Meg Johnson (poet)

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For the English actress, see Meg Johnson.

Meg Johnson

Born

Ames, Iowa
Poet

Occupation

Lecturer
Education

MFA in Creative Writing

Alma mater

University of Akron

Genre

Poetry
Website
Official Website

Meg Johnson is an American poet and lecturer.[1] Her poems have appeared in numerous literary
magazines, including Midwestern Gothic,[2] Slipstream Magazine,[3] Word Riot, Hobart, and many
others.[4][5] Her first collection of poems, Inappropriate Sleepover, was released in 2014, and her
second collection, The Crimes of Clara Turlington, is due to be released in December 2015.[1] She is
also the current editor of the Dressing Room Poetry Journal.[6]
Contents
[hide]

1Early life and education

2Career

3Writing style

4Recognition and awards

5Works

6References

7External links

Early life and education[edit]

Johnson was born and raised in Ames, Iowa.[1][2] She enjoyed dance as a child and wrote poems in
high school.[1] She danced with the Iowa State University dance department in high school and later
studied dance at Columbia College Chicago and the University of Iowa. Johnson left college early in
order to pursue a professional career in dance.[7][8] She eventually became a principal dancer at the
Kanopy Dance Company, the resident company at the Overture Center for the
Arts in Madison, Wisconsin.[3] During her six years at Kanopy, Johnson returned to school,
attending Madison College and Edgewood College. There, she was convinced to begin studying
writing.[3][7] She went on to the University of Akron where she entered and completed the Northeast
Ohio Master of Fine Arts program (NEOMFA) in creative writing in 2014.[9][10]

Career[edit]
As a dancer at the Kanopy Dance Company, Johnson took on numerous roles and choreographed
her own dances.[11][12] She became a principal dancer at the company midway through her tenure. She
also served as a dance teacher at the Kanopy School for Contemporary Dance and Choreography.[3]
Johnson began submitting poems to literary magazines in 2009 and published her first poem in a
2009 issue of Slipstream Magazine.[13] As early as 2010, Johnson performed her written work at
poetry readings in the Madison area.[14][15] Her poems were accepted at publications like Slipstream
Magazine, Asinine Poetry, the Pacific Coast Journal, and the Edgewood Review.[3]
In 2011, Johnson became a teaching assistant at the University of Akron where she also studied
poetry. She also served as the poetry editor of the Rubbertop Review. She became a NEOMFA
candidate at the University of Akron that same year.[5] By the end of 2012, her poetry had appeared
in publications like Midwestern Gothic,[2] SOFTBLOW, the Rufous City Review, Wicked
Alice, Smoking Glue Gun, and numerous others.[9][16]
Johnson's original thesis for the NEOMFA program was picked up by the National Poetry Review
Press in 2013. This collection of poems, Inappropriate Sleepover, was released in 2014 by the
publisher.[1] After completing the NEOMFA program in 2014, Johnson went on to become a lecturer in
English at Iowa State University.[10] Her second book, The Crimes of Clara Turlington, is set to be
released in December 2015 by the Vine Leaves Literary Journal press. [1] Johnson is also the current
editor of the Dressing Room Poetry Journal.[6]

Writing style[edit]
Johnson writes most often in free verse on topics generally revolving around femininity and the
commodification of female bodies. Her writing has been described as both "snarky" and "vulnerable"
as it discusses and critiques American cultural norms and the societal expectations of women. [17] Her
poems also make frequent pop culture references to prominent figures including Marilyn
Monroe, Betty Boop,[18] Justin Bieber, and Victoria's Secret.[17] Johnson has stated that she draws
inspiration from Gurlesque poets likeChelsey Minnis and Mary Biddinger.[9]

Recognition and awards[edit]

Johnson won the 2015 Vignette Collection Award from the Vine Leaves Literary Journal for her
book, The Crimes of Clara Turlington. The prize came with the publication of her book and a cash
reward.[1][10] Her book, Inappropriate Sleepover, was also nominated for the National Poetry Review
Press's Rousseau Prize for Literature.[19] Her poem, "Free Samples" was nominated for "Best of the
Net" in 2010.[5][20]

Works[edit]

Inappropriate Sleepover (2014, National Poetry Review Press)

The Crimes of Clara Turlington (2015, Vine Leaves Literary Journal)

References[edit]
1.

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