Poetry, Process, and Pushcart Glory
The College of Liberal Arts is beaming with pride as we celebrate the achievements of Zeke Shomler, an English TA and recent MA/MFA graduate whose poetic prowess has been making waves. With an incredible year in 2024 and a promising start to 2025, Shomler has amassed a remarkable list of publications, including two Pushcart Prize nominations and a feature in the prestigious Modern Language Studies journal.
Recognizing Literary Excellence
The Pushcart Prize is one of the most esteemed awards in American literature, recognizing the best poetry, essays, and short stories published by small presses. Being nominated for this honor speaks to the exceptional quality of Shomler’s work. His nominated poems— “Letter to My Coworker, Who Keeps Making Jokes About Killing Herself” (published in Midsummer Dream House online) and “Perhaps I Am Too Ambitious When Purchasing Fresh Vegetables” (published in Glassworks Magazine)—demonstrate his keen ability to capture complex emotions and human experiences through evocative verse.
Additionally, Shomler’s poem “The Poet is Learning How to Seek Revenge” was published in Modern Language Studies, a peer-reviewed journal affiliated with the Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA). This publication places him among distinguished literary scholars and solidifies his standing as a serious voice in contemporary poetry.
Beyond these, Shomler’s work has appeared in numerous literary outlets. Some of his other recent publications include “Velvet” (Folio), “Song for the Need to Devour” (The Shore), “Molecular Physics Comprehensive Exam” (South Florida Poetry Journal), and “Dream of the Moose Calf” (Up the Staircase Quarterly). These are just a small selection from an extensive list of his published works. To explore the full breadth of his poetry and essays, visit his website.
The Process Behind the Poetry
Shomler’s writing process is deeply intuitive, guided by meticulous note-taking and an acute awareness of language and imagery. “I keep a notebook with me all the time,” he explains. “In the back, I write down anything that inspires or strikes me poetically—lines and quotes, images, flashes of ideas, snippets of drafts, memories, similes, language I find interesting… That’s where most of my poems start.” His approach allows themes and images to converge in unexpected ways, leading to the creation of striking, original poetry.
For aspiring poets and MFA students, Shomler’s advice is straightforward: “Read as much as you can, as widely as you can! There are SO many different poetic niches and different types of publication venues out there—the first step to placing your work is trying to match it to a journal where it fits with the editors’ preferences and overall styles and themes.” He also emphasizes resilience, noting that his average number of rejections per poem before acceptance is 3.7, with some pieces receiving as many as 16 rejections before finding a home.
UAF’s Creative Writing Program: A Foundation for Success
Shomler credits much of his growth to the mentorship he received at UAF. “Nicole Stellon O’Donnell was my poetry teacher during my second year in the program, and my time with her was informative as I put together the first drafts of my thesis. Sara Eliza Johnson’s poetry is a huge inspiration to me, and her guidance was instrumental in helping me polish my thesis during my final semester.” He also acknowledges the impact of Joe Holt’s mentorship in professional writing and book reviewing, as well as the encouragement from fellow students Nóra McIntyre and Rachel Blume.
Zeke Shomler (second row, fifth from the left) alongside fellow poets from the second annual Solstice Poetry Cycle, part of the Midnight Sun Visiting Writers Series on January 30, 2025.
UAF’s MFA program in Creative Writing has long been a launchpad for emerging writers, providing students with the resources, community, and mentorship needed to establish themselves in the literary world. Shomler’s success is a testament to the program’s ability to foster talent and support students in reaching new heights.
Looking Ahead
Though his time as an MFA student has ended, Shomler’s literary career is far from slowing down. Currently, he is pursuing an M.Ed. in Secondary Education with a focus on Math and English, with plans to stay in Fairbanks and teach in public schools. Despite shifting his focus toward education, he remains dedicated to poetry, with new work forthcoming in AGNI and other esteemed literary journals. He’s also shaping his MFA thesis into a book manuscript, currently under review with several publishers.
“I’ve been writing a lot of ‘Ology’ poems—Hydrology, Ornithology, etc.—that reimagine scientific themes/language with personal detail and narrative exploration,” he shares. With his distinctive voice and unwavering commitment to the craft, there’s no doubt that more remarkable work lies ahead.
About the UAF Department of English
The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Department of English offers robust programs in literature, rhetoric, and creative writing. Home to the prestigious MFA program, UAF provides students with opportunities to develop their craft in a supportive and intellectually stimulating environment. The department takes pride in fostering a dynamic literary community, with faculty and students regularly contributing to national and international literary conversations.
