10,000 Poems Project

The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA is participating in the 10,000 Poems Project in an effort to not only promote poets and their work, but to become part of the rich literary heritage that is best typified by the work of John Steinbeck and his contemporaries.

From the 10,000 Poems site:

As a part of the Steinbeck Chair program, we are looking for all kinds of poets ? school students to retirees, novice beginners to published Pulitzer Prize-winning poets to create 10,000 poems over one year. We are looking for writers from diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Poems can reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Salinas Valley or are representative of the specific place you call home. The 10,000 Poems Project seeks to celebrate the lives of our fellow residents and their personal journeys. Poems can be on whatever topic you wish, and do not need to relate to or mention John Steinbeck.

All forms of poetry will be accepted. The poems do not have to rhyme! The poems can be serious, witty, heartfelt, light, pure fantasy, historically based, realistic, free verse, sonnets ? in short, what ever strikes your fancy. There is no line limit. Multiple submissions are permitted. Previously published poems are also accepted as long as the rights still belong to the author.

If you choose to submit one of your poems, please make certain that you own the publishing rights to your work--which makes it a perfect place for all Gather poets to share our visions. You don't have to be a resident of Salinas to become part of this project, though it would probably help. Even so, I'm sure that anyone who participates will get an equal chance of being part of this project.

Just one rule: keep it clean! No profanities or erotica is allowed. Love poems are okay, but it's probably best to keep it subtle. After all, this is pretty much an "all ages" project.