Hi there! My name is Noreen Ocampo. I’m a writer and poet who’s obsessed with the details.
Punctuation, line breaks, slant rhyme—these unassuming elements are my trusted tools. I pride myself on using words to make readers feel something, whether that be nostalgia for Mom’s cooking or clarity about a challenging book’s plot twists.
This poem was published in Diode Poetry Journal this past autumn.
In my creative work, I like to weave poems out of hyper-specific details and encourage readers to reencounter their own experiences from new perspectives. With an MFA in Poetry from the University of Mississippi and two published chapbooks under my belt, I’m trained to pay attention to the smallest of details and make my writing sing.
I also like to experiment! Here’s my tennis court-shaped poem in Frontier Poetry.
And here are some kind things folks have said about my writing.
As a Freelance Writer for the edtech company LitCharts, I’ve written comprehensive yet accessible online guides for a diverse selection of novels. I might’ve even written about your favorite books! My recent guides cover:
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;
The Lover, Marguerite Duras’ autobiographical novella on her youth in French Indochina;
Buddha in the Attic, Julie Otsuka’s historical novel on Japanese internment;
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.
I’m passionate about using an inclusive voice to educate, inspire, and empower others. I love thinking about how to give people the tools and confidence they need to better understand—and enjoy—ideas that may seem challenging.
An excerpt from my written interview in Rooted Magazine
Outside of my literature guides, my prose can be found:
As a blurb on the back of Lannie Stabile’s poetry collection When the Forest Finds You;
In my review of Our Echo of Sudden Mercy, Hari Alluri’s poetry collection;
In my review of The Beginning of Leaving, Elsa Valmidiano’s essay collection;
In my recent interview with Lauren Rhoades for Rooted Magazine;
In my essay examining Filipino American representation in Steven Universe on the COUNTERCLOCK blog.
I’m capable of a wide range of tone and voice and always ready to adapt my writing to match the occasion. Regardless of what I’m writing, I believe in crafting clear and engaging sentences and delivering them in a warm, friendly manner to welcome diverse audiences.