Variant Literature
@variantlit.bsky.social
New interview this week!
Prose Editor @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social interviews David Ryan, author of the story collection, Alligator. They talk doppelgängers, experimentalism, the practice of self-imposing creative obstructions, and more!
variantlit.com/dualities-mi...
Prose Editor @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social interviews David Ryan, author of the story collection, Alligator. They talk doppelgängers, experimentalism, the practice of self-imposing creative obstructions, and more!
variantlit.com/dualities-mi...
Dualities, Micro-audacities, and Writing Around the Center: a Conversation with David Ryan on Alligator
Brandon Ahmad Haffner interviews David Ryan about his new short story collection Alligator, discussing memory, experimental writing, creative constraints, duality, and writing around the center.
variantlit.com
September 15, 2026 at 2:12 PM
New interview this week!
Prose Editor @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social interviews David Ryan, author of the story collection, Alligator. They talk doppelgängers, experimentalism, the practice of self-imposing creative obstructions, and more!
variantlit.com/dualities-mi...
Prose Editor @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social interviews David Ryan, author of the story collection, Alligator. They talk doppelgängers, experimentalism, the practice of self-imposing creative obstructions, and more!
variantlit.com/dualities-mi...
Reposted by Variant Literature
I got to interview writer David Ryan about his wacky new story collection, Alligator. Trying to write weirder myself these days, so this was an especially awesome conversation. Check it out: variantlit.com/dualities-mi...
Dualities, Micro-audacities, and Writing Around the Center: a Conversation with David Ryan on Alligator
Brandon Ahmad Haffner interviews David Ryan about his new short story collection Alligator, discussing memory, experimental writing, creative constraints, duality, and writing around the center.
variantlit.com
September 15, 2026 at 1:13 PM
I got to interview writer David Ryan about his wacky new story collection, Alligator. Trying to write weirder myself these days, so this was an especially awesome conversation. Check it out: variantlit.com/dualities-mi...
Reposted by Variant Literature
Cannot stress enough how much I'm looking forward to this! www.eventbrite.com/e/author-tal...
Author Talk with Brenda Miller + Writing Sprint w/Prompts
Join us for a conversation with Brenda Miller about her newest book, the craft of creative nonfiction, and the writing life.
www.eventbrite.com
September 15, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Cannot stress enough how much I'm looking forward to this! www.eventbrite.com/e/author-tal...
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Thanks for the honor! 🙏
And congratulations to our Honorable Mentions:
“Two Poems about the Men in my Family” – Bhavya Bhagtani
“Market Price” – Bethany Bruno
“Things that aren’t” – Jen Hallaman
“SNATCH” – Suzanne Richardson
“Oliver chooses the mite” – Jane Zwart
“Two Poems about the Men in my Family” – Bhavya Bhagtani
“Market Price” – Bethany Bruno
“Things that aren’t” – Jen Hallaman
“SNATCH” – Suzanne Richardson
“Oliver chooses the mite” – Jane Zwart
September 13, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Thanks for the honor! 🙏
We're excited to announce the winners of our inaugural Variant Lit Poetry Prize as chosen by @toddedillard.bsky.social!
Congratulations to 1st place winner Zoe Berger, 2nd place winner Chiwenite Onyekwelu, and 3rd place winner Emily Portillo!
Read the winning poems:
variantlit.com/2026-variant...
Congratulations to 1st place winner Zoe Berger, 2nd place winner Chiwenite Onyekwelu, and 3rd place winner Emily Portillo!
Read the winning poems:
variantlit.com/2026-variant...
The 2026 Variant Lit Poetry Prize Winner’s Announced
Visit the post for more.
variantlit.com
September 12, 2026 at 5:57 PM
We're excited to announce the winners of our inaugural Variant Lit Poetry Prize as chosen by @toddedillard.bsky.social!
Congratulations to 1st place winner Zoe Berger, 2nd place winner Chiwenite Onyekwelu, and 3rd place winner Emily Portillo!
Read the winning poems:
variantlit.com/2026-variant...
Congratulations to 1st place winner Zoe Berger, 2nd place winner Chiwenite Onyekwelu, and 3rd place winner Emily Portillo!
Read the winning poems:
variantlit.com/2026-variant...
Reposted by Variant Literature
Day 31 of #thesealeychallenge • Our featured poet is Jeri Frederickson, whose work appeared in Variant Literature (@variantlit.bsky.social). For the whole month of August, we'd like to put a spotlight on individual poets as well as some of our favourite lit mags.
August 31, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Day 31 of #thesealeychallenge • Our featured poet is Jeri Frederickson, whose work appeared in Variant Literature (@variantlit.bsky.social). For the whole month of August, we'd like to put a spotlight on individual poets as well as some of our favourite lit mags.
