Poet and screenwriter Cathy Xinman bills her new project as a “literary testament connecting the world”. Xinman, whose poems appear regularly in the Toronto Spark, is editor-in-chief of an upcoming global Chinese poetry anthology, entitled The Best Poems of the Year by Chinese Poets & Writers of the World 2025. She is encouraging writers to submit up to three modern poems or two prose poems by September 30 to be eligible for publication.
“It is a collective showcase of the global expression emerging among Chinese poets,” Xinman says.
Her goal is to include 50 to 100 works for publication in a printed book. The poetry would also be available through major global databases and platforms such as Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo.
Xinman writes poetry in English and Chinese. She and the editorial team believe that a bilingual and cross-cultural approach offers a “meaningful path for emerging Chinese writers”.
“You don’t have to give up Chinese, nor be confined to English,” Xinman declares. “You don’t need to wait for translators – you can write directly for the world to read.”
Moreover, the editorial team maintains that the future of literature lies not within borders but in the hands of writers who dare to cross them. The anthology is intended to lay a foundation for amplifying diverse Chinese voices globally.
“As more Chinese poets share their voices more widely with international audiences, moving from local roots to global expression—and from writing locally to engaging multilingual expression—this anthology reflects not only literary excellence but the diversity of paths and the evolution of cultural identity,” Xinman says. “Particularly in international contexts, bilingual or multilingual poets are now forming the vanguard of a global Chinese poetry network.”
Xinman seeks poems with depth and authenticity
The editorial team is particularly interested in poems that invite layered interpretation and spark deep reflection or critical thought. In addition, the team is looking for craftsmanship. Poets can demonstrate this through precise language, original imagery, and purposeful structure.
They also value poems with emotional authenticity, intellectual and artistic innovation, complexity in thought and expression, and universal appeal—i.e., work that transcends boundaries and speaks to shared human experiences.
Short poems must be 10 to 30 lines and rich in imagery, with concise language. Mid-length poems must be 31 to 60 lines and include narrative tension and structural completeness. Prose poems must be concise, imagistic, and evocative, and can be up to 500 Chinese characters or English words. Classical Chinese poetry will not be accepted.
“No matter where you are, we are all using poetic language to respond to the world,” Xinman says. “This anthology aims to gather the voices that deserve to be seen, showcasing the richness and complexity of Chinese writing today.”
To submit work to The Best Poems of the Year by Chinese Poets & Writers of the World 2025, email cnawpress@gmail.com. Cathy Xinman’s English-language collection is entitled Where You Love Yourself. Find it on Amazon. Learn more about the communities that make up Canada on the Toronto Spark website. The Toronto Spark is on Bluesky @torontospark.bsky.social.
