Hi, I’m Elizabeth Dick Howell—a poet, librettist, elementary school librarian, and proud mother of two sons. I hold an MFA in poetry, and my work explores the surreal, the sacred, and the strange, often with a sharp sense of wit and a feminist edge. My poems have appeared in various print and online journals.

I began writing libretti in 2022, when I joined the Jane Langston Creation Lab at Seattle Opera. Alongside composer Spencer Edgers, I wrote Everything After. Since then, we’ve collaborated again on another opera titled Little Things, which is set to premiere in August 2025.

In addition to poetry and opera, I am currently exploring new genres, including children’s books and screenwriting. As I branch out, I am learning that getting published is not just about writing something clever or good. It is about showing up, submitting the work, and trying again. In my newsletter, I share the rejections and the tiny wins that create hope.