Claire Zhou ★ 周可云
Claire Zhou is a student residing in Suzhou, China. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Gulf Coast, Chestnut Review, Puerto del Sol, and Tinderbox Poetry Journal, among others. She has been recognized by the National YoungArts Foundation, Hollins University, the Adroit Prizes, Tinderbox Poetry Journal, Palette Poetry, and more. She is the founder of Words Beyond Bars, a literary journal for those affected by incarceration. She loves baking.
Honors
Top 264 Entries, The New York Times Coming of Age Contest (2024)Finalist, Palette Poetry Rising Poet Prize (2024)Finalist, Brett Elizabeth Jenkins Poetry Prize (2024)Winner, National YoungArts Competition (2024)Editor's Pick, selected by Puerto del Sol (2024)Nominee, Best of the Net Anthology via Chestnut Review (2024)Nominee, The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses via DIALOGIST (2024)Commended, The Adroit Prize for Poetry, selected by Ocean Vuong (2024)1st place, Nancy Thorp Poetry Prize (2024)Distinction, John Locke Institute Essay Competition, Economics Category (2023)
Publications
2025"Fish Fall" in Salt Hill Journal (forthcoming)"Conversation with a Telemarketer" in The Florida Review (forthcoming)"get on" & "SUMMER IN IOWA CITY" in Sacramento Literary Review (forthcoming)"Self-Portrait in Ocean Blues" in Moon City Review (print)2024"The Weight" in Tinderbox Poetry Journal"Translation" in Puerto del Sol"quiet" & "IN ELEVENTH GRADE J. TOLD ME I DIDN'T LOVE RIGHT" in The Spotlong Review"my forgotten name / soil lickers" in Gulf Coast (print)"Today I Say Hello to My Mother" in Notre Dame Review (print)"Mother Tongue" & "Cambridge IGCSE Biology Textbook, Chapter 19" in Shō Poetry Journal (print)"Achilles" & "三笔画到男“ in DIALOGIST2023"A Sonnet for My Moon Baby" in Chestnut Review
Experience
Workshops & Programs
Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship, under Eric Yip (2024)Iowa Young Writers Studio, under Valentina Rios-Romero (2024)Kenyon Young Writers Workshop, under Gyasi Hall (2024)Ellipsis Advanced Summer Workshop 'Passion & Precision', under Richie Hofmann (2024)Ellipsis Advanced Summer Workshop 'Little Daggers', under Lisa Hiton (2023)
Editorial Positions
Editor, The Dawn Review (2025-)Poetry Reader, ONLY POEMS (2025-)Junior Editor, Shō Poetry Journal (2024-)Social Media Intern, Chestnut Review (2024-)Social Media Manager, DIALOGIST (2024-)Editorial Intern, The Inflectionist Review (2024-)Founder, Words Beyond Bars (2024-)Editor-in-Chief, Serendipity Lit (2023-2025)
Interviews & Readings
Guest Contributor, A Foreign Foray into the Literary World (2025)Interviewee, Puerto del Sol (2024)Interviewer, A Conversation with Arah Ko (2024)Interviewer, A Conversation with Nathan Xavier Osorio (2024)Speaker, Global Writers' Convention (2024)