Back by popular demand, we’re retooling our roundup. This roundup will be updated periodically through the end of summer. In it you will find various opportunities brought to our attention by organizations, members, and friends or discovered organically. Grow your skills, find submission opportunities, and more!

Workshops

• Poetry Society of Tennessee’s virtual monthly workshops are open to members. An email with link is sent out in advance. Recent presenters include Jeffrey Heath, Maria Zoccola, and Julie Marie Wade. Check out some of our past presenters.
• The Bert C. Bach Written Word Initiative offers programs related to literature and creative writing at ETSU
• Shuly Cawood virtual generative and craft-focused writing workshops
• John Davis Jr. “Metacreativity: The Process Behind the Poetry” mail-based tips and insights

Submission Opportunities

JUNE DEADLINES

• Epiphany Magazine June 14
• samfiftyfour June 15
• Unbroken June 15
• Black Coffee Review June 15
• Harbor Review June 30

July Deadlines

• Poetry South July 14
• Arc Poetry July 14
• Molecule July 14
• Sweet Mammalian July 14
• Soul Poetry, Prose and Arts Magazine July 29
• The Hopper, July 30
• Birdcoat Quarterly July 30
• Oxford American July 30
• ANMLY July 31

AUGUST DEADLINES

• The McNeese Review August 14
• Account August 22
• Free the Verse August 24
• Buffalo Journal August 31
• Elsewhere August 31
• Black Warrior Review August 31
• whimperbang August 31

SEPTEMBER DEADLINES

• The Sunlight Press OPENS September 8
• Burning Word September 9
• The Twin Bill September 14
• Ranger September 14
• Pink Ochre September 14
• Passager September 14
• The Good Life Review September 19
• The Leafline Magazine September 19
• Rust and Moth September 19
• Creation September 20
• Middleground September 20
• Dog Throat Journal September 20
• whimperbang September 20
• Paperboats Zine September 24
• ** For UNDERGRAD STUDENTS ** Cypress Review September 27
• Granta September 29
• Kenyon Review September 29
• Red Rock Review September 29

rolling deadlines / ALWAYS OPEN

Hate deadlines? Here are a few randomly selected literary venues that are always (or almost always) open to submissions:

• Fifth House Press (monthly themed calls)
• Free the Verse
• Minimag
• Neologism Poetry Journal
• Orangepeel
• Seedlings beautifully designed lit mag
• Southern Poetry Review
• The Sun
• Trampset
• Wildness award-winning, UK based lit mag
• Stirring

Events & Opportunities

Take your poetry off the page at an open mic! You’ll find them across the state and in the virtual realm. Venues, dates and times are sometimes subject to change. Check with venue or organization in advance.

WEST

• Java Cabana hosts an open mic every Thursday from 7:00-10:00 pm, featuring poetry and music. Java Cabana is located at 2170 Young Ave, Memphis.
• The Hu Hotel Rooftop Monday open mic by Keeping it P is active. Follow them on instagram (@https://www.instagram.com/wekeepingitp/).
• Every last Friday of the month, 7:00 pm, is Thee Last Friday at the Rumba Room, 303 S. Main, Memphis. Poetry/Music/Live Art. There is a cover charge at the door, but anyone can sign up for the open mic. Also try the Thursday open mic at 627 Chelsea Ave, Memphis but I haven’t been to that one.
• Third Saturdays join The Poetry Club, 3:00 pm at Coffee Central, 5627 Getwell Rd. Southaven, MS 38672. Share up to 3 minutes of original poetry or short prose. Good listeners also welcome. Young children are also invited to read original works or a favorite poem. We do not censor any social, political, religious, or philosophical viewpoint. However, please no graphic content and profanity in consideration of Coffee Central’s public space: we should not and will not offend other customers or negatively affect business.

MIDDLE

Poetry in the Boro is a monthly open mic and featured reading series hosted in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, currently held at the Dapper Owl Coffee Pub & Bakery and at many other locations when collaborating with other organizations in the community. Often meet the second or third Sunday evening of each month but dates can vary, especially when partnering with other organizations and groups. Get details.

MIDEAST

Sawmill Poetry is a poetry reading and open mic held at the ​The Plenty Bookstore in Cookeville, Tennessee. Get details.

