About Sharp Pens

Sharp Pens is a Detroit-rooted literary collective committed to cultivating, showcasing, and compensating spoken-word poets and writers.

Founded by True Avery in 2023 and operating within the Everybody Support Everybody — Healing Through Art initiative, Sharp Pens has grown beyond a local poetry platform into a collaborative ecosystem of artists, organizers, and partner spaces.

Through partnerships with community platforms, open mics, and creative hubs across multiple cities and states, Sharp Pens connects artists to opportunities for growth, performance, and professional development.

At our core, we support poets through a structured journey — helping them:

• Find their voice

• Build their brand

• Step into paid opportunities

But our work extends beyond the stage.

Sharp Pens contributes to broader community initiatives by building spaces where art, healing, and economic empowerment intersect.

Today, Sharp Pens travels across the United States, collaborating with creative communities in different regions, and is expanding its reach internationally — with upcoming engagement in Africa.

Rooted in the mantra:

Do not erase your past. Sharpen your pen. Write your future.

Sharp Pens exists to help artists move from expression to impact.