My name is Michellia Wilson and I live in northwest Tennessee.  I am 55 years old, disabled and live alone. I’ve been writing poetry since age 11.

Before I became disabled,  I worked many years as a computer technician.  I enjoyed this occupation very much. I haven’t kept up with the technology, so I consider myself retired.

I’m registered for the half marathon.  I have participated in the past in the 24 (full) marathon. I’m looking forward to this year’s challenge.

Sign up is still open for the 2021 Poetry Marathon! You can sign up here. Sign up will only be open til 9 PM on the 19th of June

We’ve had a lot of people sign up for the poetry marathon this year. Over 300 people and counting.

Right now about 60% have signed up for the half marathon – 12 poems in 12 hours, and 40% have signed up for the full marathon – 24 poems in 24 hours.

The marathon itself will start at 9 AM ET on the 26th of June and go till 9 AM on 27th.

This is an international event with participants from all around the globe. Generally 500 people attempt the marathon. You do not have to be a poet to participate. To find out how to convert your timezone go here.

To learn more go here. To sign up go here.

We will get back to applicants on a rolling basis. Most people who apply will be accepted. If you have not heard from us a week after applying please send us an email at poets@poetrymarathon.com. Please do not try and contact us through the FB page.

Greetings fellow poets! I’m so excited to participate in my 3rd poetry marathon this year! The third time is the charm for me because I also have the privilege of editing the anthology this year! I can’t wait to get writing and reading! I am planning a solo getaway to a special spot – with good wi-fi, comfortable seating and napping spaces and plenty of snacks and beverages. I like to beautify the space with flowers and scents. I try to hit the hay early the night before, be meditate a while after a morning walk. See you all along the way!

Hi poetry friends! Sandi Johnson here. This is my third year in the marathon and second attempt at the full 24 hours! I’m excited and can’t wait to get into the poetry zone! I live in Houston but originally from New Jersey. Hot is the key word down here. Good luck to everyone!

Philip V. Coombs

Hello all just a quick hello to see how this works.

My name is Debra The Writer and I am very excited to participate in this marathon. I am a wife, mother and a grandmother who is ready to take on the challenge of writing 12 poems over a 12 hour period. I am looking forward to getting to know others in the group as I learn how to spread my creative wings and fly a litttle bit higher with each of you.

I’m glad to be part of this group. I write poetry and fiction but not as much as I’d like. Hopefully the marathon will give me a push forward. I’ve written Rose Has a New Walker, a book of poetry. I’ve been writing short stories, but I want to concentrate on poetry right now. I’m in the Boston area, but I was born in Chicago and lived there through college. Still miss it.

Hope you’re all doing well!

Just saying hello to my fellow mad people. Total newbie here.  Though I did sign up for the full one. I realized my mistake moments later. Having a long-term illness and I have tablets that I have to take, meaning of course I will not be able to be awake for 24 hours. I really hoped to be spontaneous about it. I really hope I manage to finish.
So many inspired to do wonderful things like travelling the world or bungee jumping. Mine is to finish the poetry marathon and be crowned a total nutter in the realms of poets.

As many of you know we have two official half marathon starting times. One starts at at 9 AM ET on June 26th and go till 9 PM on the 26th and the other starts at 9 PM ET on the 26th and continue to 9 AM on the 27th.

For the first time ever we are also going to allow half marathoners to pick any 12 hour period during the larger 24 hour period that starts at 9 AM ET on Saturday June 26th and goes till 9 AM ET on Sunday the 27th of June. There will be no official start or ending post for these marathoners for logistical reasons (I wouldn’t know where to put them!) but they should always be writing with other marathoners and feel like they are part of the larger spirit of things.

Time zones have long been a concern of ours. The marathon itself is set at times that works for most North Americans, and as the marathon has become more and more international we’ve tried various ways to help international marathoners (by having the two starting periods). We are hoping that this will make a difference.

We’d love to have more options for full marathoners someday but one of our current limitations is simply that 24 prompts (48 this year if you count the image options) is a lot already and it would be hard to keep the spirit alive for a much larger period of time (or monitored with support help). However we are very open to suggestions that would make that possible, this year or in the future.

To sign up go here.

If you are interested in participating please sign up by June 19th! We will get back to applicants on a rolling basis. Most people who apply will be accepted. If you have not heard from us a week after applying please send us an email at poets@poetrymarathon.com. Please do not try and contact us through the FB page

Hi everyone, I’m John from Belfast, N Ireland. So looking forward to the challenge. Just the half marathon for me, think that will be challenging enough for my first time.😄😄😄😄