The Enlivening Power of Poetry, Subway Reads, and More
A petition to reinstate nature words in the Oxford Junior Dictionary; a profile of W. S. Merwin; the rise of librarian-journalists; and other news.
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A petition to reinstate nature words in the Oxford Junior Dictionary; a profile of W. S. Merwin; the rise of librarian-journalists; and other news.
A neighborhood independent bookstore, Annie Bloom’s Books carries a broad range of new (not us_d) books across many genres. Along with a strong fiction section, they excel in children’s and young adult, travel, current events, and cooking. The bookstore hosts frequent book readings and signings, writer talks, local authors, and First Friday activities.

Poets, do you have a group of poems or a full-length collection ready to submit? Consider the following six contests, which are open for submissions until January 31. Each contest offers a prize of at least $1,000 and publication.
Red Hen Press Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award: A prize of $3,000, publication by Red Hen Press, and a four-week residency at the PLAYA writers retreat in Summer Lake, Oregon, is given annually for a poetry collection. Richard Blanco will judge. Entry fee: $25
Lascaux Review Lascaux Prize in Collected Poetry: A prize of $1,000 will be given annually for a poetry collection published during the previous two years. Entry fee: $25
Autumn House Press Rising Writer Contest: A prize of $1,000 and publication by Autumn House Press will be given annually for a debut poetry collection by a writer age 33 or younger. Richard Siken will judge. Entry fee: $25
Main Street Rag Poetry Book Award: A prize of $1,200, publication by Main Street Rag, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors and previous winners will judge. Entry: $25
Writers at Work Writing Competition: A prize of publication in Quarterly West is given annually for a group of poems. The winner can also choose to receive either $1,000 or tuition to attend the Writers at Work Conference in Alta, Utah, in June. Entry fee: $20
Winter Anthology Writing Contest: A prize of $1,000 and publication in Winter Anthology is given annually for a group of poems. Dan Beachy-Quick will judge. Entry fee: $11
Visit the contest websites for complete guidelines, and check out our Grants & Awards database and Submission Calendar for more upcoming contests in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.
A project of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, this bookshop focuses on books in French and English, with more than fourteen thousand contemporary and classic titles from thirty French-speaking countries. Throughout the year, Albertine hosts many author readings and events, including debates and discussions exploring popular and classical culture through a modern and global lens.

Since 1939, the 92Y Unterberg Poetry Center has given audiences a chance to hear writers in every literary genre offering frequent talks and events throughout the year.

826CHI is the Chicago branch of a national nonprofit that offers free creative and expository writing workshops and tutoring for students. The Chicago writing and tutoring center often hosts literary events, fundraisers, and community activities.

Remembering Ursula K. Le Guin; Coach House Books poetry editor fired after sexual harassment allegations; an ode to unfinished books; and other news.
826 Boston is the Boston branch of a national nonprofit that offers free creative and expository writing workshops and tutoring for students. The center often hosts literary events, fundraisers, and community activities. Visitors may enter through the Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute, 826 Boston’s store in which every purchase supports the organization’s free youth writing and tutoring programs.

Chilean poet Nicanor Parra has died; Publishers Weekly’s most anticipated books of the spring; Sylvia Plath possessions to be sold; and other news.
“One ear to the singing black boulder…” In this video, Simone White, recipient of a 2017 Whiting Award for poetry, reads her poem “Some Creek” from her collection Of Being Dispersed (Futurepoem Books, 2016).