Welcome. Start Here.
MFA-level coaching to create intentional habits, rapidly improve craft, and finally write the poems only you can write.
As a free subscriber, you’ll receive:
Occasional writing tips, essays, poetry, and prompts
The Poetry Coach hosts an online writing community that offers MFA-level coaching to create intentional habits, rapidly improve craft, and finally write the poems only you can write.
As a paid subscriber, you’ll also receive:
Quarterly workshops where you get concrete tools and templates to help you master one aspect of craft at a time
Coaching Calls where you can learn strategies and techniques to improve craft and creative habits
Poetry and personal essays to show you how I’m pushing myself to a deeper creative level
Discounts on 1-to-1 editing and writing coaching opportunities with me
UPCOMING EVENTS
JULY
How to Propel Your Poetry: Tension, Texture, & Turns (Sunday, July 13 at 10:00 am PT)
ABOUT ME
Hi! I’m Kelly. Feral writer. Deep feeler. Relentless Momma. I’m an ocean-obsessed Aries from Jersey living in California, writing hard to become a deeper, more inspired thinker and feeler.Â
I’m the author of five books: Future Tense (forthcoming from Alice James 2026) Boat Burned (YesYes Books); Words Ignite: Explore, Perform, Write Classic and Spoken Word Poetry; Voices in Verse: Poetry, Identity and Ethnic Studies; Stanzas of America: Celebrating BIPOC Poetry. I’m also the winner of the Jane Underwood Poetry Prize and the Neil Postman Award for Metaphor. My poems have appeared in The Adroit Journal, Best New Poets, 32 Poems, Los Angeles Review, Sixth Finch, and elsewhere. I’ve received fellowships from Randolph College, the Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing, and Kenyon Review Young Writers’ Workshop. I’m the former Director of Education for Get Lit-Words Ignite, and the craft books and curricula I’ve written are taught in Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest district in the country.Â
Most importantly, I landed a book deal with my dream publisher before taking a formal workshop. Everything I learned, I learned by teaching myself to read closely and write strategically, by letting my creativity lead, and I can teach you to do the same.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
For those of you working on a collection or chapbook, I offer personalized editing, as well as coaching, to help you prepare for publication.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I hope to write with you soon.Â
Lastly, please take a moment to introduce yourself. Let us know who you are and what brought you to our community by leaving a comment below.
Sending oceans of gratitude.
Shine on,
KellyÂ
PS Please introduce yourself below and tell us why you’re here.
Some other places you can find me:Â
Please take
Hi Kelly and community, I’m from Calgary, Alberta. I’m here because I always learn something with Kelly!
Hi Kelly, I'm excited to participate in your workshop.