Poetry Consultations with Enzo Silon Surin

During the month of June, Black Lawrence Press author Enzo Silon Surin is on board to critique poetry manuscripts. Haitian-born poet, educator, speaker, publisher and social advocate, Enzo is the author of When My Body Was A Clinched Fist and two chapbooks, A Letter of Resignation: An American Libretto and Higher Ground. He is a PEN New England Celebrated New Voice in Poetry, the recipient of a Brother Thomas Fellowship from The Boston Foundation and a 2020 Denis Diderot [A-i-R] Grant as an Artist-in-Residence at Chateau d’Orquevaux in Orquevaux, France. Surin’s work gives voice to experiences that take place in what he calls “broken spaces” and his poems have been featured in numerous publications and exhibits. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, teaches creative writing and literature at Bunker Hill Community College and is Founding Editor and Publisher at Central Square Press.

Enzo is accepting single poems, folios, chapbooks, and full-length collections for critique. The fees and parameters for each of these categories are as follows:

– Single poems, up to 2 pages in length, $20
– Folios, up to 7 pages in length, not to include more than 5 poems, $50
– Chapbooks, 16-40 pages in length, $195
– Full-length collections, 45-80 pages in length $325

All manuscripts should be formatted in 12-point font.

The deadline to submit work for this consultation program is June 30. Enzo will complete his work and respond to all participants by July 31.

Poetry Consultations with Enzo Silon Surin

Click Here to Submit Deadline: June 30 How to submit ›

Statement of Purpose

As a poet, it is incredibly important for the work on the page to exhibit different points of access for a reader to enter. This access can be made possible by using lyrical strategies and figurative language that strike a balance between the inner and outer world the poet tries to convey. However, it is much easier said than done. The process of transcribing the narrative playing out in one’s own mind is challenging because the mind is often a deceiver. As such, what you end up with on the page might only seem like the version you have in your head. This makes not only writing the poem a tough process to navigate alone but also presents many challenges to revising such work.

My role as a consultant will be to help each poem reach its full potential by interrogating its lines for both purpose and promise. This means I will offer guidance and specific strategies that will help to propel the work forward while maintaining the poet’s voice. As part of the process, I will help you to determine what needs to be revised, what needs to stay and what needs to be removed altogether. We might differ in a line’s intended meaning and role in the poem but know that every comment and suggestion will be made with your and the poem’s best interest at heart.

Enzo Silon Surin

Enzo Silon Surin, Haitian-born poet, educator, publisher and social advocate, is the author of two chapbooks, A Letter of Resignation: An American Libretto (2017) and Higher Ground (2006). He is recipient of a Brother Thomas Fellowship from The Boston Foundation and is a PEN New England Celebrated New Voice in Poetry. Surin’s work gives voice to experiences that take place in what he calls “broken spaces” and has appeared in numerous publications. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University and is an Associate Professor of English at Bunker Hill Community College and founding editor and publisher at Central Square Press.

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How to Submit

Black Lawrence Press accepts submissions and payment of the entry fee exclusively through our online submission manager, Submittable. We are not able to accept submissions via email or postal mail.

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Enzo Silon Surin

Works By Enzo Silon Surin

When My Body Was A Clinched Fist

How to Submit