Born in Barre, VT, she was raised in Middlebury, VT. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from Syracuse University and a master's degree in English from the University of Vermont (writing a thesis on Dylan Thomas). She also studied at Brandeis University, the Bread Loaf School of English and attended the Bread Loaf Writer's Conference.

Lifshin moved to Schenectady, NY in the 1970s with her then husband who worked for General Electric. She enrolled in a doctoral program in English at SUNY Albany and began submitting her work for publication. She quickly began appearing in a variety of literary magazines. When she left SUNY, she began teaching creative writing workshops at various public venues such as libraries as well as at her home in Niskayuna, NY. Eventually, she began earning a living primarily from workshops, readings, and visiting faculty positions.

Lifshin has been called "The Queen of the Lit Mags" and "The Queen of Modern Romance Poetry". Over 120 books and chapbooks of her work have been published. She has also edited 4 anthologies (appearing in innumerable others) and was the subject of the award winning documentary film, Not Made of Glass. Her work has appeared in numerous literary magazines and cultural publications, including The American Scholar, Christian Science Monitor, Ploughshares, nthWORD and Rolling Stone Magazine.

Bibliographers and literary critics would be hard-pressed to find a literary journal that has not published at least one Lifshin poem at one time or another. To date, however, there is no comprehensive bibliography of her publications and unpublished manuscripts.

She currently divides her time between a home in Niskayuna, NY and a residence in Virginia. Her website is lynlifshin.com.

Barbaro: Beyond Brokenness, Texas Review Press, 200992 Rapple Drive, Coatlism Press, 2008An Unfinished Story, FootHills Publishing, 2006Poets (mostly) who, World Parade, 2006What Matters Most, Scintillating Publications, 2004

 (reprint Black Sparrow, 2001)

Marilyn Monroe, Quiet Lion Press, 1994Ariadne's Thread, Harper and Row, 1982Appletree Lane, New Spirit Press, 1980Women Early Plymouth, Morgan Press, 1977Weeds and Woodsmoke, Bellevue Press, 1974Barbie Poems (Vols. 1 & 2), Lummox Press, 2005The Licorice Daughter: My year with Ruffian, Texas Review Press, 200640 Days Apple Nights, Morgan Press, 1972Offered By Owner, recording and book, Natalie Slohm, 1978The Daughter I Don't Have, Plan B, 2005The Camping Madonna at Indian Lake, M.A.F Press, 1986The Old House Poems, Capra Press, 1975Leaves and Night Things, Baby John Press 1970Red Hair and the Jesuit, Trout Creek Press, 1987Why is the House Dissolving, Open Skull Press, 1969Shooting Kodachromes in the Dark, Penumbra, 1994She was Found Treading Water Deep out in the Ocean, Platonic 3 Way Press, 2005Jesus Christ Live, Future Tense Books, 2004A New Film About A Woman in Love with the Dead, March Street Press, 2003Madonna who Shifts for Herself, Applezaba, 1984Kiss the Skin Off, Cherry Valley Press, 1985Blue Dust New Mexico, Basilisk Press, 1982Another Woman's Story, Butcher Shop Press, 2004When a Cat Dies, Moon Press, 2004Remember the Ladies, Ghost Dance Press, 1985Colors in Cooper Black, Morgan PressNot made of Glass, Karista Press. 1989Tangled Vines 2nd ed, Harcourt Brace, 1992Blue Tattoo, Event Horizon, 2001Naked Charm, Illuminati, 1984, 1990Glass, Morgan Press, 1978Reading Lips, Morgan Press, 1990Lips Unsealed, Capra Press, 1990Black Apples, Crossing Press, 1973Raw Opals, Illuminati, 198735 Sundays, Ommation Press, 1979Dance Poems, Ommation Press, 1990Restrooms, Anyone?, JVC Books, 1997Autumn Wind, Portrait, 2007In Mirrors, Presa Press, 2006Novemberly, ESP Press, 2007Poems, Konglomerati Press, 1974Tangled Vines, Beacon Press, 1979The Innocents, Buzzards Roost, 1987Skin Divers, Krax, 1987Doctors, Applezaba, 1990Leaning South, Red Dust, 1977North Poems, Morgan Press

(reprint David R. Godine Publisher, 1997, ISBN 9781574230406)

Red Hair and the Jesuit, Trout Creek Press, 1988

Forthcoming

Persephone, Red Hen PressNutley Pond, Goose River PressLost in the Fog, Finishing Line PressJesus Christ Poems in Hazmat Review

2008 Update of partial bibliography provided by Lifshin

Anthologies