In this master class, Hong Kong-born poet Tammy Lai-Ming Ho shares craft and publishing insights in conversation with Michelle Lin – IWC teacher and assistant poetry editor at Narrative Magazine. The class focuses on If I Do Not Reply, Tammy’s third poetry collection and her first published in the UK. Written between 2019 and 2022, these poems bear witness to life in and out of Hong Kong during a period of political upheaval and the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, they explore universal questions, such as the role of art in society and the complexities of identity, language, and belonging. Tammy’s poetry has been nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes, the Forward Prize, and the Best of the Net Anthology. She is also an accomplished translator, author of short fiction, and editor. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of Cha: An Asian Literary Journal and as an editor of Voice & Verse Poetry Magazine. Recorded live in Amsterdam on 5 July 2025, this master class explores topics such as: Finding inspiration and “stocking the well” Writing about current events and big themes Choosing a verse form Assembling and publishing a collection. Michelle and Tammy also consider the submissions process from an editor’s perspective–offering insights for writers navigating the submission trenches. It’s a reflective and inspiring conversation on poetry, creativity, and the role of the writer in uncertain times. ABOUT THESE TEACHERS Tammy Lai-Ming Ho’s first poetry collection, Hula Hooping (Chameleon, 2015), won the Young Artist Award in Literary Arts presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. In 2018, she published her first short story collection Her Name Upon the Strand (Delere Press), her second poetry collection Too Too Too Too (Math Paper Press), and the chapbook An Extraterrestrial in Hong Kong (Musical Stone). She is also the author of the academic book Neo-Victorian Cannibalism (Palgrave, 2019). In addition to her writing and work as a journal editor, she has edited or co-edited several literary collections, and her literary translations have appeared in World Literature Today, Chinese Literature Today, Pathlight: New Chinese Writing, among other publications. She is a former tenured professor of English literature and a Fellow of the International Writing Program (IWP) at the University of Iowa. Michelle Lin is an American writer based in Amsterdam and an assistant poetry editor at Narrative Magazine. Before rediscovering her creative writing muscle, Michelle spent years writing articles and white papers on the global energy industry and the outlook for sustainable systems. In her more personal work, Michelle often writes about memory, identity, food, and the occasional obsession with canyons. Her poetry and essays have appeared in journals including Beyond Words, Cleaver, Corvus Review, Panorama, and The Closed Eye Open. She joined the IWC faculty in spring ’24. ABOUT OUR MASTER CLASS SERIES In this series, working writers talk tips, tricks and techniques with a focus on a single novel or collection. The classes are conducted in an interview format with plenty of room for questions. Check out our podcast archive to listen to recordings of previous Master Classes with writers such as A.M. Homes, winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction; Kristen Roupenian, author of the viral short story “Cat Person”; Jennifer Clement, then PEN International president; and Lauren Groff, the author of Barack Obama’s favourite book of 2015. Copyright © 2025 Tammy Lai-Ming Ho & International Writers’ Collective Subscribe: Overcast | iTunes | Anchor.FM | Google Play | Player.FM | PocketCasts | Spotify
