Poetry Consultations

Sometimes a poem needs another set of eyes.

Maybe you know something isn't quite working, but you can’t figure out why. Or you're wondering if the ending lands, whether your metaphor is , or if the poem is finished at all. Maybe you've revised it so many times that you can no longer see it clearly.

I offer one-on-one poetry consultations for poets looking for thoughtful, collaborative feedback on their work.

45-Minutes. Up to 3 Poems.

Send me up to 3 poems before we meet. I'll read them closely ahead of time, and then we'll spend 45 minutes together on Zoom talking through your work. (This is mainly to allow for a back-and-forth dialogue. Video is not required if you prefer to keep your camera off.)

My feedback is primarily developmental. Depending on the poem, we might talk about:

  • the poem's emotional center

  • structure and movement

  • imagery and metaphor

  • what's working

  • what might be cut, expanded, or rearranged

  • beginnings and endings

  • clarity versus mystery

  • rhythm, line breaks, and word choice

  • individual lines that aren't quite landing

We can certainly spend the full session chatting about one particular poem. However, you are welcome to send up to 3. We’ll prioritize the questions that feel most important to you, which means we may spend more time on one poem than another.

What this isn't

This isn't traditional copyediting or proofreading. While we may absolutely talk about individual words, lines, punctuation, or syntax when they're affecting the poem, my focus isn't on making every comma perfect.

I'm much more interested in helping you discover what the poem wants to be—and how to get it closer.

About Me

I'm Allison Mei-Li, author of A History of Holding: Poems on Motherhood and founder of Third Moon Press. My poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in publications including NELLE, Rust + Moth, ONE ART, and Sky Island Journal. I’m currently a poetry reader for The Turning Leaf Journal.

As both a poet and an editor, I approach feedback with curiosity rather than prescription. I won’t guide you toward my voice. I’ll help you uncover your own, want to help you see more clearly what your poem is doing—and what possibilities are still inside it.

Book a Consultation

45 minutes · Up to 3 poems · $60