McCombs is the author of five books of poetry, including The Habit of Fire (2005), Territories, Here & Elsewhere (1996), and Against Nature: Wilderness Poems (1979), as well as two books and numerous articles about the work of Margaret Atwood. She was a Professor of the Center for Creative Studies College of Art in Detroit, and was awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Canadian Embassy, and the Maryland Arts Council. For many years, McCombs coordinated a poetry reading series at Kensington Row Bookshop, and served as vice president of Federal Poets.