Rita Tiwari

Poet

Author's Bio

Rita Tiwari is a poet and fiction writer. Her poems have appeared in Portland Review, CALYX, Whale Road Review, and others; additionally, she was a 2026 finalist for the Wandering Aengus & Trail to Table Book Awards. Her writing is inspired by urban landscapes, mythology, and classic cinema. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing from Portland State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Pacific University. She is a Kwame Dawes Mapmakers Scholar. When she is not writing, Rita enjoys exploring the Pacific coast and discovering hidden treasures in and around her home city of Portland, Oregon.

Selected Credits:

Portland Review, Winter 2025: "This Living" https://portlandreview.org/this-living/

Saranac Review, Issue 21: "Frankenstein Boots" https://saranacreview.org/issue-21

Whale Road Review, Issue 40: "After the Fall, We Sit in a Dingy Kitchen" https://www.whaleroadreview.com/issue-40/

Bicoastal Review, Issue 13: "In the Cave at Lost Boy Beach" and "Sensation Novel" https://www.bicoastalreview.com/ritatiwari

Education: 
Pacific University MFA

Publications & Prizes

Prizes won: 

First Place, Oregon Poetry Association Summer Contest 2026, Oregon Poet's Choice Category; Finalist, Wandering Aengus & Trail to Table Book Awards 2026; Third Place, Nebraska Poetry Society 2025 Open Contest

More Information

Gives readings: 
Yes
Travels for readings: 
Yes
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Last update: Sep 08, 2026