Council for Wisconsin Writers

Supporting Wisconsin writers from 1964 to 2022

poetry reading

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Come to the Cabaret for the Constitution, Social Justice and Poetry

Two members of the Council for Wisconsin Writers board of directors are among poets featured in a Constitutional Cabaret that will spotlight the U.S. Constitution and social justice issues through spoken word, music, and satire!

Monday, September 9, 7 p.m.

The Draw, 800 S. Lawe Street, Appleton

Poetry Unlocked & poet Nathan J. Reid, who is a CWW board member, have partnered up to present this unique experience motivated by the uncertainties facing our world today. Issues like gun violence, racism, women’s rights, class system, and more will be presented by these talented poets. Fellow CWW board member Sylvia Cavanaugh will join Nate at the Cabaret, along with:

• Dan Denton
• Bobbie Lee Lovell
• Alex Ullberg
• Ed Werstein
• Laura Winkelspecht

A live band featuring Joanna Kosowsky Dane, Loren Dempster, and Tad Neuhaus, will use their skills to create spontaneous, improvised music throughout the show. Travis Whitty will provide videography as well as his own musical talents.

Nate will emcee the evening, punctuating the night with spoken word, sketches, and songs.

An OPEN MIC is scheduled for the middle of the show, as part of intermission. [Note: due to the special nature of this event, OPEN MIC time will be limited to two minutes per person and should be thematically related to the Cabaret].

As always, a cash bar will be available.

Come get your freedom of speech on with these talented people and other members of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets!

DISCLAIMER: This event will be filmed! By attending, anyone at the event will be agreeing to be on camera as an audience member. 

More news from WFOP:

ON DECK:

Oct 14 – Former Poets Laureate Bruce Dethlefsen and Karla Huston

Nov 11 – Stay Tuned!

Dec 9 – WFOP Poets’ Calendar Reading

For more information about the poetry reading series in Appleton, contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net.

OTHER READINGS & EVENTS IN THE AREA

 MARILYN TAYLOR

Wednesday, September 11, 7 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County

10341 Water Street (Hwy 42), Ephraim

 Open mic follows featured readers. For more information email contact @uufdc.org.

SHEBOYGAN POETS

Tuesday, September 24, 6:30 p.m.

Evergreen Manor, Fireside Room

1125 N. Westfield Drive, Oshkosh

 An open mic will follow where participants may read a poem of their own or one that they love.

For further information you may contact Mandi Isaacson at mandiisaacson@gmail.com or Frankie Mengeling at mengeling.frankie23@gmail.com.

DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS

Bramble is open for submissions to Wisconsin writers for the Fall Issue, starting August 1 – September 15. Guest editors Kim Parsons and Sheryl Slocum invite you to explore black holes and lacunae — for guidelines, click here: https://www.wfop.org/bramble-how-to-submit.

WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES

Mark your calendar for the WI Fellowship of Poets’ Fall Conference on October 25 – 26! The theme is “The Magic of Poetry” with featured guests Cynthia Marie Hoffman and a real live magician (we’re told). Other fab conference features include the book fair (sell em or buy em), roll call (introduce yourself to the fellowship via a short poem), Triad contest winners and on Friday night, the open mic or fellowship in the bar! It’s a great opportunity to learn and grow and gain some new poet friends! Non-members welcome! More information and registration will be open soon on the WFOP website, here: https://www.wfop.org/conferences 

Submitted by Cathryn Cofell-Mutschler, WFOP

 

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Bent Paddle Press reading

Posted on behalf of Steve Tomasko:

Friday, February 8th at 7:30 p.m. Bent Paddle Press invites all to come join four authors for a poetry reading and open mic at the Village Booksmith on the square in Baraboo (146 4th Ave.). The four poets are: Ronnie Hess (Canoeing a River with No Name); Richard Merelman (Sensorium); Ron Czerwien (a little rain, a little more); and Jeanie Tomasko (The Collect of the Day and Dove Tail).

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Poetry News from WFOP

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ Cathryn Cofell-Mutschler sends the following news:

We have a change in venue for the Poetry Unlocked Reading scheduled for Monday, August 20. Please join us at Acoca Coffee at 500 W. College Avenue in Appleton: http://www.acocacoffee.com!  
All else remains the same — two featured readers, open mike, wrap-up with poems by our special guests. We will return to The Draw on September 17 for Ed Werstein and Sylvia Cavanaugh.

