Oakwood Correctional Institution in Lima. I salute these authors, my Ohio Poetry Association friends who support this project and Poetry Is Life Publishing. www.poetryislifepublishing.com/stones-stitc...

Join us July 12th at Sandy Ridge Reservation in North Ridgeville, Ohio for the Ohio Poetry Association's annual picnic featuring readings by co-Ohio Poet of the year Barbara Sabol (Watermark) and recent Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Ray McNiece (Bone Key Sutra), plus open mic.

I very much look forward to sharing poems alongside these fab folks at the June 27th Zoom launch of @windychickenpoet.bsky.social's new chapbook, How to Tie Tobacco. More info at www.facebook.com/events/17118...

Fall Lit Fest in Youngstown, Oh! A close look at writer intent Writing for the Stage w/ Lilace Mellin Guignard, Judith Sornberger What the Writer Thinks They Wrote w/ Cherise Benton @ShantiArts @WilkesUWriting #WritingCommmunity #amwriting #writesky www.lityoungstown.org/2025-festiva...

What a fabulous reading yesterday at Mr. Smith's Coffee House with @ellenaustinli.bsky.social in solidarity with No Kings in Sandusky, Ohio. So much gratitude to Larry Smith, who brought us together, and all who came out and shared. So many good words. Check out Ellen's new book, Incidental Pollen!

Bone Key Sutra by Ray McNiece is an engaging road romp, a compelling and visionary meditation on what it means to be present, awake, and alive in our so often slumbering world. An indispensable addition to the Beat literary canon. Get it at raymcniece.com/ray-mcniece-....

I very much look forward to sharing poems from the same mic as friend and Cincinnati poet @ellenaustinli.bsky.social this Saturday, June 14th, at Mr. Smith's Coffee House in Sandusky, Ohio. Her new book, Incidental Pollen, was just released. I am selecting my poems in solidarity with No Kings.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife invites you to share your admiration and passion for wildlife by entering their Poets for Wildlife Contest! Entrants must be a current Ohio resident or reside in Ohio for school and be 18 years or older. Details: ow.ly/6ofN50W4aGq

Our OPA mission calls upon us to be in service and provide opportunities to poets and poetry lovers. One of the ways we do this is by working with incarcerated writer like those in the Lima Writers Group, who have a new anthology coming out. Please join us for their virtual book launch on 6/23.

Our Poet Laureate @karigunterseymour.bsky.social has been a beacon of poetic light…. Now, the torch is to be passed. Apply here!! oac.ohio.gov/programs-and...

Please join me in celebrating INCIDENTAL POLLEN's June 8th book launch at The Well's interim locale, Mortar Cincinnati. Other planned readings in June, if June 8th doesn't work for you: June 14th (Sat.), 2 pm: Mr. Smith's Coffee House, Sandusky, OH (with @jburroughs.bsky.social )… See more

Cincy/NKY folks: Our next features at Poetry Night at Sitwell's are @Kim Jacobs-Beck and @jessicamanack.bsky.social. Come out! Don't forget a poem for the open mic!

Mark your calendars: On June 22nd, the Ohio Poetry Association partners with The Kelton House Museum & Garden and Poets Against Racism & Hate USA to sponsor a Juneteenth Celebration. More info at ohiopoetryassn.blogspot.com/2025/05/june...

Was a fab evening of poetry Sunday at the Tongue-in-Groove Poetry Jam feat. Dianne Borsenik, hosted by Ray McNiece at the Millard Fillmore Presidential Library in Cleveland. As always, an open mic followed the feature & the band accompanied the poets. More photos at www.facebook.com/media/set?va...

Sheila-Na-Gig Editions is seeking BIPOC voices for an upcoming anthology,AMPLIFY. Submissions are open until May 31, 2025. For complete guidelines, visit: sheilanagigblog.com/amplify/

Some great poetry things happening in Northwest Ohio! Check out the latest newsletter from OPA Ambassador @sandragill.bsky.social:

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: North Coast Voices. mainstreetrag.com