Faylita Hicks

Poet, Creative Nonfiction Writer, Spoken Word Artist

San Marcos, TX
Texas US
Twitter/X: 

Author's Bio

Faylita Hicks (she/her/they) is a poet, essayist, and interdisciplinary artist. The Editor-in-Chief of Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review, they are the author of HoodWitch (Acre Books, 2019) a finalist for the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Poetry, the 2020 Balcones Poetry Prize, and shortlisted for the 2020 Julie Suk Award. They have been awarded fellowships and residencies from Tin House, Lambda Literary, Jack Jones Literary Arts, and the Right of Return USA, the first fellowship designed exclusively for previously incarcerated artists. Their work has been featured in American Poetry Review, the Cincinnati Review, Huffpost, Longreads, Poetry Magazine, Slate, Texas Observer, Texas Monthly and others. Hicks received an MFA in Creative Writing from Sierra Nevada University.

Publications & Prizes

Creative Nonfiction

Journals:
Barrelhouse
,
Huffington Post
,
Kenyon Review Online
,
Longreads
,
Poetry Magazine
,
Slate
,
Texas Observer

Poetry

Book:
HoodWitch (Acre Books, 2019)
Journals: , , ,
Bone Bouquet
, , , ,
Foundry
, , , ,
Linden Avenue Literary Journal
, , , , , ,
Poetry Daily
, ,
Redivider
,
Rockvale Review
,
Sundog Lit
, ,
Yale Review
,

Spoken Word

Performances:
Oysters and Chocolate Magazine (2012)
,
Rip Da Mic Tour (2011)
,
Austin Poetry Slam Team 2009 (2010)
,
EXSE Spoken Word Showcase (2010)
,
Austin International Poetry Festival (2009)
,
EXSE Spoken Word Showcase (2009)
,
Rock The Republic (2009)
,
Women of the World Poetry Slam (2009)
,
Women of the World Poetry Slam (2009)
,
Zonta's Human Trafficking Awareness (2009)
,
Expressions of the Mind, The Parish Room - Austin, TX (2008)
,
Lady Liberty's Backyard Bash, Quack's - Austin, TX (2008)
,
National Poetry Slam 2008, Austin Neo-Soul Poetry Slam Team - Austin, TX (2008)
,
Neo-Soul Lounge, Club Illusion - Austin, TX (2008)
,
Spitfest, Ruta Maya Coffee House- Austin, TX (2008)
,
Texas State Univeristy-San Marcos (2008)
,
Hip Hop Congress, Texas State University (2007)
,
Rip the Mic, Texas State University (2007)
Prizes won: 
  • 2020 Tin House Summer Residency 
  • 2020 Right of Return USA Fellow (Soze Agency)
  • 2019 Lambda Literary Writing Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices Fellow
  • 2019 Jack Jones Literary Arts "Culture, Too" Gender/Sexuality Fellow
  • 2019 Catapult's Black History Month Workshop Scholarship Winner
  • 2019 Palette Poetry's Spotlight Award Finalist
  • 2018 PEN America Writing for Justice Fellowship Finalist
  • 2018 Cosmonauts Avenue Annual Poetry Prize Finalist
  • 2016 Write Bloody Annual Book Contest Finalist
  • 2012 Button Poetry Chapbook Contest Finalist
  • 2009 Austin Poetry Slam Champion
  • 2007 Famecast Webcast Season 3 Top 3 Finalist

Personal Favorites

What I'm reading now: 
How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi, The Yellow House by Sarah Broom, In the Dream House by Maria Machado, Heavy by Kiese Laymon

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
Identifies as: 
African American, Mixed-Race, Native American
Prefers to work with: 
Adults, Any, At Risk Youth, Children, Disability, Homelessness, Illness/Wellness, Incarcerated individuals, LGBTQ, Mental Health, Naturalists/Environmentalists, Seniors, Teachers, Teenagers, Veterans
Fluent in: 
English
Born in: 
Gardena City, CA
California
Raised in: 
Austin, TX
Texas
Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.
Last update: Jun 26, 2020