Monday, August 20

LOUIS V. CLARK III AND LISA VIHOS

7 – 8:30 pm

Free and open to the public!

Open

mike follows our featured readers.

Louis V. Clark III was born and raised on the Oneida reservation in Wisconsin. He started writing poetry to exorcise the demons that accompany racism added to alcoholism that haunted his youth. The University of Arkansas offered to publish his first chapbook, “Two Shoes” in 2010. The Wisconsin Historical Society Press took a chance on a unique concept and published his second book, “How to be an Indian in the 21st Century” in 2017, a memoir in poetry and prose. This book has won the Midwest Independent Booksellers Peoples Choice Award for 2017. Both books have won awards from the Oneida Arts Board for excellence in Literature. Clark has been honored to be on National Public Radio as well as Wisconsin Public Radio. A sequel to “How to be an Indian” is due out sometime in 2019.

 

The poems of Lisa Vihos have appeared in numerous journals, both print and online. Twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize, her fourth chapbook, Fan Mail from Some Flounder, just appeared in 2018 from Main Street Rag Publishing. She is the poetry and arts editor of Stoneboat Literary Journal and the Sheboygan organizer for 100 Thousand Poets for Change.

ON DECK:

Sept 17                   Sylvia Cavanaugh and Ed Werstein

Oct 8                        Fox Cities Book Festival featured poets Kavon Cortez Jones and Beth Spencer

Nov 19                    Kathryn Gahl and Elizabeth Keggi

For more information about the poetry reading series in Appleton, contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net.

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TROY SCHOULTZ

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Evergreen Manor

1125 N. Westfield Drive, Oshkosh

6:30 pm

An open mic will follow where participants may read a poem of their own or one that they love.

Troy is a lifelong Wisconsin resident.  Past employment has included factory worker, security officer, laser engraver and non-profit executive.  He received his bachelor degree in English/Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh in 1997.  He eventually earned his Masters of Science in Teaching-English at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point in 2009.  He is currently an underemployed lecturer at the University of Wisconsin – Fox Valley. His poems, stories, and reviews have appeared in Seattle Review, Rattle, Slipstream, Chiron Review, Word Riot, Fish Drum, The Great American Poetry Show, Steel Toe Review, Midwestern Gothic and many others since 1997.  He is the author of two chapbooks and one full-length collection: A Field of Bonfires Sings (Wolf Angel Press, 1999), Good Friday (Tamafyr Mountain Poetry 2005) and Biographies of Runaway Dogs (Vegetarian Alcoholic Press). He was nominated in 2012 for a Pushcart Prize by Slipstream literary magazine for my poem “The Biographies of Dogs Who Dared to Run Away.”  He is currently the editor of Fox Cry Review. His interests and influences include rock and roll, vinyl LPs, found objects, the paranormal, abandoned places, folklore, old cemeteries and the number five.

 Please note that we have relocated to Evergreen Manor, 1130 N. Westfield.  We will have a larger and quieter space.  We will be in the Fireside Room, which is near the front entrance.

For further information you may contact Mandi Isaacson  mandiisaacson@gmail.com or Frankie Mengeling mengeling.frankie23@gmail.com.

OTHER READINGS & EVENTS IN THE AREA

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The Mill Fall Class schedule is out. Classes in poetry with Tom Montag and Karla Huston, nonfiction with Jill Swenson and Prosody with Steve Polansky!  Click here for more information: https://millwriters.org/#services

 

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THE WFOP FALL CONFERENCE

November 2-3

Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center

1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point

CONFERENCE THEME:
Poetry of Transition, Transformation & Revision
Featured Poet: TC Tolbert

TC Tolbert often identifies as a trans and genderqueer feminist, collaborator, dancer, and poet but really s/he’s just a human in love with humans doing human things.

TC earned his MFA in Poetry from the University of Arizona in 2005 and is currently Core Faculty in the Low Residency MFA Program at Oregon State University – Cascades. S/he is a nationally certified EMT and in the summer, s/he leads wilderness trips for Outward Bound. TC was selected as Tucson’s Poet Laureate in 2017. TC’s first full-length collection, Gephyromania, was published by Ahsahta Press in 2014. Gephyromania was selected as one of the top poetry books of 2014 by Entropy and was listed by Eileen Myles as one of her favorites for 2014 in The Gay and Lesbian Review.

