Hi there! My name is Noreen Ocampo. I’m a writer, poet, and author of two chapbooks.
I pride myself on writing about books of all genres. I aim to get people excited about reading—even if they’re a student just trying to pass their mandatory English class or someone who can’t remember the last time they read for fun.
As a Freelance Writer for the edtech company LitCharts, I’ve written comprehensive yet accessible online guides for a diverse selection of novels. My recent guides cover:
Buddha in the Attic, Julie Otsuka’s historical novel on Japanese internment;
The Lover, Marguerite Duras’ autobiographical novella on her adolescence in French Indochina;
A Very Large Expanse of Sea, Tahereh Mafi’s YA novel on a hijabi’s experiences with first love and bullying;
When You Trap a Tiger, Tae Keller’s children’s novel that explores biracial Korean American identity;
The Last Bookshop in London, Madeline Martin’s historical romance set in WWII;
Gods of Jade and Shadow, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s historical fantasy set in Mexico’s Jazz Age.
I’m passionate about uplifting books by authors of marginalized backgrounds. I love thinking about how to give readers the tools they need to better understand—and enjoy—the life stories of characters whose backgrounds may differ from their own.
I’ve also written reviews of forthcoming or recently-published books as a staff writer for literary magazines like Marías at Sampaguitas and COUNTERCLOCK. My favorite reviews spotlight books like:
Our Echo of Sudden Mercy, Hari Alluri’s poetry collection;
The Beginning of Leaving, Elsa Valmidiano’s essay collection;
Natalie, Keana Aguila Labra’s poetry micro-chapbook.
I aim to generate buzz by bridging the gap between marginalized authors and the general public. I often review works by fellow Filipino American writers, and in my reviews, I open the door: I strive to show readers how they might catch glimpses of themselves in someone else’s story and emphasize the universal experiences that make us human.
Outside of my literature guides and book reviews, my prose can be found:
As a blurb on the back of Lannie Stabile’s poetry collection When the Forest Finds You;
In my recent interview with Lauren Rhoades for Rooted Magazine;
In my essay examining Filipino American representation in Steven Universe on the COUNTERCLOCK blog.
With my background in poetry, I’m meticulous, detail-oriented, and interested in visual storytelling. I love using Canva to make pitch decks, like this one for a screenwriting project:
While earning my MFA, I frequently used Canva to create clear and aesthetically pleasing lecture slides for my students and in my own coursework in Multimedia Ideation.
In terms of other digital skills, I currently manage my own author site using Squarespace.
For two years, I served as the Web Editor for COUNTERCLOCK, where I gained experience in website-building and maintenance. During that time, I also served as a Blog Co-editor and worked on essay series like “Self-Care in a Global Pandemic” and “Found Poetry.”
I keep my Instagram updated with writing-related news by sharing my publications, participation in workshops and conferences, and appearances at public readings.