Charlottesville Poem Store was founded in July of 2022 by a lifelong poet and typewriter owner.
We wrote our first custom, on-demand poem at the Farmer’s Market at Ix in Charlottesville, Virginia on May 20, 2023.
Since then we have written over 500 poems at weddings, markets, pop-ups, and other events.
About Our Poets
Laura J. Frantz
Poet-in-Chief and Founder
“I have been a writer and typewriter-owner since the 1980’s. My favorite part of writing poems on demand is the deep connection that I feel with each of my customers.”
Jupiter Laurent
Poet
“For me, writing custom poetry is a way to experience the simple joy of human connection for what it is: real, imperfect, and bursting with potential.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you poets?
We write poems, so yes!
Is poetry-writing your job?
People pay us to write poems, so also yes!
May I request a custom poem from one of your poets outside of an event?
We would be thrilled to write a custom poem for you and type it up on our vintage typewriters on vintage paper! Commissions start at $50, which includes a custom piece of writing, a frame-worthy typewritten copy, packaging, postage, and handling.
How much do you charge for weddings, parties, corporate meetings, or other events?
For most events we charge an hourly rate per poet, plus travel stipends for events outside of a 30 mile radius of Charlottesville, Virginia. Hourly rates start at $200 per poet with a two hour minimum.