Open to both members AND non-members! To register or for more information: http://www.wfop.org/conferences/

 

DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS

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MADISON—The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, in partnership with the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission, is pleased to announce the call for applications and nominations for the Wisconsin Poet Laureate for 2019–2020. Beginning August 20, 2018, the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission will accept applications from individual poets who are seeking the position as well as applications from others who are nominating a poet for Poet Laureate. For either, a complete application package must be sent to the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission (wipoetlaureate@gmail.com) as one e-mail attachment no later than October 5, 2018. The Wisconsin Poet Laureate’s term of service is two years. The next term begins on January 1, 2019 and ends on December 31, 2020. Complete application materials and information can be found on the Wisconsin Poet Laureate website application page.

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Wallop is a brand new, independently produced zine out of Appleton, WI. Each issue will have a different theme, represented from a variety of perspectives. Wallop will appear in print and is now seeking submissions for the first issue.

Here is the link to the website: https://www.wallopzine.com/

The editors are looking for poems, personal accounts, short stories, comics, and work that blurs the lines between genres or doesn’t easily fit into one of these categories. You could send a description of your favorite outfit in third grade, or a list of your favorite places to hang out in high school, or a poem made from old journal entries. The priority for the first issue is that the submission be representative of some aspect of growing up in Northeastern Wisconsin. They can refer to that experience either directly or indirectly. We are also looking for artwork: drawings, black and white photos, doodles. They will all be reproduced in black and white, so high contrast is best.

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The 2018 Mill Prize for Poetry: Submissions are open through August 31, 2018: Entrants must be 18 or older, reside, work, or attend school in the Fox Cities (within a 25 mile radius of Appleton) or participants in Mill Classes, past or present.

For more details, visit https://millwriters.org/the-2018-mill-prize-for-poetry-submission-guidelines/

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Bramble Fall 2018 is open for submissions through September 10, 2018.

Guest Editor: Ronnie Hess

Prompt: Versatility

Guidelines here:
http://www.wfop.org/bramble-how-to-submit

P. S.  If you wish to be removed from this list, let me know. You are receiving this email because you are a member of the Central Fox-Valley Region of the WFOP, or you or someone you know has asked me to include you.  I will always blind cc you, so your email address is not shared with others.  

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May WFOP News

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ Cathryn Cofell-Mutschler sends the following news:
JUDY KOLOSSO AND ANDREW MCSORLEY

Monday, May 21

The Draw, 800 S. Lawe Street, Appleton

7 – 8:30 pm

Open mike follows our featured readers.

  Judy Kolosso divides her time between a home in southeastern Wisconsin and the the 80-acre farm west of Neenah on which she grew up.  She obsesses over saving wild lands and Wisconsin’s barns. She writes both free verse and formal poetry.  Her poems have appeared in Wisconsin Academy Review and People and Ideas, Midwest Prairie Review, Wisconsin Poets’ Calendars, Fox Cry Review and have been anthologized.  She received the Wisconsin Writers Assoc. Jade Ring for both poetry and essay.  She has published a book of poetry titled In The First Place, a chapbook, Aubade, and a recent chapbook titled COWS–Living the Paradox.

Andrew McSorley is a graduate of the MFA program in creative writing at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. His poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has appeared or is forthcoming in journals such as The Minnesota Review, Gingerbread House Literary Magazine, SOFTBLOW, and Blue Earth Review. He lives in Appleton, where he works at the Seeley G. Mudd Library at Lawrence University.

 NOTE: There is a NEW parking lot across the street from The Draw.

ON DECK:

Jun 11                     Andrea Potos and Katrin Talbot

Jun 18                     C. Kubasta and Austin Segrest

Jul 16                       Sharon Auberle and Jeanie Tomasko

Aug 20                     Louis Clark and Lisa Vihos

For more information about the poetry reading series in Appleton, contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net

This event is brought to you, in part, by the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP), an organization founded for the creation, promotion and enjoyment of poetry throughout the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit www.wfop.org.

