with Dr. Nadia Alexis Now Accepting Clients for Spring 2026
Maybe you've got poems you've been sitting on for a while. And you’ve still got big plans for them, but despite that, they’ve been collecting dust in some folder.
And something is keeping you away. It feels too big, too overwhelming. You’re not sure if they’re worth pushing further or setting aside.
But deep down, you know what you really need: a fresh pair of eyes. Someone who isn't as close to the poems as you are, but who will attend to them with care, honesty, and grace.
An editor who knows poetry. Who can tap into the spirit of what's happening on the page and the possibilities lying just beneath the surface.
Someone who can give you detailed, actionable feedback that becomes a steady bridge to a stronger MFA application packet, chapbook, or full-length manuscript. An editor with heart and expertise who can help your poems become what they were always meant to be.
That’s where I come in.
My Approach
I offer intuitive, precise feedback rooted in close attention to the line, the image, the language, form, and the overall architecture of a collection. As a long-time multidisciplinary artist—poet, writer, photographer, and educator with editorial experience, I bring a layered perspective to your work. I read to understand what your poems are reaching toward, what's making them sing, where they have room to grow. And then I help you get there.
My goal is for you to walk away with:
• Clear, specific revision suggestions at the line level and across the manuscript
• New directions and possibilities you may not have considered
• Generative questions to sit with as you revise
• Guidance and permission to take more risk
• Honest, affirming recognition of what is already working
• The encouragement and momentum to keep going—and to get these poems out into the world
I've worked with poets and writers from youth writers through emerging poets, across experience levels and traditions. When you share your poems with me, I work with them as they uniquely are.
About Me
I'm a poet, writer, photographer, and educator with nearly a decade of experience guiding writers toward clarity, confidence, growth, and risk in their work. My debut hybrid poetry and photography collection Beyond the Watershed (CavanKerry Press, 2025) was honored by Poets & Writers—and I was named one of their Ten Best Debut Poets of 2026. The collection was also longlisted for the Maya Angelou Book Award, nominated for a Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Poetry Award, named a finalist for the Black Girls Who Write It's Lit! Literary Awards, and more.
My editorial experience includes serving as Managing Editor of The Phoenix Journal (annual literary arts and visual art book publication), Guest Poetry Editor for African Writer Magazine, and poetry reader for Quarterly West, Boston Review, and Yalobusha Review, among others. I have also served as a reader for the Brooklyn Poets Anthology and the Women of Color Writers Community Boundaries & Borders Anthology.
I hold a PhD and MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Mississippi and a BA in Political Science—with additional studies in Africana Studies and French—from Union College. I teach creative writing at an arts high school, working closely with 11th and 12th-grade poets and writers every day. I teach independent poetry workshops for adults and work one-on-one with adult poets to improve their work—listening carefully, asking hard questions, offering encouragement, and helping them find what makes their work better or where they can bring more heat.
Services
I offer editorial feedback on three types of poetry projects. Every poem in your manuscript receives individual written attention—line notes, close reading, and a detailed feedback letter that speaks to both individual pieces and the collection as a whole.
Feedback addresses the full scope of the manuscript, including theme, arc, and overall cohesion.
Client spots are limited each season.
MFA Application Packet
10–20 pages of poetry Investment: $250–$400
Includes: • line notes throughout your manuscript • detailed feedback letter
Chapbook Manuscript
22–36 pages of poetry Investment: $500–$650
Includes: • line notes throughout your manuscript • detailed feedback letter • one 30-minute Zoom call to discuss the feedback, talk through revision strategies, and answer any literary questions you might have. (Zoom is scheduled after delivery of written feedback.)
Full-Length Manuscript
48–75 pages of poetry Investment: $990–$1,300
Includes: • line notes throughout your manuscript • detailed feedback letter • one 45–60 minute Zoom call to discuss the feedback, talk through revision strategies, press recommendations, and answer any literary questions you might have. (Zoom is scheduled after delivery of written feedback.)
Longer manuscripts or projects outside these ranges may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Reach out and we can talk through it. Payment plans are available upon request. Half of the fee is due upfront; the remainder is due upon delivery of feedback.
What Others Say
"Poise and precision... Your poetry facilitation refined our respective writing styles and your humor kept us encouraged." —Poetry Workshop Participant
“I'm so thrilled and excited about your edits! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with me and your encouraging words. It truly means a lot. I am so excited to keep developing this piece.” —Poetry Workshop Participant
"Thank you again for your guidance in the workshop. It filled my soul in a way I didn't know I needed." —Poetry Workshop Participant
"I especially appreciated the prompts and the choices of photos and poetry to facilitate our discussion, the overall theme, and our creations — plus the resources! SO much gratitude to you and the class." —Poetry Workshop Participant
How to Work with Me
To inquire about these services, reach out to me at info@bynadiaalexis.com.
In your message, briefly describe your project (including the page length), the type of feedback you're looking for, and your timeline. I'll get back to you to confirm availability, discuss turnaround time, and talk through next steps.
I keep my client list intentionally small so every manuscript gets the time and attention it deserves. Spring 2026 spots are open now.
