Strange Horizons editor Romie Stott has described Kopaska-Merkel's writing style as reminiscent of "a Beat poet who turned down an odd alley in Haight-Ashbury and wound up in outer space.
"[3] As a poet, his work in the genres of dark fantasy and horror has been especially noted by reviewers.
[8] Kopaska-Merkel also acted as editor of the speculative poetry journal Star*Line from 1996 to 2002.
[10] From 2011 to 2014, Kopaska-Merkel held the post of president of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association.
[11] Kopaska-Merkel's poem "The Tin Men," written in collaboration with Kendall Evans, won in the Long category of the Rhysling Awards in 2006.