OTHER READINGS & EVENTS IN THE AREA

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  8TH ANNUAL “LANGUAGE OF NATURE” POETRY READING AND DISCUSSION

Saturday, May 19

Maywood Environmental Park

3615 Mueller Road

Sheboygan, WI

10 a.m. to 12 noon

Led by Maryann Hurtt, Georgia Ressmeyer, and Marilyn Zelke-Windau, who will read from their poetry and encourage you to bring 1-2 nature poems of your own, or favorites by others, to read and discuss. Pre-registration preferred (call Maywood at 920-459-3906 for registration and directions). Join us for free coffee, tea, snacks, beautiful views, and low-key, amiable conversation! A tour of the park will be available afterward, weather permitting.

Free Program.  $1 donation for printed materials appreciated.

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CHRISTINE HARTJES WITH STUDENTS FROM OSHKOSH NORTH HIGH SCHOOL

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Caramel Crisp and Café

200 City Center # D, Oshkosh

6:15 pm

 We are pleased to have five Oshkosh North High students as our poets on May 22.  Their instructor, Christine Hartjes, calls them “very capable poets.”  They are Tess Fitzhenry, Mai Chia Xiong, Sarah Olk, Leila Kamel, and Akiwele Buriyadi. It has been a goal of our group to include young poets as readers.  Please join us to hear them.

An open mic will follow where participants may read a poem of their own or one that they love.

For further information you may contact Mandi Isaacson at mandiisaacson@gmail.com or Frankie Mengeling at mengeling.frankie23@gmail.com.

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THE ELECTRIC EXPERIENCE

June 9

1:00 – 9:00 pm

CALL FOR ARTISTS AND VOLUNTEERS!!

NEWAA (North East Wisconsin Arts association) has been given 60 booths for an enhanced art experience at The Electric Experience on June 9th from 1-9 pm. Last year there were 10,000 people on one day!

Renee Beese is in charge of executing a visual arts/ performance/ spoken word….something to

· promote individual artists for hire

· educate the public about unique forms of entertainment

· entertain on this day

We are limited by the lack of electricity, however, not our imaginations….We have decided to perform, circus style with A Spectacular Word Circus Experience. This will be a fast paced show at the top of the hour, lasting 15-20 minutes every hour. We will get the audience involved and be in great costume and boisterous behaviors . . . family friendly for sure!

We are in need of performers, spoken word, dramatic poet/ storyteller persons.

Everyone who performs for half the day, which is four shows, will not only be promoted in our base tent but will also receive a pro membership with NEWAA, a $100 value!

We also need some type of circus tent for a 20 by 30/40 space. This is all coordinated by volunteers and motivated by self-promotion.

If interested, please contact Renee at reneebeese@gmail.com!

WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES

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Let your writing talent bloom with a Mill class.

Classes in every size – from one to eight weeks. This is the season to explore, grow, and write with the Mill. Explore the Mill website for classes and more – Click Here

·       Poetry Nuts & Bolts with Wisconsin Poet Laureate Karla Huston (2 weeks)

·       Idea Generation: Write a Short Story in 3 Hours with Nikki Kallio (1 week)

·       Writing a Query Letter with Jill Swanson (1 week)

DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS

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Marian University is starting a micropress, The Muriel Press, and will be publishing a book of contemporary poetry next year, providing an opportunity for students to learn editing, book design, and marketing, while working with the author. They’ll be reading submissions from upper-Midwestern authors with a social justice focus. More info at: https://www.marianuniversity.edu/the-muriel-press/

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This fall Bards Against Hunger (www.bardsagainsthunger.com) will publish a book of poems exclusively from Wisconsin poets. The book will be used to raise funds for food pantries in Wisconsin. Poems should address the theme of hunger and issues related to hunger (poverty, income inequality, homelessness, nutrition, etc.). Submit one or two poems as an attachment in Word or Word compatible format. Use Times New Roman or similar 12 point font. 30 line limit per poem. Do not use ALL CAPS in your titles. Poems not adhering to these guidelines will not be considered. Previously published poems will be considered. In your email please include your address and a short bio (strict 50 word limit). Also indicate if you would be willing to organize a poetry/fundraising event for a food pantry in your area. This will not affect the likelihood of your poem being accepted. Poems will be judged on their own merit. Send one or two poems to:
wisconsinhungerchapbook2018@gmail.com Deadline is May 15th.

