J.L. Chen
BIO
Biography

J.L. Chen is a Chinese Canadian poet/writer based in Vancouver. Her work appears in Grain, Mantis (Stanford), Canadian Literature, PRISM, Tupelo Quarterly, West Trade Review, Queen's Quarterly, and elsewhere. She was shortlisted for the 2024 Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize, named a Finalist for the 2025 Robert and Adele Schiff Award by The Cincinnati Review, and longlisted for the most recent 2025 CBC Poetry Prize—selected as one of 23 writers from more than 3,200 submissions.

Chen holds an MFA from University of King's College and serves as an editorial board member for TCR newspaper at UBC/UNA. In her spare time, she can be found dancing or riding on the open road. 

ADDRESS
City: Vancouver, Province/Territory: British Columbia
EMAIL
GENRE
Poetry, Creative nonfiction, Fiction
LANGUAGES
English, Chinese
PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Title
Preservation
Publisher
Tupelo Quarterly - Hand picked by Maya Popa for the Tupelo Quarterly Poetry Prize
Year
October, 2025: https://www.tupeloquarterly.com/poetry/jl-chen-preservation/
Title
Turning
Publisher
PRISM International
Year
October, 2025
Title
How My Mother Makes Pork Chops
Publisher
Grain Literary Magazine
Year
Spring, 2025
Title
Tasting Menu of The Migrant
Publisher
Mantis (Stanford)
Year
Fall, 2025
Title
Is It a Crime to Rhyme
Publisher
Queens Quarterly
Year
Fall, 2025
Title
Elegy to My Sadness (after Chen Chen)
Publisher
Queens Quarterly
Year
Summer, 2025
Title
Sway
Publisher
Queens Quarterly
Year
Spring, 2025
Title
I Remember My Mother's Hands
Publisher
West Trestle Review
Year
March, 2023: https://www.westtrestlereview.com/west_trestle_li_chen.html
AWARDS
Awards
Name
Robert and Adele Schiff Awards
Publication
The Cincinnati Review
Year
2025 - Finalist
Name
Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize
Publication
PRISM International
Year
2024 - Shortlisted
Name
Tupelo Quarterly Poetry Prize Judged by Maya Popa
Publication
Tupelo Quarterly
Year
2025 - Semifinalist
Name
CBC Poetry Prize
Publication
Long List - Selected as one of 23 writers from 3200 submissions
Year
2025
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
Presentation details
Audience Size
Audience size
small to large
Presentation Genre
Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, Fiction
Presentation Length
30-60 minutes
Presentation Description
Presentation description

 

Writing Between States and Languages: Poetry, Migration and Movement

Chen reads from her published work and discusses her approach to writing migration, memory, and embodiment. 

Themes include diaspora, intergenerational story-telling, bilingual identity, and the intersection of movement and language. 

Presentation Fee(s)
TBD
Workshop details
Audience Size
small to large
Intended Audience
age 18 and up
Workshop Length
30 to 60 minutes
Workshop Description
Workshop description

See above

Workshop Fee(s)
TBD
EQUITY INITIATIVE
As part of the Union’s Equity Implementation Plan, we are committed to increasing awareness of authors who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQI2S, or living with a disability. This author identifies as:
Members who identify as:
Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized
Programs & Interests
Interested in participating Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program:
All members are eligible for the Union’s Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program. Are you interested in participating in this pro
Yes
Interested in participating in the Northern Ontario WITS program:
The Union’s Northern Ontario Writers-in-the-Schools program funds in-person visits to northern Ontario schools when possible. Ar
No