SOUTHEAST

• The Rhyme N Chatt interactive poetry group has numerous Readings, Open Mics, and Workshops in Chattanooga. Visit their website for full information: https://www.visitchattanooga.com/listing/rhyme-n-chatt-interactive-poetry-organization/8534/
• The Chattanooga Writers Guild has events, contests, and workshops for writers, including poets. https://chattanoogawritersguild.org/latest-news.
• Walnut Street Publishing – A Punk Press Collective publishes Poetry and Fiction by local authors, and has events for authors and artists. https://walnutstreetpublishing.com/
• The Walnut Street Pres Facebook page also includes information on the All Voices Heard open mic and other opportunities for writers. https://www.facebook.com/walnutstreetpublishing
• The Open Mic at Barnes and Noble in Chattanooga offers a monthly open mic. Contact the organizers for more information. OpenMicBNCHA@gmail.com
• The Plug Poetry Project has video interviews with Chattanooga Poets on a YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@theplugpoetryproject3485. Check the Facebook group for information on current projects. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2498198823552686/
• If you have other events you would like to have announced here or shared in the Southeast Region, please contact Ray Zimmerman znaturalist@gmail.com.

EAST

• Tuesday, Sept 8, 5:30-7 p.m.: Open Mic at Calamity’s Coffee Jackson Square, Oak Ridge.
• Thursday, Sept 10, 6 p.m. : Gerald Nicosia will be reading from his new book of poetry, followed by a discussion with R.B. Morris. 
• Thursday, Sept 10, 7 p.m. Knoxville Writers Guild program, Addison’s Bookstore in Knoxville. Linda Parsons hosts readings by authors from the Declaration: I Am Tennessee anthology, produced by Parsons, the Knoxville Writers Guild, and the East Tennessee Historical Society. 
• Friday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.: Curated Poetry Night at The Bird and the Book, Maryville TN. Come hear several PST members read!
• Saturday, Sept. 12, 2 p.m.:  PST’s September program features Jacqui Smith, who will discuss “The Sanctuary of a Page.” This workshop will explore the idea of the poem as sanctuary. We will talk about how refuge, ritual, and resistance may already be showing up in our writing, even when we do not realize it. We will also look at metaphor as a tool for expressing thoughts and feelings that can be difficult to explain directly. This session will include a brief discussion and an interactive writing component. 
• Sunday, Sept 20, 1:30 p.m.: The Hive Bookshop in Knoxville. Linda Parsons will read with other authors from the Declaration: I Am Tennessee anthology, produced by Parsons, the Knoxville Writers Guild, and the East Tennessee Historical Society. Wednesday, Sept  23:  PST Knox meets 4th Wednesday evenings, covering various topics. For details, contact Sharon at sharon.knoxville.tn@gmail.com
• Sunday, Sept 27,, 2-4 p.m on Zoom: The Sundress Academy for the Arts presents Poetry Xfit . This is a generative workshop event via Zoom.  Join at the link tiny.utk.edu/sundress with the password “safta”. While this event is free and open to the public, donations are appreciated.
• Monday, Sept 28 , 7 p.m.: POETRY PIE meets  via Zoom at 7 p.m. Poets of all levels welcome to read up to three poems. Contact Pat Hope at thetwohopes@aol.com for details and the monthly link.
• Tue, Sept 29, Reef Coffee, Farragut, Time TBD (but this will be a daytime event), Reading by John Mannone and Open Mic

NORTHEAST

• Second Fridays 5:30 pm, PoetTEA open mic is held at The Philosophers House, 117 W. Fairview Ave in Johnson City. Cosponsors are Poetry Writers Workshop and our society. Sign-ups begin 5:45 pm. 4-minute limit.
• Johnson City Poets Collective open mic at The Down Home 300 W. Main Street in Johnson City. Check their Facebook or Instagram for dates and times.
• The Generalist hosts a monthly variety show on a Saturday at 7:15 pm featuring poetry, music, and comedy. 248 E Main Street, Johnson City.

VIRTUAL

• Monday, August 31, 7 p.m.: POETRY PIE meets via Zoom at 7 p.m. Poets of all levels welcome to read up to three poems. Contact Pat Hope at thetwohopes@aol.com for details and the monthly link.
• HATE CONTESTS? The Monthly Poet is a public, non-competitive poetry challenge that runs monthly. Four words, all poems published. September words are Sweet, Crust, Flock, Blues.

Are we missing an open mic or other event in Tennessee? Let us know!

On Demand

• Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World: a beautiful, “don’t-miss this” documentary
• “The Emotional Truth of an Experience:” An Interview with Valencia Robin
• Briar Haus Writes writer interviews on YouTube
• Oceanside Library “Near and Afar” poetry reading replays
• Master Class
• The Plug Poetry Project (from Christian Collier). Collection of video/audio available on Sound Cloud & YouTube. There is also a public group on Facebook.

Find More Opportunities

So little time, so many ways to find homes for your work. Are we missing a good one? Let us know!

• Authors Publish
• Chill Subs
• Duotrope / Duosoma
• Submission Sundays
• Submittable
• Diane Lockward Poetry Newsletter
• Trish Hopkinson