Pennsylvania Poetry.com

A New Site for Pennsylvania Poets

Pennsylvania Poetry and Writing Groups.

Please support this site by donating and /or purchasing some of the merchandise from the links below. This site is presented by Steven Robert Heine. Heine is a disabled poet in his 70's. He was crippled in a fall several years ago and suffered a stroke in 2023. Your support will help cover costs of this site and provide more frequent updates.

The current Pennsylvania State Poet Laureate is
Position Does Not Currently Exist.
Previous Laureates:
Samuel Hazo (1993-2003)
Pennsylvania has only had one State Poet Laureate. Sam Hazo was appointed in May, 1993. In May 2003, the position of Pennsylvania State Poet Laureate was terminated by the Governor. Pennsylvania needs and deserves to have a State Poet Laureate. State Poet Laureates serve an important role in supporting literacy, reading and poetry. Your writing assignment if you decide to accept it, is to write to your legislator and ask that a bill be introduced creating a New State Poet Laureate for the State of Pennsylvania. We have included a link to the Pennsylvania State Legislature above. Most State Poet Laureates serve at no cost to State governments. Some get funding from Arts organizations or from The National Endowment for the Arts. Talk to your poetry and writing group about sending a petition signed by members to your State Legislator. With your help Pennsylvania can have a new State Poet Laureate soon!

**The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts ** provides support for arts groups and writers groups through grants and a large number of programs. The Council also supports cultural activities, arts in schools and community arts projects. More information about programs and grants can be found on the link above.

The Pennsylvania Poetry Society has chapters in many Pennsylvania cities. The group promotes poetry through conferences, poetry contests and resources. Membership is open to all Pennsylvania poets. Membership dues are $20.00 per year. See link above for more information.

For the past several years, thousands of Pennsylvania high school students have participated in the Poetry Out Loud State recitation competitions, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Your high school is invited to participate!
Poetry Out Loud is a wonderful program for students. The program helps the develop Stage and speaking skills, confidence and a love of poetry. Poetry really needs to be spoken to truly be enjoyed. Poetry Out Loud is a great program for students. To learn how to get your school involved in the competition, please see the link above.

Poetry Slams are events in which adults and students read and perform poetry for awards and prizes. There are many local events and even a National competition. Check with your local poetry group for the nearest Slam event and Slam schedules. The above link is for the University of The Fuze Poetry Slam in Philadelphia, one of many in the State.

The Philadelphia Writers Meetup Group provides welcomes all writers in the Philadelphia area of all genres and skill levels. The group provides networking and critiques as well as discussions on publishing opportunities. For more information, please see the link above.

Pennwriters is open to all Pennsylvania Writers, of all genres and all skill levels. The group offers contests, conferences (when possible) and resources for Pennsylvania writers. They also provide online classes. Please see link for calendar and membership information. The link above will also provide you with information about a chapter of Pennwriters in your area.

Pittsburg East Scribes was founded to provide support and encouragement for area writers. They support writers of all skill levels and genres. Normally, they meet the 1st Monday of the month in Monroeville. For more information, please see the link above.

The Southern Alleghenies Writers Guild was created to provide networking and to promote the work of writers in the Southern part of Pennsylvania. Please see link for calendar and contact information.

The Central PA Writers Workshop This from their mission statement "We are a writers' group that meets regularly in Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Harrisburg, and Dillsburg. We're dedicated to helping our colleagues polish and publish. Please join us if writing is your passion, your thing, or your raison de vivre. We are egalitarian. As writers, we are in varied stages of development, but we remember the beginner's experience." Please see link above for membership and calendar.

This from their mission statement: ‘Lancaster Christian Writers is a local chapter of American Christian Writers, a non-denominational association of Christian writers designed to provide full service to writers and speakers through a variety of educational and inspirational avenues in a Spirit-filled environment. Lancaster Christian Writers welcomes writers of all churches and denominations and of all levels, from published authors to beginning free-lancers.Our monthly meetings offer opportunity for manuscript critique, networking with other writers, as well as regular workshops and guest authors. We accept writers of all genres, both fiction and non-fiction.’ Please see link for more information.

Pencils NEPA is a group in Hawley that supports writers of all genres and all skill levels. They meet (when possible) to network and critique each other’s work. The group meets in the Hawley Public library and is free to join. Please see link above for calendar and group information.

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Breaking News!
Steven Robert Heine launches a new line of tee-shirts and merchandise to help support this site.We hope you will consider purchasing it.

Steven Robert Heine is an American poet and author. He has spent much of his life supporting poetry projects and events. He is the author of 8 volumes of poetry. In 2011 he was seriously injured in a fall that left him in great pain and almost unable to walk. He suffered a stroke in 2023. Heine receives no disability and relies on a small pension and retirement income. He is no longer able to make public appearances.
We hope you will consider purchasing some of the merchandise in the links below. Many are original tee-shirts and merchandise created by Steven Robert Heine.
Thank you!
He tries to provide this site as a service to the poets of Pennsylvania.

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Steven Robert Heine is a West Coast poet & author. He has traveled extensively through the United States, including many trips to Pennsylvania. Heine has spent his life promoting poetry; serving as founder for many poetry contests. He is the author of fifteen books, including poetry, history and his own short auto-biographies. His books can be found on Ebay, Amazon and Amazon Kindle.
Heine was crippled in a fall in 2011 and now makes very few public appearances.