About Laura Frantz, Typewriter Poet

I’m Laura Frantz, a typewriter poet. I started Charlottesville Poem Store in 2022, after ten years of consideration and one year of actual planning, to bring together my love of poetry and my love of vintage typewriters.

Laura Frantz typing a poem for a guest at a lamplit table

Today we compose and type custom poems live at weddings, galas, corporate events, and private gatherings, on vintage manual typewriters with archival ink. No digital tools are part of the writing.

Since 2022 we’ve written more than 2,000 custom poems at more than 100 events, for clients throughout Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area, among them The Phillips Collection, the Virginia Festival of the Book, the Association of Research Libraries, the Reclaimed Hope Initiative, and the Botanical Garden of the Piedmont.

I also developed Poem-crafted Cocktails®, which pairs a typewriter poet with a lead mixologist. The event name and concept are a registered trademark of Laura J. Frantz and Charlottesville Poem Store, LLC.

The work

I roll a sheet of vintage paper into the typewriter, turning the knob until it sits just right, and look up at my next guest. They sit down across from me and give me a topic: someone close to them, a cherished memory, something weighing them down, something that has needed release. As they talk, an image forms in my mind’s eye, and I begin typing.

A poem takes one to three minutes. I title the poem, roll the paper out, turn the page sideways and roll it back in to type my business signature and date, roll it back out and photograph it, stamp it with my personal chop, and slide it into a clear envelope. Then I read it aloud to them in hushed tones. Our heads move closer, the stranger sitting across from me turned confidante.

The business

Charlottesville Poem Store is run as a professional vendor. Every booking has a contract and formal invoicing, and we coordinate directly with venue staff and event planners. Planners who have worked with us know what to expect: we set up on our own, run the table ourselves from arrival to breakdown, and leave their guests with something that reflects well on the event.

Past clients

Since 2022 we’ve written more than 2,000 custom poems at more than 100 events. Past clients include:

The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
Virginia Festival of the Book, Virginia Humanities, Charlottesville, VA
Association of Research Libraries, Alexandria, VA
Reclaimed Hope Initiative, at Eastwood Farm and Winery, Charlottesville, VA
Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, Charlottesville, VA
Morrison House, Alexandria, VA
The Doyle Hotel, Charlottesville, VA
Common House, Charlottesville, VA
Ix Arts Foundation, Charlottesville, VA
McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA
Southern Innkeepers Association, 2026 annual conference at Boar’s Head Resort, Charlottesville, VA

Wedding venues where we have written include Boar’s Head Resort, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards, Potter’s Craft Cider, Snyder Manor & Stables, Birdwood Mansion, and Eastern Market.

We’ve also held a years-long residency at Speakeasy & Whiskey Bar at the Doyle Hotel (formerly Bobboo at the Quirk Hotel), with Poem-crafted Cocktails® on Friday nights, usually twice a month.

Reviews

“A million thank yous to Laura for writing at our wedding and for the deeply personal impact and the insightfulness she offered our guests. Our friends and family raved about Laura’s work and ability to capture their memories, experiences, and personalities.”
Antonia and Steve
Private wedding clients

“Laura is an outstanding poet, creating works that connect well with themed events. Her help with the family program brought added meaning, and her mix of creative and administrative skills makes her a great person to work with again.”
Alani Nelson
The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.

“Feeling really fortunate to have found Laura and the Charlottesville Poem Store, finding someone to help build a monthly event from scratch isn’t always easy. Laura has helped create a truly unique cocktail experience centered around her poems and Joel’s cocktails. [Speakeasy + Whiskey Bar] is lucky to host this event each month!”
Stephen Kelly
Former Food & Beverage Lead, The Doyle Hotel, Charlottesville, VA

“She has a rare gift, and I’m so grateful for the time, energy, and craft that she brings to each poem that she writes.”
Nadeen Kharputly
Private poem commission

“Her poetry added a flair of elegance, whimsey and wit, and guests were deeply moved by and raving about her work. She was one of the best elements of the party!”
Joseph Jablonski

“Laura’s poems are so incredibly special. It’s the perfect way to mark a moment, and I’m so impressed by how she can write so personally for people she’s only just met!”
Emily Wool