Poetry Publications & Honors
McKenzie Lynn Tozan
Though she’s been writing poetry and short stories since she was old enough to scribble letters, McKenzie officially began her creative writing journey in high school, where she took creative writing classes, got involved in the literary community, published her earliest poems, and participated in her high school’s nationally award-winning literary magazine. Since then, she’s earned a Bachelor of Arts in Writing, an MFA in Poetry, worked with 42 Miles Press, New Issues Poetry & Prose, countless other literary magazines and digital publications (most notably, Black Tongue Review and Sundress Publications), launched her own literary magazine, Lit Shark Magazine, and of course, continued to write and publish poems. She’s had work featured in Rogue Agent, Whale Road Review, and New Mexico Review, to name a few favorites, and she’s received honors from Celery City, Vocal, and Analecta, an art gallery display in the Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts (KIA), and a Best of the Net nomination from Whale Road Review.
adam clay, on mckenzie lynn tozan's winning poem, "Domesticity"
“In ‘Domesticity’ the poem’s violence is wrapped in surreal images that take on a life all their own, with ‘teeth [as] white scarecrows / after too many fights’ and ‘knives…charading / in children’s clothes.’ Perhaps what makes this poem even more compelling is what’s left unsaid, the violence that even language cannot understand.”
Published Poetry
Rogue Agent
New Mexico Review
“Exit Strategies”
“Shopping for T-Rex”
(NOMINATED FOR BEST OF THE NET)
“For My Doppelgänger”
ENCORE MAGAZINE
Emerge Literary Journal
WHERE THE ANTELOPE DO NOT HAVE EARS
BEFORE I TURNED AWAY, THE EVIDENCE WAS EXPOSED
Birds Piled Loosely
The James Franco Review
Thank You for Swallowing
Analecta Literary
Sleet Magazine
Poetry Honors
“For My Doppelgänger”
“For My Doppelgänger” first appeared as a part of the Second Sight/Insight II exhibition at the Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts (KIA), alongside Flo Hatcher’s lithograph, Box with a Sky Window. It was displayed January 2015—May 2015 before being picked up and published by Encore Magazine.
“Daughter Wild”
“Daughter Wild” received another nod from Wolverine Farm Letterpress in their 2019 Broadside contest. “Daughter Wild” was included as one of the finalists! Thank you to Wolverine Farm Letterpress, and their 2019 judge, Jennifer Givhan, for the inclusion on such an impressive list. I’m floored by the amount of positive attention “Daughter Wild” has received!
“Daughter Wild” also received a nod from great weather for MEDIA for their upcoming 2019 anthology, in addition to publication with Young Ravens Literary Review. Though it will not be able to be included, I greatly appreciate the support of great weather for MEDIA, and the positive attention “Daughter Wild” has received!
“Bad Omens”
“Bad Omens” was one poem of nearly 1,000 entries to Vocal Poets’ 2019 Poetry Contest, “Poetry-in-Motion,” in honor of National Poetry Month. One winner, and three runners-up, were selected for this contest. “Bad Omens” was one of the three runners-up poems, which included a small royalty and an absolutely beautiful visual poem representation of an excerpt of the poem. You can see the video of my poem “Bad Omens” by Julianne Waber here, and you can see the announcement of winners (and links to their poems and visualizations) here.
“Shopping for T-Rex”
“Shopping for T-Rex,” my childhood memory / dinosaur poem, was nominated by Whale Road Review for Best of the Net 2016. Thank you, WRR, for your support and love of this poem!
Dear Earth / There Are Birds
My chapbook (or chapbook-length poem), Dear Earth / There Are Birds, received an Honorable Mention for the 2014 Celery City Chapbook Contest in Michigan. To celebrate, I was also invited to read from the collection in Spring 2015 alongside the winners.
“Caterpillars”
“Caterpillars” was accepted for the online archive of the All We Can Hold anthology, leading to its culmination, printing, and release. The finalized anthology is now available here.
“Excavation”
“Excavation” also received a nod from Horse Less Press for their December 2015 issue, in addition to publication with New Mexico Review. Though it would not be able to be included, I greatly appreciate the support of Horse Less Press, and the excitement “Excavation” has witnessed, then and since!
“Domesticity”
“Domesticity” received an Honorable Mention at the 2014 Western Michigan University Creative Writing Contest, in the graduate level division of poetry, judged by poet Adam Clay. March 2014. Here are the comments Clay offered for the poem: “In ‘Domesticity’ the poem’s violence is wrapped in surreal images that take on a life all their own, with ‘teeth [as] white scarecrows / after too many fights’ and ‘knives…charading / in children’s clothes.’ Perhaps what makes this poem even more compelling is what’s left unsaid, the violence that even language cannot understand.” There is also a short piece in the Western Herald about the Awards Ceremony, here.
“Lost & Found”
“Lost & Found” was published in the in-house publication, Analecta, and received an Honorable Mention.
Past Readings
In April 2016, I presented on poetry and the workplace in my panel, “Poetry and (Work)Place: Inviting Your Vocation into Your Poetry,” at the 2016 Kalamazoo Poetry Festival, during which I also presented a series of my poems alongside my fellow panelists.
In October 2015, I participated in an Open Mic celebration of Analecta’s open reading period for new submissions. Also reading were David Dodd Lee, Kelcey Ervick, Nancy Botkin, Clayton Michaels, et al.
Upon graduating and having my thesis approved, I was invited to read from an earlier draft of my first full-length collection, The Separation, as a part of the MFA/PhD graduation festival at Western Michigan University. May 2015.
To celebrate National Poetry Month, I was invited to read several of my poems at the Waldo Library at Western Michigan University to jumpstart the campus celebration. April 2015.
Upon receiving an Honorable Mention for Dear Earth / There are Birds in the Celery City Chapbook Competition for Michigan Writers, I was invited to read a selection from my chapbook alongside the winners and fellow honorable mentions. March 2015.
In January 2015, I was invited to share my poem, “For My Doppelgänger,” and to explain my ekphrastic process when comparing my poem to Flo Hatcher’s Box with a Sky Window, as a part of the Second Sight/Insight II grand opening at the Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts (KIA).
As a part of the now-defunct Hearthside Readers and Writers series in South Bend, based at Fiddler’s Hearth, I read monthly alongside peers and faculty based in the South Bend-Mishawaka area. 2010-2012
I completed a reading of my earlier work at Taylor University and received an Honorable Mention for my collection of submitted poetry. November 2010.