Lineage. Femininity. Faith.
Through the lens of poetry.
Born in Canada and raised in Singapore, Miriam Wei Wei Lo has made Australia her home. She is of mixed Malaysian-Chinese and Anglo-Australian descent. Her first degree is from the University of Western Australia. Her PhD is from the University of Queensland. Her first book, Against Certain Capture won the 2004 Western Australian Premier's Award for Poetry.
She currently teaches creative writing at Sheridan Institute of Higher Education. She is a 2023 Westerly Mid-Career Fellow and her next book, Who Comes Calling?, will be launched by West Australian Poets Publishing in May 2023. She lives, with her extended family, on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja in Walyalup (Fremantle), Western Australia. She likes to snorkel in summer and garden in winter.
Me, In My Own Words
I currently work as an academic, but I have done stints as a piano teacher, student librarian, kindergarten teacher, and once even as a research assistant for a merchant bank (that didn't last long). I have done the unpaid labour of a mother and housewife and have great respect for those who do the work of care.
I have emerging research interests in the following areas:
- how rhythm works in poetry
- poetry as reflective practice for health professionals, especially midwives
- autograph books
In the classroom, I work from a hermeneutics of affirmation, where suggestions for further development are couched in a context of attentiveness and encouragement. I seek to facilitate peer-to-peer as well as instructor-student feedback.
I write poetry as an act of worship, as a practice of lament, to notice beauty, to wrestle with faith and doubt, to keep things, to share things, and to play.
Journeying through the years
1973
Toronto, Canada
Miriam Wei Wei Lo was born in Toronto, Canada in 1973. Her heritage is Chinese-Malaysian on her father’s side and Anglo-Australian on her mother’s.
1976
Singapore
A little Miriam moves to Singapore, away from the freezing cold and thin air into the tropical heat and air saturated with the piquant smells of street food.
1993
Western Australia
The place where Miriam's mother grew up starts to become her home.
1996
Queensland
Off to subtropical Brisbane with her spouse.
2008
Margaret River
Living the life of a country pastor's wife and mother of three.
2018
Boorloo (Perth)
Working as an academic at Sheridan Institute. Living with her in-laws in an extended family household in Walyalup (Fremantle).
Sheridan Institute of Higher Education
I love to facilitate creative development.
Do you want to work with me?
One great way to do this is by signing up for one of the units I teach at Sheridan Institute. These units may be taken as a single unit or as part of the Bachelor of Arts course at Sheridan. If taken as a single unit, students may also select to do these units as 'credit' or 'audit'. Fee structure is available here (see Note 5 for audit costs). The academic calendar is available here.
For information concerning the timetable or other enquiries please phone the Sheridan Registrar on +61 08 6222 4222 (during office hours) or email <enquiries@sheridan.edu.au>.
Bachelor of Arts CRICOS Course Code: 096269K
TEQSA Provider ID: PRV14012
The units I currently teach are:
CW101
Introduction to Creative Writing
CW104
The Writing Life
CW310
Poetry
CW390
Writing Project
OTHER SERVICES
School Presentations
In-person or virtually (via Zoom or Microsoft Teams). Feel free to contact me regarding availability. Check ASA rates before getting in touch.
Poetry Feedback
I have some availability to provide feedback on individual poems and poetry manuscripts, but do not provide this service for free. My time costs $55 an hour, but if you are experiencing financial hardship I am open to negotiation.
Commissioned Work
Contact me to discuss rates and requirements.