Minnesota Poetry.com
A New Site for Minnesota Poets
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.
Minnesota Poetry and Writing Groups.
The current Minnesota State Poet Laureate is:
Joyce Sutphen
Joyce Sutphen grew up on a farm in Minnesota. She earned a PhD in Renaissance drama from the University of Minnesota. She has taught British literature and creative writing at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota. She was named Minnesota's State Poet Laureate in 2011. More information can be found about her on the link above.
Previous Minnesota State Poet Laureates include:
Margarette Ball Dickson
(1934-July 21, 1963)
Laurene Tibbetts-Larson
(May 14, 1974-December 6, 1999)
Robert Bly
(February 27, 2008-August 22, 2011)
The Minnesota State Arts Board supports Minnesota artists working in all genres, including poetry and writing. They provide grants and programs for Minnesota writers and artists. Please see the link above for details.
** The League of Minnesota Poets** is a Statewide poetry group with chapters in many Minnesota cities. The League provides contests, conferences and literary publications. Membership is $25.00 per year. See link above for more information and a chapter in your city.
For the past several years, thousands of Minnesota high school students have participated in the Poetry Out Loud State recitation competitions, sponsored by the Minnesota Arts Board 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 Minnesota 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. (The above link is just one of many Minnesota poetry slam venues). Check with your local poetry group for the nearest Slam event and Slam schedules.
Button Poetry Live is a monthly poetry show in Saint Paul, MN, featuring renowned artists as well as poetry slam competitions open to the public. The show takes place the first Monday of every month at Park Square Theatre Company in downtown Saint Paul. For information on performing or attending a performance, please see the link above. And you can also contribute to this wonderful poetry project.
** The Alexandria Writers Group** is a group in Alexandria, Minnesota that supports Minnesota writers working in all genres. The normally meet once a month in the Douglas County’s Library meeting room. See link above for more information.
The Loft Writers Groups are actually several writing groups from the Twin Cities, supporting various genres of writing. The site above is recommended for people in the Twin Cities looking for a writing group in their genre. Or, form your own group and list it on the site. See link above for rules and details. The Loft Writers Group is an exciting project and well worth looking into.
Lake Superior Writers has over 200 members. The group provides contests, conferences and resources for writers of all ages and genres. Various levels of membership are listed. Please see site for calendar and more information. Currently, events are being coordinated online.
** Minnesota Christian Writers Guild** welcomes writers of content for Christian writing markets of both fiction and nonfiction. MCWG provide conferences (when possible) and resources for Christian writers of all levels. The group also provides market information and news about publications looking for material. Please see site for calendar and membership information.
The Rochester Writers Group features local authors, writing events and resources for writers. Please see the link above for event times and updates.
The Lakes Area Writers Allience, (formerly Brainerd Writers Alliance), is open to writers of all writing levels and all genres. They meet the 3rd Saturday of each month, currently through Facebook and Zoom. Dues are $30.00 per year. Please see the link above for more information.
What follows are links to purchase tee shirts and merchandise, many designed by Steven Robert Heine. Proceeds will be used to support this site.
About the author: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!
Heine tries to provide this site as a service to the poets of Minnesota.
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Steven Robert Heine is a West Coast poet & author. He has traveled extensively through the United States, including trips to Minnesota. He 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.