5 Authors Who Write Both Fiction And Poetry
The economics of being an author are difficult, with so many writers vying for readers' attention. It can be tempting to try and stick to a specific brand in order to make a name for yourself, instead of listening to your creative muse. These authors have taken a brave route, producing flash fiction, short stories, poems, and novels, refusing to be defined by a single identity. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
5 Authors Working Across Genres and Forms
Alison McBain reads from Enchantress of Books and other stories at Book Odyssey
Organizations That Support Poets & Poetry
| Organization | Location | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| Split This Rock | Washington, DC | Cultivate, teach, and celebrate poetry that bears witness to injustice and provokes social change |
| CavanKerry Press | Fort Lee, NJ | Expand the reach of poetry to a general readership by publishing works that explore the emotional and psychological landscapes of everyday life |
| InsideOut Literary Arts | Detroit, MI | Inspire students to think broadly, create bravely, and share their voices with the wider world |
| Poetry Foundation | Chicago, IL | Celebrate and share the best poetry with the largest audiences through a family of programs |
| Howard County Poetry and Literature Society | Columbia, MD | Enlarge the audience for contemporary poetry and literature and celebrate culturally diverse literary heritages |
What Makes a Poem a Poem?
In Depth
We often think of novelists and poets as separate and distinct entities. However, many writers enjoy being both, from composing humorous verses to spinning acclaimed murder mysteries. Here, in no particular order, are scribes who are adept at penning compelling fictional tales as well as evocative poetry.
Starting off the list at #1 is L.B. Sedlacek, whose work appears in many different journals, zines, and newspapers. Her poems have been featured in such publications as The Broad River Review, Third Wednesday Magazine, and Mastodon Dentist. She teaches workshops at local elementary and middle schools and is the founder and publisher of The Poetry Market Ezine.
Sedlacek's mystery novel, The Glass River, was nominated for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. She is also the author of The Poet Next Door, and Four Thieves of Vinegar & Other Short Stories. Her book of local verse, Poetry in LA: Only in LA, has been added to the third grade curriculum at Davenport A+ Elementary School in Lenoir, North Carolina.
Her book of local verse, Poetry in LA: Only in LA, has been added to the third grade curriculum at Davenport A+ Elementary School in Lenoir, North Carolina.
In the #2 spot is Holly Lyn Walrath. Her poetry and short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Luna Station Quarterly, and Liminality. She is the author of the Elgin Award winning chapbook, Glimmerglass Girl, which VIDA: Women in the Literary Arts praises as poignant, while Rag Queen Periodical calls it seductive.
Walrath's fiction has appeared in the anthologies, Shards and Coppice & Brake. She holds a BA in English from The University of Texas and a master's in Creative Writing from the University of Denver. She is a freelance editor and host of The Weird Circular, an e-newsletter for writers containing submission calls and writing prompts.
Entering the list at #3 is Alison McBain, a freelance writer and poet with nearly a hundred short pieces published in such outlets as Flash Fiction Online, The Mark Literary Review, and Reader's Abode. Her young adult debut novel, The Rose Queen, was a finalist for the 2019 Literary Classics Book Award.
Her young adult debut novel, The Rose Queen, was a finalist for the 2019 Literary Classics Book Award.
McBain's work covers such genres as romance, horror, and science fiction. She was the lead editor of When to Now: A Time Travel Anthology, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the book reviews editor at Bewildering Stories and a member of the Fairfield Scribes.
Coming in at #4 is Bryan Walpert. His short story collection, Ephraim's Eyes, was named a Best Book of 2010 by National Radio in New Zealand. He is the author of three books of poems, including Etymology, A History of Glass, and Native Bird.
An award winning former journalist, Walpert has written for more than a dozen publications, including The Washington Post. He served as poetry editor of the literary journal Segue, based at Miami University of Ohio. He teaches creative writing as a professor in the School of English & Media Studies at Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand.
He served as poetry editor of the literary journal Segue, based at Miami University of Ohio.
Finishing up the list at #5 is David Ellis. His debut, Life, Sex & Death, won the Readers' Favorite 2016 Book Award Contest for Inspirational Poetry. He is also the author of A Little Bit Of What You Fancy, a collection of flash fiction and short stories.
His other works of poetry include, Lemons, Vinegar & Unvarnished Truths and See A Dream Within, based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Ellis has also worked on a series of journals and workbooks that provide writing and marketing advice to authors, which were developed with fellow writer Cendrine Marrouat.
