MIDWEST POETRY MASH-UP
I founded Midwest Poetry Mash-Up in 2023 after learning of the (probably permanent) closure of CUPSI, the collegiate poetry slam national tournament. MPM is open to everyone (18+ for legal reasons), but if you’re a college student who wants to get a slam (re)started on your campus, send me an email and I can connect you to resources.
MPM is a regional team-based poetry slam tournament that takes place in Minneapolis, MN in the month of April. Team and individual sign ups (we will match you randomly with a team) usually open early November and close mid-December. We try to keep team fees as low as possible. For more info, follow @midwestpoetrymashup on Instagram or check back on Mash-Up’s website: https://midwestpoetrymashup.com/
WELL-PLACED COMMAS
Well-Placed Commas is now over 10 years old! WPC is a free weekly writing workshop that serves primarily queer and trans writers. You can get the Zoom link here: https://www.facebook.com/wellplacedcommas
DEAD DAD SONGS
Here’s a little EP I wrote that I recorded in my bedroom and released alongside my first book, Dead Dad Jokes. Take a listen on Bandcamp if you want to: https://ollieschminkey.bandcamp.com/album/dead-dad-songs
POETRY COMMUNITY IN THE TWIN CITIES
This one isn’t a project that I’ve spearheaded, but I think it’s high time that I acknowledged on my website that there are so many cool spaces to be engaged with poetry in the Twin Cities! Kyle Tran Myhre (aka “Guante”) has already done an excellent job of compiling these. You can find resources for writers, poetry prompts, and a spoken word event finder on his website: https://guante.info/resources/
IN CONVERSATION WITH KYLE TRAN MYHRE
Speaking of Kyle, I had the joy of being part of his “In Conversation” series. If you’re interested in what we might have to say about poetry, the “work,” the apocalypse, and more, check it out: https://guante.info/2022/05/10/ollieandkyle/