University of Idaho Master of Fine Arts student Jory Mickelson recently published his chapbook “Slow Depth.”
Mickelson said he worked on the book of poetry for about three years before he entered it in the Winged City Chapbook Contest.
In January, he published eight poems in the literary journal Assaracus, but said becoming a published writer has been an adjustment.
“It’s exciting to see my work published and to get feedback from writers that I don’t even know,” Mickelson said. “(It’s) thrilling to know that my work is being seen by people that I may not know.”
“Slow Depth” focuses on different kinds of landscapes that can be physical, emotional or a figment of the reader’s imagination.
“All of the poems in the book are set at different places in Montana, whether they exist or not,” Mickelson said.
Robert Wrigley, Mickelson’s professor, said the chapbook is composed of musical, visual and sensory poetry.
“It’s the kind of poetry that enchants people with the sound of its words,” Wrigley said.
“It’s that skill with words that makes those stories irresistible for other people.”
Doug Heckman, director of the MFA program, said he thinks the places Mickelson has lived in the Pacific Northwest have contributed to his poetry.
“He has a keen eye for place and being able to convey that understanding in his mind to the written page,” Heckman said. “He’s been recognized for that ability to do that.”
Wrigley said Mickelson isn’t afraid to challenge himself and his poetry has grown tremendously during his time in the MFA program.
“You can see that he’s gotten a lot more confident,” Wrigley said. “There’s really not anything he can’t do on the page if he works enough at it.”
Wrigley and Heckman said Mickelson helps his colleagues and students with their writing, which is the key to succeeding in a MFA environment.
“He’s very supportive of his colleagues,” Wrigley said. “But he’s also willing to challenge them.”
Heckman said most students in the MFA program will have their work published after graduation but the fact that Mickelson has had so much success during school speaks to his achievement.
“It’s a major accomplishment for a student to get a chapbook published,” said Heckman. “We are quite proud of him.”
Becky Davis can be reached at [email protected]