Writer, Poet, & Essayist
Dalton Sikes
Dalton Sikes is a West Coast writer, poet, essayist, and former Managing Editor of the internationally-distributed Silk Road Review. His work has appeared in Shift: A Journal of Literary Oddities, Inscape, Chaotic Merge, and The Heartland Review, among others. Additionally, he has presented at the Northwest Undergraduate Conference on Literature, Northwest Undergraduate Conference in the Humanities, Oregon Poetry Association Annual Conference, and Sigma Tau Delta Annual Conference. Dalton is a 2024 finalist for the Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize. His work ranges from dark to delightful through poetry and prose.
Writing News
Finalist for Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize & Published in The Heartland Review
-I'm absolutely ecstatic to announce that my poem, "Portrait of Barcelona's Beauty," will be published in The Heartland Review as a finalist, 4th place, for the Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize this May 2024!
Published in Shift: A Journal of Literary Oddities!
-My poem, "Carcass," has been accepted by Ringling College of Art and Design's literary magazine! They do beautiful work with their literary magazines and Issue #6 is going to look great!
Published in Inscape!
-My story, "Another Glass," has been accepted by Washburn University's literary magazine, "Inscape."
Published in Chaotic Merge!
-After working with the fantastic Chaotic Merge team, my short story, "America's Child," was published mid-September.
Published in Cinematic Codes Review
-My essay, "The Cut-Throat Construct and its Warping of Women: An Analysis of Gender and Performativity in He’s Out There (2018)," has been anthologized in Cinematic Codes Review's The Real and Animated Worlds on Disney+: Volume VIII, Issue 2: Summer 2023 (Cinematic Codes Review)
-I'm pleased to announce that I've received the Melissa Bank Memorial Award. Thrilled to be associated with such a remarkable woman.
Melissa Bank Memorial Award
Institutional Recognition!
-I'm honored to announce that in May of 2023 I've been recognized as "Outstanding Senior in Creative Writing!"
Big Things on the Horizon...
-I graduated as Valedictorian of my undergraduate class! Also, beginning in Fall 2023, I will start my MFA in Creative Writing & Literature in New York! I'm beyond thrilled for the next stage of my journey.
Presenter at 2023 Sigma Tau Delta Annual Conference
-March 29 to April 1st of 2023 I will be presenting a collection of poems I've written in Denver, CO.
Presenter at NUCL 2023 Conference
-March 25th, 2023 I will be presenting an essay at the NUCL conference at the University of Portland. It's called, "Finite Femininity and Mythological Misperception: An Analysis of
Monkey King: Journey to the West, The Odyssey, and Norse Mythology."
2nd Place for Literary Scholarship and 3rd Place for Poetry in PLUM Writing Contest
-Mid-January, I was informed that my essay, "The Cut-Throat Construct and its Warping of Women: An Analysis of Gender and Performativity in He’s Out There (2018)," won 2nd place in the PLUM Writing Contest. Additionally, "He Won't Leave" came in 3rd place for poetry.
Speaker at 2022 Annual Oregon Poetry Association Conference
-During the summer, I was notified that my proposal to present at the 2022 OPA conference was accepted. On October 8th, I will be presenting a workshop called "Learning Self-Acceptance Amongst Cut-Throat Literary Magazines."
Published in Wingless Dreamer!
-In August of 2022, I was notified of my acceptance into the Midsummer's Eve poetry anthology. More info on the published poem, "Game Nights," is avaliable under the writing section.
The English Club President & Officially the Managing Editor of Two Magazines
-In the Fall of 2022, I will officially become the Managing Editor of PLUM and Silk Road Review: A Literary Crossroads. Additionally, I will become Pacific University's English Club president.
Essay Published in Audeamus!
-In June of 2022, "The Haunting History of Oppression and Trauma: A Comparative Analysis of Beloved and Sing, Unburied, Sing" was published in Audeamus. The title of it unfortunately has a typo, but I'm thrilled to have my work out in the world. Link avaliable on my writing page.
Awarded the Irving Story Scholarship for a Second Time
-In May of 2022, I was informed that I received the Irving Story scholarship for academic excellence within the English department for the second year in a row.
Speaker at Northwest Undergraduate Conference in the Humanities
-April 30th, 2022 I presented a short story I wrote called, "The Mirage," in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Speaker at Northwest Undergraduate Conference on Literature
-March 19th, 2022 I presented a research paper I wrote called, "Resolving Rossetti’s “Ambiguous” Stance on Feminism: An Analysis of Goblin Market."