Writer's Resources
Poetry & Prose Open Mics
VICTORIA BC
PLANET EARTH POETRY
Premier Poetry Series since 1995
Every Friday from 7:30-9pm at Russell Books on Fort St
Doors @ 7pm Sign up for the Open Mic from 7-7:20pm
MORE INFO HERE
TONGUES OF FIRE:
Premier Spoken Word Series since 2005
Select Thursdays at Cafe Fantastico in Quadra Village
Doors: 6pm: Open Mic sign-up: 6:30pm Show at 7pm
MORE INFO HERE
WILD PROSE READING SERIES
Premier Prose Reading Series!
Monthly at Paul Phillips Hall, Fernwood Rd
Doors: 6:30pm Open mic sign-up: 7pm Event: 7:30pm
MORE INFO HERE
If there are any other open mics in Victoria, please let me know and I'll add them (for writing, not music)
Canadian Literary Periodicals
The button below takes you to a list of the literary periodicals in Canada, as recognized by the Canadian Magazine Awards (check out the rest of their News & Resources section too).
When you're looking for a journal to send your work, it's a good idea to begin by purchasing the latest issue, and reading the work they publish, or at least exploring their website, so you can get a sense of whether or not your work is a good fit for their publication.
Be sure to read and adhere to their submission guidelines.
EXPLORE THE LIST HERE
Poetry Chapbook Publishers CANADA
Published by Matthew Stepanic (& Agatha)
Published by Amanda Earl
Anstruther Press
Published by Jim Johnstone
At Bay Press
For the Heart Series
Baseline Press:
Published by Karen Schindler
Published by Clare Thiessen
Book*hug Press
Jay Millar & Hazel Millar
Deer Mountain Pages
Published by Tim Lilburn
Published by Ian Le Tourneau
Published by Kate Siklosi & Dani Spinosa
Published by JackPine Collective
Pinhole Poetry
Published by Erin Bedford
Published by Diana Hayes
Published by D.S.Stymeist
Published by David Zieroth
Published by Nicole Moen
If I'm missing any chapbook publishers currently accepting submissions, please do let me know.
The Canadian Writer's
Contest Calendar
Get all the contest info for the year shipped to your door in a single book.
Saves all the Google searches when you're wanting to find places to submit.
Visual Thesaurus
(the writer's mind map)
Follow the link, type in a word,
watch the map stellate.
You'll want this.
MORE INFO
Core poetry archives and teaching resources
Poetry Foundation — Poems, poet biographies, essays, articles, form guides, and the Poetry magazine archive. (https://www.poetryfoundation.org)
Academy of American Poets / Poets.org — Poems, poet bios, glossary of terms and forms, lesson plans, and teacher resources. (https://poets.org)
Poetry Archive — Recordings of poets reading their own work; especially valuable for listening, cadence, and voice. (https://poetryarchive.org)
Canadian resources
Poetry in Voice — Anthology, lesson plans, classroom materials, recitation resources, and writing resources. (https://poetryinvoice.ca)
League of Canadian Poets — Educator resources, publishing resources, contests, writers’ organizations, Poetry Pause, and hosting resources, including practical guidance for organizing readings. (https://poets.ca)
National Magazine Awards — Guide to Canadian Literary Magazines — Directory of Canadian literary magazines and submission information. (https://magazine-awards.com/en/a-guide-to-canadian-literary-mags/
UK RESOURCES
The Poetry Society — Major UK poetry institution with education programming and school resources. (https://poetrysociety.org.uk)
Young Poets Network / The Poetry Society — Prompts, opportunities, challenges, advice, and literary community for younger writers. (https://ypn.poetrysociety.org.uk)
Poetryclass — Free poetry lesson plans and classroom resources. (https://poetryclass.poetrysociety.org.uk)
Poetry School — Courses, workshops, seminars, free resources, and an MA in Writing Poetry with Newcastle University. (https://poetryschool.com)
Arvon — Respected creative writing charity offering courses and retreats. (https://arvon.org)
AUSTRALIA
Red Room Poetry — Curriculum-linked learning materials, workshops, and projects for students and teachers. (https://redroompoetry.org)
Australian Poetry — National poetry organization with resources and links to the Australian Poetry Library. (https://australianpoetry.org)
WORLD POETRY/TRANSLATION
Modern Poetry in Translation — Translated poetry and resources that expand beyond English-language traditions. (https://modernpoetryintranslation.com)
LISTENING/ARCHIVAL
Library of Congress Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature — Historical recordings and readings by major writers. (https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/audio-recordings/archive-of-recorded-poetry-and-literature/)
rob mclennan: touch the donkey (interviews) — An extensive archive of interviews with poets and writers, offering insight into contemporary poetics, process, and literary community across Canada and internationally. (https://touchthedonkey.blogspot.com/)
Planet Earth Poetry — Weekly reading series and extensive YouTube archive featuring hundreds of recorded readings by local, national, and international poets. (https://www.youtube.com/@planetearthpoetry5525)
Poets’ Caravan — Professionally filmed poetry archive that connects poets and place through a mapped video project. (https://planetearthpoetry.com/poetscaravan)
Poet’s Corner — One-minute poem archive offering short, accessible encounters with contemporary poetry. (https://www.youtube.com/@PoetsCornerVictoria)
POETRY PODCASTS
The Poetry Exchange
A beautiful UK-based podcast built around the idea of “poems as friends,” where guests speak about a poem that has accompanied them in life, followed by a recorded gift of the poem itself.
https://www.thepoetryexchange.co.uk/podcast
Poetry Off the Shelf
Produced by the Poetry Foundation and hosted by Helena de Groot, this long-running podcast features rich conversations with poets about craft, identity, imagination, and the inner life of poems.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/podcasts/series/74636/poetryofftheshelf
VS
Poetry Foundation podcast, hosted by poets Ajanaé Dawkins and Brittany Rogers, with a lively, contemporary focus on the ideas, pressures, and possibilities shaping poetry now.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/podcasts/series/142241/vs-podcast
Poetry Unbound
Hosted by Pádraig Ó Tuama, this is one of the most beautiful and accessible poetry podcasts: each episode stays with a single poem and opens it slowly, with care, depth, and emotional intelligence. https://onbeing.org/series/poetry-unbound/
The New Yorker: Poetry
A strong literary resource built around readings and conversations with The New Yorker’s poetry editor, Kevin Young. It’s especially good for hearing contemporary poets in relation to earlier work. https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/poetry
The Poet Laureate Podcast (Kyeren’s podcast)
Hosted by Kyeren Regehr, Victoria’s Poet Laureate, this podcast features poets laureate across Canada and beyond, poetry-centered conversation, three featured poems, and a listening space rooted in presence, community, and contemporary literary life. https://www.thepoetlaureatepodcast.com/
Slam / spoken word (Canada)
League of Canadian Poets — National poetry organization with spoken word resources, programs, and awards, and a useful hub for discovering Canadian poetry communities. (https://poets.ca/offerings/resources/)
Canadian Festival of Spoken Word — National spoken word festival featuring showcases, workshops, panels, and slam competition. (https://www.instagram.com/cfsw_fcsw/)
Toronto Poetry Slam — Long-running spoken word and slam organization based in Toronto. (https://torontopoetryslam.ca)
Victoria Poetry Project — Victoria-based spoken word and slam organization. (https://victoriapoetryproject.com)
Sheri-D Wilson, The Spoken Word Workbook: Inspiration from Poets Who Teach — Foundational Canadian spoken word workbook for craft, performance, and teaching. (https://sheridwilson.com/product/spoken-word-workbook-2011/)