Millwork  is now accepting poetry and short fiction submissions!! Millwork is a new online literary magazine, centered in Wisconsin, seeking submissions of poetry and short fiction for 2017/2018. Millwork publishes original poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prose in English. There is no reading fee. Please, send us only your unpublished work. We do not accept previously published pieces. New, emerging, and established poets are encouraged to submit. For further submission details or to check out Millwork’s inaugural issue, please visit http://millwriters.org/millwork/

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Fox Valley’s The Scene features a poetry column by Troy Schoultz, covering poetry readings, events, happenings, etc., and will feature a poem or two from local and statewide poets. Per Troy, submission process is ridiculously informal: email poems with your name and city of residence to troy.schoultz@gmail.com com.

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Poetry Recitation Event Rescheduled and More

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets sends the following news:

POETRY RECITATION EVENT – RESCHEDULED

Monday, March 12, 2018

The Draw, 800 S. Lawe Street, Appleton

7 – 8:30 pm

​Join us to hear fabulous poems recited by heart! You’ll hear classics from e. e. cummings, Ann Sexton and Richard Wilbur and new favorites by Dorianne Laux, Frank O’Hara, Connie Wanek and more.

Currently scheduled to recite: 

Alex Hummel, Austin Segrest, Barb Germiat, Barbara Hines, Bobbie Lovell, Cathryn Cofell, Elizabeth Keggi, Emily Bowles, Jessica Haessly, Linda Kroll, Lynn Kuhns, Mary Murray, Nathan Reid, Sarah Gilbert and Nancy Rafal!

Not on the list but want to recite? Email ccofell@gmail.com and include the name of the poem you plan to share.

 

After our scheduled readers, we’ll also open the floor for our traditional open mike and any additional spontaneous recitations. The evening will include book giveaways and cash bar with beer, wine and root beer, plus light snacks on us.

MICHAEL KOEHLER AND RICHARD MERELMAN

Monday, March 19, 2018

The Draw, 800 S. Lawe Street, Appleton

7 – 8:30 pm

Michael Koehler is a mainstay of the Fox Valley poetry scene, author of 4 collections of poetry and working on a new collection.

Richard Merelman, a native of Washington, D. C., is Professor (Emeritus) of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he published widely on culture and politics in Western democracies.  The Imaginary Baritone (Fireweed Press), his first book of poems, appeared in 2012. In 2016, Finishing Line Press published his chapbook The Unnamed Continent. In 2017, Bent Paddle Press published his Sensorium, another chapbook. Poems of his have appeared in Main Street Rag, Measure, Stoneboat, Common Ground Review, Inscape, Lake Effect, and Third Wednesday, among others. He and his wife live in Madison, WI.

An open mike will follow.

 NOTE: There is a NEW parking lot across the street from The Draw.

ON DECK:

April 16                  Andrea Potos and Katrin Talbot

May 21                   Judy Kolosso and Andrew McSorley

June 18                  C. Kubasta and Austin Segrest

For more information about the poetry reading series in Appleton, contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net. 

This event is brought to you, in part, by the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP), an organization founded for the creation, promotion and enjoyment of poetry throughout the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit www.wfop.org.

OTHER READINGS & EVENTS IN THE AREA

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CHRISTINA KUBASTA

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Caramel Crisp and Café

200 City Center # D, Oshkosh

6:15 pm

Christina Kubasta writes poetry, prose & hybrid forms. Her favorite rejection (so far) noted that one editor loved her work, and the other hated it.  She is the author of two poetry chapbooks: A Lovely Box, which won the 2014 Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Chapbook Prize, and &s; and the full-length collections, All Beautiful & Useless (BlazeVOX) and Of Covenants (Whitepoint Press), and the novella Girling (Brain Mill Press).  She currently teaches English and Gender Studies at Marian University, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she is active with the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, and works with Brain Mill Press. Find her at ckubasta.com. Follow her @CKubastathePoet.

An open mic will follow where participants may read a poem of their own or one that they love.

For further information you may contact Mandi Isaacson at mandiisaacson@gmail.com or Frankie Mengeling at mengeling.frankie23@gmail.com.

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MAGGIE SMITH

Wednesday, February 28

Ripon College, Lane Library, Ripon

7:30 pm

Maggie Smith is the author of three books of poetry: Good Bones (Fall 2017); The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, winner of the Dorset Prize and the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry; and Lamp of the Body, winner of the Benjamin Saltman Award. She is also the author of three prize-winning chapbooks.

