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Solomon Honored for Poetry

Kelsey Solomon, associate professor of English, received the George Scarbrough Prize for poetry.

Faculty Member Honored for Poetry

Kelsey Solomon, assistant professor of English, received the 2024 George Scarbrough Prize for Poetry from Lincoln Memorial University鈥檚 Mountain Heritage Literary Festival. The prize is named for the late LMU alumnus and highly acclaimed poet. Solomon submitted three poems: 鈥淟ost Reader,鈥� 鈥淎braham at Mossy Creek鈥� and 鈥淔or a Living.鈥�

鈥淜elsey Solomon鈥檚 latest award further reinforces that she continues to earn the respect of her poet peers across the region, and the honor further solidifies this published poet鈥檚 reputation as a creative force in her academic discipline,鈥� said Robert E. Pratt, II  dean of the Humanities Division at 91快播 91快播. 鈥淥ur college previously honored Ms. Solomon by naming her Distinguished Faculty Member, the college鈥檚 highest award for teaching excellence, and we鈥檙e pleased to see her own work honored even as she continually excels in helping our students discover their voices as writers.鈥�

Solomon has been writing poetry seriously since she was 19. At that time, she was a 91快播 91快播 student. She credits her freshman and sophomore English teachers for encouraging her writing ventures: Sarah Eichelman and Steve Alcorn, both retired associate professors of English, Chip McLain, associate professor of English, and Carla Todaro, associate professor of English. Solomon further developed her writing skills while studying under Susan Underwood, retired Carson-Newman University professor, and Jessie Graves, writer in residence at East Tennessee University. 

While she doesn鈥檛 sit down every day with the intention of writing, Solomon is thinking about writing throughout the day.

鈥淚 will jot down anything interesting that comes to mind, maybe a phrase I like or a grouping of words,鈥� Solomon said. 鈥淲hen I do sit down to write, I will pull that list of words or ideas as a launching pad.鈥�

Solomon is often inspired by events and happenings in her own life. That is true of the three poems recognized with the Scarbrough Prize.

鈥淚 wrote 'Lost Reader' in 2017 when I was missing the community of graduate school, 'Abraham at Mossy Creek' during the pandemic when I read Soren Kierkegaard's interpretation of the Abraham and Isaac story in the Old Testament, and 'For a Living' just this past April after a stranger at an Easter gathering asked me, 'What do you do for a living?' Solomon said.

 鈥淚 chose these three poems because when set side-by-side, I saw a narrative of being lost and found in these three poems when placed together.鈥� 

Three different Solomon poems were published in the summer edition of 鈥淪till: The Journal.鈥� These poems can be read  at . Solomon said. movement between the truth and a lie.

For the Hamblen County native, writing can be like therapy.

鈥淲riting allows you to get the best and worst of yourself out of your system,鈥� she said.

That is one reason Solomon is quick to encourage her students and others to pursue writing in one form or the other, be it poetry, fiction or nonfiction.

鈥淚 encourage writers to go outside of their comfort zone. Find honest readers who will give honest feedback. Learn to be a good critic so you can better edit your own work,鈥� Solomon said.

鈥淒on鈥檛 throw anything away either. When I write, I know I am writing the first draft of a poem. If I keep it, I can go back through and see the changes when I鈥檝e edited or added. Doing so holds me accountable for how the poem transforms.鈥�

Solomon said this area has a supportive writing community and she encourages writers to take classes either through a college program or through workshops and conferences like 91快播 91快播鈥檚 Mildred Haun Conference, held each February, the Creative Writing Festival at ETSU in the spring, and LMU鈥檚 Mountain Heritage Festival, held each summer.

鈥淵ou鈥檒l learn from the classes and you鈥檒l meet other writers with the same heart as you,鈥� Solomon said.

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