2025 Poetry Summit
Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco
Starts at 9 a.m. and ends with our Poetry & Jazz evening event.
Included with main conference registration or stand-alone for $249.
The Poetry Summit at the San Francisco Writers Conference is about you getting your poetry out into the world. Get inspired, improve your craft, shape your work for publication, learn how to navigate the multitude of pathways to publication and cultivate your market, then, network, network, network! Chief Editor of Blue Light Press, Diane Frank has assembled a faculty of Masters. Publication-focused poetry events are few and far between. Don’t miss this opportunity.
Program speakers and schedule
Meet the Poets: Poetry Summit Presenters 9:00 - 10:00 am
Our poets will talk about what inspires them, read a poem, and offer a writing prompt.
- Diane Frank, Poetry Summit Track Coordinator
- Prartho Sereno
- Juan Luzuriaga
- Lisha Adela Garcia
- Kathy Evans
- O’Cyrus
- Alejandro Murguia
- Jennifer Joseph
- Sheryl Bize-Boutte
Immigrant Voices and Bilingual Poems 10:15 - 11:15 am
Moderator: Alejandro Murguia
Alejandro Murguia, Sixth Poet Laureate of San Francisco
Lisha Adela Garcia, author of Blood Rivers and A Rope of Luna
Juan Luzuriaga, author of Chimborazo Whispers, forthcoming from Blue Light Press
Inspiration from San Francisco Poet Laureates 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Tongo Eisen-Martin, author of Blood on the Fog
Kim Shuck, author of Pick a Garnet to Sleep in
Publishing Panel: Meet the Publishers 3:00 - 4:00 pm
The Journey from Poet to Author
Jennifer Joseph - Acquisition Editor, Manic D Press
O’Cyrus - Acquisition Editor, Ocyrus Ink Publishing
Diane Frank - Acquisition Editor, Blue Light Press
Teaching Poetry in Prisons and Hospitals 4:15 - 5:15 pm
Moderator: Prartho Sereno
Prartho Sereno, Author of Starfall in the Temple
Juan Luzuriaga, Author of Chimborazo Whispers
Kathy Evans, Author of Trespassers Welcome
Gala in the Waterfront Rooms and Atrium 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Poetry and Jazz - Waterfront Rooms and Atrium - 7:30 - 11:00 pm
Hosted by Dr. Andy Jones
Poetry reading by Poetry Summit Presenters, followed by Open Mic
Added to this day of incredibly stimulating breakout sessions is admission to the evening Cocktail Networking Party at the San Francisco Writers Conference on Saturday night from 6:00 - 7:30, where attendees of both the main SFWC conference and the Poetry Summit can connect with the more than 100 presenters who have come to share their passion and wisdom with you. This amazing event transitions into Poetry & Jazz, featuring readings from our speakers beginning at 7:30, followed by an open mic for you to perform your own work!
The Poetry Summit at the San Francisco Writers Conference is a one-day comprehensive track. It's included with your registration for the main conference but also available as a stand-alone single-day conference.
Registration for the stand-alone Poetry Summit is limited to 80 people and the cost is only $249. It includes access to the Poetry Summit sessions, the Gala SFWC Cocktail Party, and the ever-popular Poetry & Jazz event.