Conversations with Maggie Warren

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Warren

Hi Maggie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a freelance editor, writing tutor, adjunct English instructor, and toad poet.

One of my earliest and most vivid memories was peering into my brother’s open hands to see a gathering of gray, spotted toads, the smallest creatures I’d ever seen. Adoring basement toads together with my family felt like a magical way to connect with them: I loved animals for their souls, while my family enjoyed experiencing the science of the natural world. I saw myself in these toads as someone who grew up feeling misunderstood, and I brought their friendship with me into my studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where I earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Media Arts degree in 2024. During my studies, I wrote The Garden House (currently unpublished), a collection of poems about love, loss, and toads.

I wouldn’t be the poet I am today without my family, friends, partner, and teachers. I’m also especially grateful to Dr. Jenny Molberg, who guided me and helped me believe I could be a poet, and Dr. Hadara Bar-Nadav who helped me feel more confident in my voice. Writing has always been my way of navigating and making sense of the world, and over time, I found that poetry gave me the space I needed to explore my own experiences and learn about the perspectives of others. My work in editing and teaching has allowed me to connect with other writers and creators, which in turn influences and inspires my own writing practice. I see poetry as a bridge between worlds—scientific, emotional, human, and animal—and my own voice as a small piece of that bridge. My voice is just as significant as toads, who are important parts of ecosystems and continue to inspire my work.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Growing up in a small midwestern town, I was heavily bullied as a queer and neurodivergent child. Even before I knew I was different, people called me slurs and excluded me. For much of my life, this “misfit” label felt like a hindrance, yet I have reclaimed this label and found value and connection with the toads in my stories and within communities that make space for people like me. This full acceptance of self enables me to see, witness, and represent valuable parts of my story, and I hope to give others the inspiration and the space to share their stories too.

During my master’s program, I faced the profound loss of three family members: my dad Curt, my aunt Melinda (Nana), and my uncle Gene. I feel these heavy losses daily, yet I’m grateful for the ways they show up in my poetry and that I have the opportunity to let others know them through my work.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I write poems about toads! There are so many fascinating things about them; it’s like the poems write themselves! I’m most proud of my poem “Elegy for Toadzilla” (published by Bear Review in October 2024 and available online in Issue 11.1: https://www.bearreview.com/11-1/maggie-warren). This poem is about the largest cane toad found in the world (weighing in at 6 pounds). When I first discovered her story, I felt inspired by her power but didn’t think much about her loss. Once I learned more about human involvement in moving cane toads to Australia and turning them into an invasive species, I returned to her and grieved the loss of such a magnificent specimen. Did you know that all toads are frogs but not all frogs are toads? Did you know there’s a frog called the “pobblebonk” that sounds like a banjo when it calls? Or that some desert toads experience rain only a few times in their entire lives, so they spend years waiting for the perfect shower? There is so much to notice in our world, and we each have our own unique and significant ways of caring for it.

In addition to my creative writing, I’ve worked as a freelance writer and editor for over 10 years, collaborating with clients like Missouri Humanities, Bay County Michigan Probate Court, and independent artists to create content, proofread, organize, and polish their work to ensure it’s error free and fully serves its purpose. I’m deeply interested in how others see the world, and I want to help people discover the ways effective writing can enable them to reach their goals.

With eight years of teaching experience, I feel most like myself in the classroom. I teach English and critical thinking courses at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where my students have won the Ilus W. Davis Competition (from UMKC’s Sosland Journal) for two consecutive years—taking both first prize and the runner-up awards in the intermediate category in 2024. I’ve also tutored since 2016, and my experiences as a tutor and teacher continually inform and enhance each other. I think back on my own experiences feeling bullied by some of my teachers in school and now prioritize accessibility, diversity, and empathy in my classes. I’m deeply grateful for the incredible students who challenge me daily to grow as both a teacher and a person and remind me just how important it is to lean on our communities and support each other.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’m always interested in connecting with other writers who want help strengthening their work, organizations that focus on helping people, especially within the LGBTQ+ and disability communities, and anyone wanting to learn more about technical communication, academic writing, business writing, poetry, creative writing, and most other forms of writing. I welcome business inquiries through my website.

You can find my poems in Hayden’s Ferry Review (Issue 73), Half Mystic Journal (Opus II, Issue I), and Bear Review (Issue 11.1). I also share my work on Instagram and on my website.

These were the first lines I wrote as a new poet, uncertain yet hopeful, in 2016: “My home is your home. The door is always open. / Because at my house, we play board games all night long. / We make our pie crust by hand.” The essence of these lines runs through every poem I write: an invitation for anyone seeking connection, comfort, and a space where they can belong. My poems are places decorated with toads and pies, and everyone who needs it is invited. I hope these words inspire you to explore your own stories and find (or create) spaces where you (and others) feel at home.

Pricing:

• Proofreading: Varies by product, typically $60-$80.00 per page with more than 50 words or an hourly rate
• Private English Tutoring: $50/hour

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/toadpoetmaggs
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toadpoetmaggs/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magsbewrites/

Image Credits
Portraits of me by Ashley Vogel