Michigan Writers

09/09/2026

The Michigan Playwrights Project (MPP) put on a well-received Readers Theater in August at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City. Plays selected to be performed were by PeterSapienza, Bruce L. Makie, Rick Plummer, Gordon Bolar and Kathy Rasmussen. A special thanks to Maripat Allen for managing the submissions, Rick Plummer for his directing, the wonderful actors, and also to the Old Town Playhouse for selecting the scripts and sharing their facility.
MPP will be presenting another Readers Theater event on October 4, 2026, at 2 pm at the Michigan Actors Studio in Royal Oak. The deadline for submitting your 10-Minute play to this event is September 11. If your script is selected, you are expected to be there as this is an opportunity to further develop your play. Send you submission to:
[email protected] or [email protected]
For more information, please go

08/27/2026

Poets Meet Musicians, August 31st, 7pm, MiddleCoast Brewing Company -

LOCATION: MiddleCoast Brewing Company 329 E State Street, Traverse City Bring your favorite poem, share your latest work. we'd love to have you! ***Please Note:  To ensure our open mic remains a safe and welcoming environment for all, we want to remind our readers that hate speech, racial slurs, an...

07/07/2026

Members General Meeting

Wednesday, August 5, 5:30-7:30 pm, Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City

Michigan Writers will be holding its annual general meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 5:30-7:30 at the Dennos Museum Center on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College. Plan to join fellow Michigan Writers for an evening to meet and elect board members, network, share member books, and enjoy MW updates and Beth Stoner will be speaking as a representative of the Traverse Regional History Center.

07/07/2026

Michigan Playwrights Project Dramatic Readings


The first four 10 minute plays will be read at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee on July 11, 1:00 pm:

"The Invitation" by Paul Garland
"Just a Game" by Jenna Middleton
"Heat" by Irene Wellman
"The Anarchist, the Socialist, the Populist and the Money" by John Gerts

The next five 10 minute plays will be read at Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City on August 1, 1:00 pm:

"The Duel" by Peter Sapienza
"Auf Seherin" by Rick Plummer
"Overlook" by Gordon Bolar
"to nell and back" by Bruce L. Makie
"Find Me a Wife" by Kathy Rasmussen

Two longer one act plays will be performed at Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City August 2, 1:00 pm:

"Lasts Rites" by Peter Sapienza
"Drunk with Fire" by Rick Plummer

07/07/2026

“The People, Yes”

A free community reading of excerpts of Carl Sandburg's epic poem.

Saturday, July 11, 3:00 pm, Kalamazoo Public Library

Written over eight years in the wake of the Great Depression, Carl Sandburg's “The People, Yes,” explores relevant contemporary themes including wealth inequality, immigration, labor, war, unity, and much more. In the profoundly democratic spirit of the text, select working writers will be joined by audience volunteers to bring this complex work about America and humanity to life.

The reading is being held in a spirit of civic engagement and education to coincide with the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding and anniversary month of Sandburg's death in 1967. This event is being coordinated by Kalamazoo poet Steve Brown and sponsored by Michigan Writers in partnership with the Kalamazoo Poetry Festival.

Who: Everyone! Diverse community members of all ages and levels of poetry knowledge or experience are encouraged to attend.
What: a 60-plus-minute reading of excerpts of Sandburg's poem "The People, Yes."

Where: The Van Deusen Room at the Central Branch of Kalamazoo Public Library at 315 S. Rose St. Kalamazoo, MI 49007. (On-street paid parking is available all around the library.)

When: Saturday, July 11th, from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Find out more at the Kalamazoo Public Library event page:

Join Kalamazoo poets and writers to help read or just listen to selections of Carl Sandburg’s epic poem, "The People, Yes," to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United…

07/07/2026

"Talk Back to the Constitution” Poetry Contest

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 15

We’ve extended the deadline for our “Talk Back to the Constitution” Poetry Contest—our literary celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

We are looking for poems (max 40 lines) that interact with the US Constitution through rants, raves, praise, commentary, or concerns.

Our Guest Judge: The renowned poet and fiction writer Phillip Sterling (featured in The Paris Review, Kenyon Review, and more).

The Perks:

Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

10 finalists will be chosen.

Winners will be invited to read at our August General Meeting and will be published in the fall edition of the Dunes Review!

One entry per participant. Open to all MW members. Submit your poem today via Submittable.com.

06/17/2026

Some Photos from our Chapbook Launch on May 31st.

This year's winners are:
"Blue Prairie of Darkness" a collection of poems by Jan Mordenski
"Fault Lines", essays on trust and risk by Timothy Charles Smith
"Squirrel Daycare" a short story by April DeOliveira

05/15/2026

Poets Meet Musicians, May 18th, 7pm, MiddleCoast Brewing Company -

LOCATION: MiddleCoast Brewing Company 329 E State Street, Traverse City We're meeting a week early this month instead of meeting on Memorial Day. Bring your favorite poem, share your latest work. we'd love to have you! The concept of Poets & Musicians comes from the Beat Poets who were sometimes acc...

05/05/2026

New opportunity!

05/04/2026

Is AI the End of Creativity? The Michigan Writers May Newsletter! - https://mailchi.mp/07b6cbf77a4a/michigan-writers-newsletter-10363102