A Love Poem for Pride Month
My poem, “She gave me COVID on our first date”, is out now on DC Pride Poems. This poem is pretty self-explanatory 😂. And […]
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My book turns 10 this year!
I had a dream come true ten years ago. My book On that one-way trip to Mars was published in May 2016 — which is somehow a decade ago!
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‘She’s a wild, wild woman’
Writing poetry inspired by wronged women Xochi Quetzali Cartland, one of my fellow poets in the 2026 cohort of Pride Poets-in-Residence through […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
Read moreThe importance of place
Chimamanda Adichie tells true, personal stories By Marlena Chertock She tries to tell the Nigerian story, her Nigerian story, through fearless honesty. […]
Read moreLearning from the greats: Reaction to Chapter 9 of ‘America’s Best Newspaper Writing’
Chapter 9: The Classics APRIL 15, 2011 To be a reporter, to be a good reporter, one has to have a passion […]
Read moreMolly Secours challenges white privilege and injustice at Elon University’s second-annual Diversity Leadership Conference
APRIL 2, 2011 Marlena Chertock “Everyone living in our culture, in America, experiences a culture of white dominance,” writer Molly Secours said. […]
Read moreReporting on disasters and crisis: Reaction to Chapter 8 of ‘America’s Best Newspaper Writing’
Chapter 8: Terrorism, war and disasters Writing about terrorism, war and disasters is tricky, has to be accurate and on tight deadlines […]
Read moreWriting to show: Reaction to Chapter 7 of ‘America’s Best Newspaper Writing’
Chapter 7: The Profile and Feature Story Feature and profile writing has been called the art of journalism, the art of journalistic […]
Read moreActivist explains the ‘Value of Nothing’
by Marlena Chertock, October 1, 2010 Photo courtesy of Google Images. With a sense of humor, seemingly flawless memorization skills and no […]
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