 

Smith’s poems have appeared in the many other journals and anthologies. Her poem “Good Bones” went viral internationally and was called the “Official Poem of 2016” by the BBC/Public Radio International. In April 2017, “Good Bones” was featured on the CBS primetime drama Madam Secretary, and to date the poem has been translated into nearly a dozen languages. Smith is the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, and the Sustainable Arts Foundation, among others.

 

Books will be available for cash purchase and signing.

The public is welcome, and admission is free. For more information contact Megan Gannon atgannonm@ripon.edu.

 

The visit is sponsored by Ripon College’s Visiting Writers Series and the Schang Family Visiting Writer Fund.

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WILDA MORRIS

Wednesday, March 14

UUF, 10341 Highway 42, Ephraim

7 pm, open mic to follow

On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a reading by a local or regional poet followed by an open mic and reception. The public is welcome, and admission is free. For more information visit www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.

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MARK FALCONE

Thursday, March 22

The Reader’s Loft

2069 Central Court, Green Bay

5:30-7 pm

 

Open mike follows.

On deck: April 19 – Dustin Luke Nelson & Ashleigh Lambert

More info here: http://www.houseofthetomato.com/poetry-events/

 

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WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES

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WFOP SPRING CONFERENCE IN OSHKOSH AND NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION

April 27 & 28

Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center

Theme is “Poetry Conversation & Collaboration” with featured poets Tiana
Clark and Heather Derr-Smith.

More details here:
http://www.wfop.org/conferences/

 

 

 

DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS

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BRAMBLE NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS – Deadline March 10
Theme is “collaborate” with guest editor Jeanie Tomasko.

More details here:
http://www.wfop.org/bramble-how-to-submit

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Millwork  is now accepting poetry and short fiction submissions!! Millwork is a new online literary magazine, centered in Wisconsin, seeking submissions of poetry and short fiction for 2017/2018. Millwork publishes original poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prose in English. There is no reading fee. Please, send us only your unpublished work. We do not accept previously published pieces. New, emerging, and established poets are encouraged to submit. For further submission details or to check out Millwork’s inaugural issue, please visit http://millwriters.org/millwork/

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Fox Valley’s The Scene features a poetry column by Troy Schoultz, covering poetry readings, events, happenings, etc., and will feature a poem or two from local and statewide poets. Per Troy, submission process is ridiculously informal: email poems with your name and city of residence to troy.schoultz@gmail.com com.

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WFOP News & CWW Contests Deadline

Don’t forget, the Council for Wisconsin Writers’ contests deadline is Jan. 31, 2018 — just two weeks away!

Two contests for poetry–The Lorine Niedecker Award for individual poems and the Meudt Book-Length Poetry Award, one for a book-length poetry. Winners receive $500 and writing residencies. Details at  http://wiswriters.org/contest-entry-forms/

The following courtesy of Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ Cathryn Cofell:

NO POETRY READING AT THE DRAW FOR JANUARY! Join us next for:

THE 2ND ANNUAL POETRY RECITATION EVENT

Monday, February 19, 2018

The Draw, 800 S. Lawe Street, Appleton

7 – 8:30 pm

Open mike follows featured readers.  FREE and Open to the Public!

Calling all readers, any readers, to recite a favorite poem (not your own) by heart.

 

Interested? Please reply to Cathryn Cofell at ccofell@gmail.com so we can add you to our list of featured readers.

Our traditional open mike will follow. The evening will include book giveaways and cash bar with beer, wine and root beer, plus light snacks on us.

 NOTE: There is a NEW parking lot across the street from The Draw.

ON DECK:

March 19              Michael Koehler and Richard Merelman

April 16                  Andrea Potos and Katrin Talbot

May 21                                     Judy Kolosso and Andrew McSorley

For more information about the poetry reading series in Appleton, contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net

This event is brought to you, in part, by the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP), an organization founded for the creation, promotion and enjoyment of poetry throughout the state of Wisconsin. To learn more, visit www.wfop.org.

OTHER READINGS & EVENTS IN THE AREA

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FAVORITE POEMS

Tuesday, January 16

6 – 8:30 pm

THELMA Center for the Arts

51 Sheboygan Street

Fond du Lac, WI

Enjoy a night of great poetry featuring some of Fond du Lac’s community members, including Rick Moulton, Patty Lehn, Paul Krikau and Al Schumacher.

