Wits End Poetry: 2026 Say What Slam Season Now Open!

HOW DO POETS QUALIFY TO TRYOUT FOR THE SLAM TEAM:

1. Poets have residency in the Upstate of South Carolina. Upstate defined. Poets must be in good standing with Wits End Poetry.

2. Poets must earn at least ten points between July and December. Ten poets with the most points (over 10) can participate in the Grand Slam in December 2025.

Earn Points by:

Participating in a Wits End Poetry workshop. (2 Point)
Compete in a WEP Poetry Slam

Participate in Slam - 2 Point
Third Place in Slam - 3 Points
Second Place in Slam - 4 Points
Win Slam - 5 Points

Volunteering or working events. (2 Points)
Reading in open mic (1 Point) (please keep track of your own open mic dates)

Qualifying Slams:

Kimberly Simms

Kimberly's literary voice is rooted in the Southern tradition of storytelling. Her passion for poetry from both the page to the stage has led Kimberly to garner titles such as former Carl Sandburg NHS Writer-in-residence, National Poetry Slam ‘Legend of the South’, TedX speaker, co-founder of CarolinaPoets, former Southern Fried Poetry Slam Champion, and award-winning teaching artist. In her first full-length collection from Finishing Line Press, Lindy Lee: Songs on Mill Hill, Kimberly chronicles the lives of textile workers in the Carolinas with historical accuracy and imaginative insight. Ron Rash, award-winning author of Serena, says about Kimberly: "she writes with eloquence and empathy about an important part of Southern history - too often neglected."

Since Kimberly Simms started the first poetry slam in South Carolina (1994) and became the youngest slammaster in the country at the age of 18, Kimberly has dedicated her life to promoting the art of poetry in the state of South Carolina. She is the proud founder of Wits End Poetry, a non-profit now celebrating 19 years of creating South Carolina poetry events and educational outreach in the Upstate of South Carolina.