Evelyn Lau offers free consultations to emerging poets

Emerging poets are being offered the opportunity to get a free one-on-one manuscript consultation with Vancouver's poet laureate.

Evelyn Lau, whose latest poetry collection is A Grain of Rice (Oolichan), is inviting fellow poets to apply to take part in the second year of her mentorship program at the Vancouver Public Library. Applicants are asked to send an email containing a 200-word statement (why you want to meet with Lau) and up to three poems (no attachments) to poetlaureate@vancouver.ca by August 1.

"It's always a privilege to be trusted with the work of emerging writers, some of whom are sharing their poems for the first time,” Lau said in a VPL news release issued today (January 21). “I remember how desperate I was for feedback and direction early in my career.”

Successful applicants will get the chance to ask Lau questions about manuscripts, readings, contests, and magazines, and receive feedback on their poems.