Lisa Ciccarello
Turning Fascinations into Finished Poems.

That weird thing you're infatuated with right now?It probably contains the seeds of your next poem (or a whole collection of them).It might seem too random/niche/peculiar, but I promise it's not.I've written poems inspired by cheesy movies, survival horror video games, supernatural anime...even 18th century prison reports.They've been published in journals, chapbooks, & a full-length book, proving that if you love something, it's likely others will too.
Want to read some of those poems?
Visit my portfolio to find a selection of published poems.
Join my Patreon for exclusive poems from my latest obsessions.
Hoping to write poems of your own?I'd love to help you turn your curiosities & interests into poems that are deeply & unmistakably yours.
The Conjuring Word
Semi-monthly notes from me on making magic through writing:

To peek inside the latest letters I've sent, check out the archive.
Get Creative
Guided Audio
Micro Residency
Prompt & reflection questions for a self-led writing retreat
Writing Journal
Hello there!I'm Lisa Ciccarello, author of At Night (Black Ocean, 2015), a full-length book of poetry, as well as 11 chapbooks.My poems have appeared in over 60 journals, including the Academy of American Poets' Poem-a-Day, Tin House, Denver Quarterly, the PEN Poetry Series, Handsome, The Volta, & Sixth Finch, among others.I hold an MFA in Poetry from the University of Arizona.

Portfolio
Poems
A curated selection of work available online:{Click the title to go directly to the poem.}
Books & Chapbooks
Below is a selection of works that are available to read or purchase.{Click the image for more information.}
Full List of Publications:
Postcard Lit, Sixth Finch, Ekphrastic Review, Academy of American Poets, Columbia Poetry Review, Academy of American Poets, Poor Claudia, Ampersand, Big Lucks, Corduroy Mtn #3 & #4, Dusie, Boaat, The Feminist Wire, HTMLGIANT’s Sunday Service, The Volta, Big Bell, Pinwheel, New Megaphone, Better Magazine, PEN Poetry Series, The Collapsar, Smoking Glue Gun, SpringGun, La Fovea, Parallax, Everyday Genius, Horse Less Press, Dark Sky, Noo Journal, Denver Quarterly Vol. 47, Leveler, SpringGun, Interrupture, Lungfull! Magazine, Tin House Issue 53, Jet Fuel Review, Handsome Vol. 4, Clock Magazine, Ping Pong, Eleven Eleven, elimae, Matchbook 3, We Are So Happy To Know Something, HNGMN, 20 Minutes in Portland, Open Heart, Sawbuck, Dogzplot, Word Riot, Mud Luscious, Wicked Alice, Poor Claudia (Bucket Book & Issue 2), Saltgrass, Robot Melon, Tinfoildresses, Anti-, Otoliths, Thirteen Myna Birds, GlitterPony.
Games
Here are few of the games I've made, either on my own or in collaboration with others.Have fun playing them!
Use this 3-step ritual to get your words out of your head & onto the page. You don’t need a plan; you just need a few minutes.1. Breathe:
Take 3 slow, deep breaths.2. Brainstorm:
Write down five words you associate with whatever idea you currently can’t stop thinking about.3. Begin:
Pick one of those words.Write for 3 minutes using it as your anchor. You can repeat it, approach it from different angles, or write around it without using it.Bonus:
End the ritual by closing your eyes & taking 3 more slow breaths.There's no need to edit, or analyze what you've written. Just know that your idea is already working to become a poem.You can return to this simple ritual any time you want to write.
About

Lisa Ciccarello is the author of At Night (Black Ocean, 2015), a full-length book of poetry, as well as several chapbooks.Her poems have appeared in Tin House, Poets.org, Denver Quarterly, the PEN Poetry Series, Handsome, & The Volta, among others.She holds an MFA in Poetry from the University of Arizona.She loves collaborative work, & finding ways to share poems through comics, zines, bots, stickers, gifs, games & more.Connect with her online or contact her using the icons below.Be the first to see her newest works by joining her on Patreon
Prompts, ekphrasis, ritual—if there's a way to make writing more fun, I'll try it.Because I believe the best writing happens when you're having the best time doing it.

Workbook
Disturbing Words: 31 eerie prompts for short works

Things I love
Carrd.co: This website is made with carrd, as is my poetry prompt challenge website.I get my domains through namecheap, I think they're the best.
Patreon
I've made my Patreon a welcoming community for both readers & poets.If you're a fan of my work, you can read new & in-process poems that no one else has access to, be the first to know about new publications & chat with me in the community threads or during our monthly Office Hours.If you're a poet, you can write new poems using my prompts, plan & track creative work in the workbooks I've created, or come to Office Hours for advice or encouragement.When you join you'll get:
access to a library of 100+ exclusive projects, including poems, readings, short stories, zines, games & more
a variety of prompts, from small seasonal lists to 30 day experiences
community chats for sharing wins, inspirations & resources, as well as asking questions abt my writing journey or anything that comes up in your own artistic practice
monthly Office Hours for personalized advice
behind the scenes updates of ongoing poems & projects
free access to resources that are for sale in my shop (like this line a day fillable journal)
Games
A few of the games I've made, either on my own or in collaboration with others.Have fun playing them!
Lisa Ciccarello
{bi-monthly newsletter}
{poems, prompts & more}
{free writing challenge}
{instant download}
{humanitarian aid for Palestine}