Several organizations have reached out to the society this month to share opportunities, from calls for submissions to contests, conventions and conferences.

James Agee Conference

This FREE one day conference will be held February 22, 2025, at the Strawberry Plains Campus of Pellissippi State Community College. Get details.

Submission Closing Soon!

Poets for Peace Call for Submissions through March 31, 2025. Enter soon: submissions will close once 150 poets have submitted.

Red Hawk Publications Aims Anthology at Helene Flood Relief

Red Hawk Publications seeks poetry from Appalachian Poets for an anthology to help with Hurricane Helene Flood Relief. The working title for the anthology is The Unnatural Disaster of Hurricane Helene Flood: Appalachian Poets Holler from Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Both published and unpublished poetry is welcome. Submissions are open through April 1, 2025. Get submission requirements.

Tennessee Mountain Writers’ Conference

The Tennessee Mountain Writers’ 36th Annual Conference, “Appalachian Ink,” is coming up April 3-5, 2025, at the Double Tree Hotel in Oak Ridge, TN. Early conference registration ends March 1, 2025. Get details at https://tmwi.org/2025-annual-conference-appalachian-ink/

From NFSPS

CONTESTS: The National Federation of State Poetry Societies’ Annual Poetry Contests are open to eligible members for entry through March 15, 2025. Learn more. Two of three BlackBerry Peach Spoken Word Contests & Events are also underway! The BlackBerry Peach Spoken & Written Contest is open for submissions through March 16, 2025. The BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam is open for registration (winner will represent the United States in international competition!).

CONVENTION: NFSPS announced their annual convention will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico from July 23-28, 2025. Naomi Shihab Nye will be their keynote speaker! Details on the BlackBerry Peach Youth Mini-Festival to be held July 25, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will also become available in the coming months.

Dancing Poetry Contest

Artists Embassy International offers the 32nd Annual Dancing Poetry Contest. Grand Prize winners will win $100 and have their poems read and danced at the festival. Other winners will have the opportunity to read their poems. Winning poems will be featured on YouTube. Submissions close April 15, 2025. Get details.

Oceanside Library “Near and Afar” Zoom Poetry

From Oceanside Library in Oceanside NY enjoy their “Near and Afar” nights of poetry featuring poets from near and far away, held first and third Mondays. Get details here. See prior event replays here. (If any members would like to participate, please contact us at poetrytennessee@gmail.com.)

New Writing Program from John Davis Jr.

Like the idea of getting insights and tips from a poet by mail? Award-winning Florida-based author John Davis Jr. is offering a new program, Metacreativity: The Process Behind the Poetry, where he offers insights on the creation of his poems and provides insider tips on the craft. Learn more about the program. Learn more about John.