Michael Crane's work has been published in many literary journals and magazines, and he has self-published three chapbooks between 1991 and 1994, including The Book of Screams, An Almost Summer and Joan of Arc was a fire eater. Ten of Michael's poems also appeared in the collection Loose Kangaroos in 1998. Michael's first collection of poetry, The Lightmaster, was published in 1999 by Phoebe Press. Michael released Not Mad Just Raving, a CD of spoken word with musical accompaniment. In 2003 Ninderry Press released A Dog Called Yesterday - Selected Poems and Prose. In 2007 Picaro Press published Michael's chapbook of poetry entitled Poems from the 29th Floor. This was released at the 2007 Melbourne Writers Festival. Since 2001 Michael Crane has written 200 micro stories called Postcards from the End of the World, many of which have appeared in the literary magazine GANGWAY. Michael has also written a yet-to-be-published detective novel.,

Since 2007 Michael Crane has organised and compered the popular poetry competition Poetry Idol, with the final held each year at the Age Melbourne Writers Festival. The best poets from Poetry Idol are published in the Paradise Anthology, an annual magazine of song lyrics and poems.

Michael Crane has been interviewed on Radio National, appeared on the PoeticA Program, and has been a featured poet on the ABC's program Voices. Michael also performs musical poems with singer/songwriter Trish Anderson, formerly of the band Git. Michael and Trish have been selected to tour regional high schools in Victoria in 2010.