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

SEPTEMBER DEADLINES

• Paperboats Zine September 24
• ** For UNDERGRAD STUDENTS ** Cypress Review September 27
• Granta September 29
• Kenyon Review September 29
• Red Rock Review September 29

october DEADLINES

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

november Deadlines

• Okay Donkey November 15
• Pangyrus November 15

december DEADLINES

TBA

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

HATE CONTESTS and REJECTION? 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.

Open Mics & Other Events

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

• Third Thursdays at The Maker’s Space, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM in Knoxville, TN. Former Knoxville Poet Laureate Rhea Carmon hosts. Check with venue beforehand.
• ** VIRTUAL ** 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.
• ** VIRTUAL ** 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
• October 11, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm: Book Fair at the King Family Library in Sevierville on . Details and a form you will need to complete in order to participate are in the link below. 
  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqS5pZ65qNUtg1PYUD66xzGhjy6sSg7xmkv3YNxU9IE4QXWA/viewform?pli=1
  

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.

Are we missing an open mic 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