Hello, I’m Maya C. Popa.
I’m the author of If You Love That Lady (W. W. Norton, 2026), Wound Is the Origin of Wonder, and American Faith. My poems, essays, and criticism have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, Granta, The Guardian, and elsewhere.
Since 2018, I’ve been the Poetry Editor of Publishers Weekly, as well as a teacher in the undergraduate and MFA in Paris programs at NYU.
In 2024, I completed my PhD on the role of wonder in poetry. Poetry has been my way of synthesizing and alchemizing experience since an afternoon in first grade when my teacher assigned us a poem. I have dedicated my career to championing poets. I’ve also dedicated my research and writing to articulating how poetry can help us live more deeply—how the focused attention and rigorous revision it requires can helps us lead lives that feel more alive.
This newsletter is where I think out loud about poetry, literature, creativity, wonder, ambition, attention, mindset, and the inner creative life. On Fridays, I share Poems for Your Weekend, a curated selection of poems organized around a feeling, question, or experience. Think of it as a literary Rx for whatever you’re dealing with.
Paid Subscribers ($50/year) enjoy the following bonuses:
A Monthly Poetry Thread
Share your own poems with me and our other members in a dedicated monthly thread. I include poems from this thread each month in a Friday round up.The Poetry Today Archive
Unlimited access to years of poetry recommendations, essays, interviews, videos, and literary reflections.31 Days of Writing Exercises
A month-long collection of prompts and exercises inspired by poets, artists, and literary forms.Twelve Hours of Craft Lectures
Access to an archive of recorded classes on poetry, reading, revision, inspiration, and sustaining your creative practice.Seasonal Live Q&As
Join me throughout the year for live conversations about poetry, writing, publishing, reading, and whatever questions are most pressing for you.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader of poetry or simply curious about literature and mindset, I’m so glad you’re here.
xM
In 2024, I founded Conscious Writers Collective, an online literary institution for writers seeking rigorous craft development, continuity, and community. If you’re interested in workshops, classes, and year-round programming with acclaimed writers, you can learn more there. Our community is made up of 400 writers from all over the world.
What sets CWC apart? Some members have already published award-winning books. Others are longtime readers who are only formalizing their practice for the first time. All writers in CWC deepen their craft through craft sessions led by award-winning writers, structured guidance, and a supportive community.
There are many writing programs on the internet. Finding the one that aligns with your goals, the offers the kind of rigorous coursework that will propel you forward, and whose members share your value and commitment to writing is essential.
My Writing
My third collection is If You Love That Lady, will be published by W. W. Norton (July 2026)
