Work with Marlanda on Your Writing Journey
Transform your manuscript, refine your voice, and receive actionable guidance from an award-winning poet and literary mentor.
About Marlanda
Marlanda Dekine is the author of two poetry collections, i am from a punch & a kiss (self-published) and Thresh & Hold (Hub City Press), winner of the 2021 New Southern Voices in Poetry Prize. The New York Times called her debut “stirring,” and the Gramophone celebrated her “intimate and epic perspectives” on American identity in Ars Poetica.
Her poems have appeared in journals including Orion, Oxford American, Callaloo, and POETRY, and she has collaborated with artists across music, film, and visual arts. Dekine is the first Poet Laureate of Georgetown County Libraries and has received fellowships and awards including the South Carolina Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship, a Governor’s Award from SC Humanities, the Palm Beach Poetry Festival Langston Hughes Fellowship, and a Tin House Scholarship.
Marlanda earned a BA in Psychology from Furman University, an MSW from the University of South Carolina, and an MFA in Poetry from Converse University. She is the founder of Speaking Down Barriers, a nonprofit for equity and justice, and owns Dekine Cultural Strategies LLC, a consultancy firm that is guided by history and possibility.
Manuscript Consultations
Marlanda offers personalized manuscript consultations for writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Whether you’re shaping a first draft, refining a full manuscript, or seeking feedback on your submission-ready work, these consultations provide insightful, actionable guidance rooted in craft, structure, and voice.
Services include:
- Developmental feedback on manuscripts
- Line-by-line critique of selected poems or chapters
- Guidance on thematic cohesion and narrative arc
- Recommendations for publication or submission strategies
How it works:
- Submit a brief overview of your manuscript and goals.
- Choose your consultation type (single session, package, or ongoing mentorship).
- Single Session
- Purpose: Focused feedback on a specific section (e.g., 10–20 pages) or aspect (theme, structure, voice, flow).
- Good for: Writers who want quick clarity, direction, or reassurance without a long-term commitment.
- Includes: One-time meeting (Zoom/in-person), written notes or margin comments, and suggested next steps.
- Package (3-5 Sessions with Set Timeframe)
- Purpose: Deeper engagement with a larger portion of the manuscript or a project in progress.
- Good for: Writers who need support at a particular stage (early drafts, revisions, preparing to submit).
- Includes: Multiple sessions scheduled in advance (bi-weekly or monthly). Written feedback between sessions. A clear arc (start with goals → move through revision → end with action plan).
- Ongoing Mentorship (Custom or Long-term)
- Purpose: A relational, evolving process for writers developing a manuscript over months or years.
- Good for: Writers who want continuous support with craft, mindset, and career navigation (publishing, submissions, etc.).
- Includes: Flexible schedule (monthly or as needed). Consistent reading of new pages or revisions. Guidance beyond the page: process, sustainability, vision.
- Single Session
- Schedule Your Consultation at the end of the “Request A Consultation” form.
Additional Support: Patreon
Writers can also join Marlanda’s Patreon for ongoing feedback, community, and access to writing resources. Some tiers include manuscript feedback and virtual workshops.
Marlanda Dekine 