Bar opens at 6 pm
Readings begin at 6:30 pm
Open mic to follow after reading in Cafe 1906

On Deck: February 22 – Bonnie Jo Campbell with C. Kubasta

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BE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF
Annette Grunseth & Bobbie Lovell
Thursday, January 25

The Reader’s Loft

2069 Central Court, Green Bay

5:30-7 pm

 

Open mike follows.

On deck: February 22 – Emilie Lindeman & Laurie MacDiarmid.  More info here: http://www.houseofthetomato.com/poetry-events/

 

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MANDI ISAACSON, FRANKIE MENGELING & KAY SANDERS

Tuesday, January 23

Caramel Crisp and Café

200 City Center # D, Oshkosh

6:15 pm

An open mic will follow where participants may read a poem of their own or one that they love.

Mandi Butterfield Isaacson was writing a mystery when, late in life, she fell in love with poetry and has been writing poems ever since. She is a member of two Oshkosh writing groups and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Mandi assists in running the monthly poetry readings at the Caramel Crisp Café.  She has been published in many issues of the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar and has placed twice in the Reedsburg Fermentation Fest poetry contests.

A native Southerner, Kay N. Sanders married a Connecticut Yankee and the two of them settled a “civil war” by moving to Wisconsin and making Oshkosh their home. She has worked in a variety of positions, including substitute teaching which hones a person (in case raising five children didn’t) to do almost anything else she has a mind to. Her work has appeared in Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar, Wisconsin People & Ideas, Fox Cry, and a number of other venues. Her chapbook, That Red Dirt Road, was published by Parallel Press (2010). Kay will be reading from her labyrinth poems.

Frankie Mengeling grew up in Sheboygan and spent many a day on the beaches of Lake Michigan. She lives on Oshkosh’s only hill, with her husband Marvin, son Tom and cat Katrina.   She is the author of the blogwww.ridingthebeertrail.wordpress.com began in the summer of 2009 after the three couple beer trail began.  She’s been writing poetry since 6th grade when her school ran a contest on why the new blackboard was green.

For further information you may contact Kay Sanders at rksanders42@gmail.com or Frankie Mengeling mengeling.frankie23@gmail.com.

 

DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS

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COUNCIL FOR WISCONSIN WRITERS (CWW) OPENS 2017 WISCONSIN WRITERS CONTESTS 

Awards must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2018.

Work published by Wisconsin writers in 2017 is eligible in seven categories, including book-length fiction, nonfiction and poetry; short fiction and nonfiction; a set of five poems two of which must have been published in the contest year, and children’s literature.

First-place winners receive $500 and a one-week writer’s residency at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI. Honorable mention recipients receive $50 and a one-week writer’s residency at the Painted Forest Study Center in Valton, WI. Entries for this year’s Wisconsin Writers Authors who enter must be current Wisconsin residents.

The entry fee is $25. Membership in CWW is not required, but members are entitled to one free entry. Out-of-state judges will make the selections. Awards will be presented at a banquet in May 2018.

Specific guidelines, entry forms, and important additional information for each award category are available in the 2017 Entry Forms section of the  CWW website, wiswriters.org: http://wiswriters.org/2017-cww-contests-opens-nov-1-entries/

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WFOP CHAPBOOK CONTEST – Deadline February 1
More details here: http://www.wfop.org/chapbook-contest

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WFOP MUSE CONTEST – Deadline February 1
More details here: http://www.wfop.org/muse-contest

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Millwork  is now accepting poetry and short fiction submissions!!

Millwork is a new online literary magazine, centered in Wisconsin, seeking submissions of poetry and short fiction for 2017/2018. Millwork publishes original poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction prose in English. There is no reading fee. Please, send us only your unpublished work. We do not accept previously published pieces.
New, emerging, and established poets are encouraged to submit. For further submission details or to check out Millwork‘s inaugural issue, please visit http://millwriters.org/millwork/

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Fox Valley’s The Scene features a poetry column by Troy Schoultz, covering poetry readings, events, happenings, etc., and will feature a poem or two from local and statewide poets. Per Troy, submission process is ridiculously informal: email poems with your name and city of residence totroy.schoultz@gmail.com com.