Event :: 2022 August Poetry Postcard Festival
Early Bird Registration for the 2022 August Poetry Postcard Festival ends June 4, and registration for the event ends completely on July 4, so do not delay!
Celebrating 15 years, this event invites writers to sign up to be placed in a group. Once each group reaches 32 registrants, each receives a list of names and addresses. The goal is to write a poem a day on a postcard to the next person on the list after your own name and mail it to them. In return, you will receive a poem from each participant in your group. Writers are encouraged to start in advance of August 1 to allow time for the postcards to arrive, but it’s common to have some days go by with no card arriving and others with several cards waiting in the mailbox.
The idea is not to dredge up old works or draft and polish writing, but to just write from the moment, one and done – no revision – and send the writing on its merry way. The postcards don’t need to be anything special – some are standard tourist photos, others are upcycled cereal boxes, and still others might be original works of art. The writing can be related to the card or not at all. Some participants choose their own theme for the month and write each card to reflect that. It’s totally up to you! The only hard and fast rule is to write and get it sent. That’s it. The PPF2022 website has lots more info and helpful advice.
I’ve been a participant in this event since it began, and I look forward to it every year. I can honestly say I have NEVER been able to write a poem a day. Sometimes, I miss a day or two and need to catch up. Sometimes, I know I won’t have time, and so I write one or two ahead. Shhhhh! Don’t tell! But I think this is true for many participants, especially considering how many cards I still receive into September. And some people continue to send postcards year-round, so I will even occasionally get a treasure in the mail in December or February. It is truly one of the most enjoyable events, a great motivator for writing, and a grounding way to feel connected to others. It is well worth the entry fee – which is a ridiculous fraction of what some conferences cost, and yet provides immensely greater satisfaction.
What are you waiting for? Go sign up! I’d love to get a poem from you!
