Catch a falling poem, put it in your pocket
How to celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day & upcoming readings The Mid-Atlantic Review is hosting a community reading and fundraiser this […]
Read moreAuthor: Marlena Chertock
Marlena is a digital storyteller and poetry editor at District Lit. Her first poetry book, On that one-way trip to Mars, is available from Bottlecap Press.
A Very Narrow Bridge
Gesher Tzar Me’od My sister and I barely made our transfer in Frankfurt. We were meeting my dad and stepmom in Kraków, […]
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Day of (No) Silence
On April 10, 2006, I went to school with a whiteboard and a sign around my neck, signaling to my teachers and […]
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1 year since surgery
It’s been one year since my hip replacement. Time is a weird, fluid thing. It feels like it’s only been a few […]
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Writing Queer “After” Poems
Last week, 20 poets gathered at the Arts Club of Washington for my workshop. Thank you so much to those who came out! It was […]
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Upcoming Poetry Workshop: Queer Homage
Ever found yourself singing a song in the shower? Being moved by a painting? Touched by a poet’s words? Harness that frisson […]
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Arts Club of Washington Pride Poet-in-Residence
Sharing some exciting news: I’m honored to have been selected for the 2026 Pride Poet-in-Residence program at the Arts Club of Washington! My fellow cohort […]
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100 articles for Electrical Contractor Magazine
I reached a milestone in freelance writing this year — 100 articles written for Electrical Contractor Magazine! The magazine, in existence since 1935, is […]
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Gooey, fresh out of the oven “Puberty cookies”
What’s your favorite cookie? Is it gooey, fresh out of the oven? Does it have a sprinkle of sea salt on top? […]
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Poetry and mixtapes: Writing inspired by music
When I learned about The Mixtape Review literary magazine, I was excited to submit one of my poems inspired by a song. Each poem and prose […]
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An anthology of contemporary medical poems
I’m honored to be published again by Grey Matter: A Narrative Medicine Poetry Journal, the poetry journal of the Narrative Medicine program at the University of Arizona College […]
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3 poems published in a new literary magazine
I’m so honored and excited to have three poems published in Paper Cranes Literary! The literary magazine was established this year in […]
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2 poems published in a body image zine
Love Me, Love My Belly I had two poems published recently in Porkbelly Press’ Love Me, Love My Belly zine, issue 7. Porkbelly Press, an […]
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Getting hip
Last month, I participated in the live reading of “Squishy But Firm: Sexcapades of a Crip Girl”, as part of the Kennedy […]
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Resigning from the Split This Rock Board
My heart is breaking. I no longer feel safe or welcome in Split This Rock. Staff released this statement last Friday, in […]
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Saying farewell to OutWrite (for now)
After this year’s festival, coming up this weekend, I’m stepping down as Co-Chair of OutWrite, along with Malik Thompson. It’s been an […]
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Crip Time in Pandemic Times at AWP 2022
I’m so excited to be speaking on a panel at AWP again! Next year, at AWP 2022, I’ll be joining Crip Time […]
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‘Nothing About Us Without Us’: Disability Justice is Climate Justice
I’m one little person. That’s partly a pun, because I have dwarfism and am quite short. And partly a play on words […]
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Interviewed on Plume for Writers Podcast
I was so happy to receive an email from Sam Tetangco to join an LGBTQ writers roundtable for the Plume: a writer’s […]
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Interviewed on DC Public Library’s Podcast
When Jenny Cavallero, a D.C.-based comedian, writer, filmmaker, actor, and disabled person, approached me about being interviewed for DCPL’s Access This podcast, […]
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