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In case you missed us live on Thursday, I recorded the magical reading I hosted for @jacklegpress.bsky.social with @benkline.bsky.social, @chenchenwrites.bsky.social & Richie Hofmann just for you! ❤️
A Very Gay Literary Happy Hour Featuring Ben Kline, Chen Chen & Richie Hofmann
YouTube video by Nicole Tallman
youtu.be
August 11, 2026 at 12:39 AM
In case you missed us live on Thursday, I recorded the magical reading I hosted for @jacklegpress.bsky.social with @benkline.bsky.social, @chenchenwrites.bsky.social & Richie Hofmann just for you! ❤️
Reposted by Variant Literature
You may know Brenda Miller from her new collection Love You, Bye or from Tell It Slant, the beloved craft book she co-authored with Suzanne Paola.
Join our live Author Talk + Writing Sprint on Sept 19th to learn about Brenda's essay and poetry writing process!
Join our live Author Talk + Writing Sprint on Sept 19th to learn about Brenda's essay and poetry writing process!
August 17, 2026 at 1:12 PM
You may know Brenda Miller from her new collection Love You, Bye or from Tell It Slant, the beloved craft book she co-authored with Suzanne Paola.
Join our live Author Talk + Writing Sprint on Sept 19th to learn about Brenda's essay and poetry writing process!
Join our live Author Talk + Writing Sprint on Sept 19th to learn about Brenda's essay and poetry writing process!
Reposted by Variant Literature
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 AM PT!
Lemon Grove Writers will host a live Author Talk with Brenda Miller followed by a co-writing sprint. Her latest book, LOVE YOU, BYE, is a moving collection of poems and essays about the loss of her parents.
Lemon Grove Writers will host a live Author Talk with Brenda Miller followed by a co-writing sprint. Her latest book, LOVE YOU, BYE, is a moving collection of poems and essays about the loss of her parents.
August 3, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19 at 9:00 AM PT!
Lemon Grove Writers will host a live Author Talk with Brenda Miller followed by a co-writing sprint. Her latest book, LOVE YOU, BYE, is a moving collection of poems and essays about the loss of her parents.
Lemon Grove Writers will host a live Author Talk with Brenda Miller followed by a co-writing sprint. Her latest book, LOVE YOU, BYE, is a moving collection of poems and essays about the loss of her parents.
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Soooooooooooo looking forward to this!
Sign up today.
Sign up today.
Friends, please join me & @jacklegpress.bsky.social on August 6, at 7 p.m., for A Very Gay Literary Happy Hour, featuring @chenchenwrites.bsky.social, @benkline.bsky.social & Richie Hofmann followed by an open mic. 🥂 www.eventbrite.com/e/a-very-gay...
July 20, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Soooooooooooo looking forward to this!
Sign up today.
Sign up today.
Reposted by Variant Literature
I'm grateful to @onlypoemsmag.bsky.social for reprinting my review of @toddedillard.bsky.social's RAGNARÖK AT THE FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE (2024: @variantlit.bsky.social), first published in @phillychapbook.bsky.social.
Here is an excerpt:
Here is an excerpt:
July 21, 2026 at 2:36 PM
I'm grateful to @onlypoemsmag.bsky.social for reprinting my review of @toddedillard.bsky.social's RAGNARÖK AT THE FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE (2024: @variantlit.bsky.social), first published in @phillychapbook.bsky.social.
Here is an excerpt:
Here is an excerpt:
Reposted by Variant Literature
Thanks for the shoutout on the shortlist!
The 2026 Variant Lit Poetry Prize shortlist is here! The shortlisted poems will now move on to the final round of judging. The three prize-winning poems will be published this September.
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
July 22, 2026 at 3:55 AM
Thanks for the shoutout on the shortlist!
Reposted by Variant Literature
Enjoying an evening of poetry and jazz with @benkline.bsky.social reading from his Lamda Award winning poetry book, "It Was Never Supposed To Be" at Juniper's in Covington
July 19, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Enjoying an evening of poetry and jazz with @benkline.bsky.social reading from his Lamda Award winning poetry book, "It Was Never Supposed To Be" at Juniper's in Covington
Reposted by Variant Literature
Enjoy the whole of @toddedillard.bsky.social 's masterful, What The Husband Keeps from Issue 20 of Stanchion Magazine.
"All this time, I kept it safe. This is how
I love you."
"All this time, I kept it safe. This is how
I love you."
July 17, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Enjoy the whole of @toddedillard.bsky.social 's masterful, What The Husband Keeps from Issue 20 of Stanchion Magazine.
"All this time, I kept it safe. This is how
I love you."
"All this time, I kept it safe. This is how
I love you."
Reposted by Variant Literature
I write (and submit) so slowly anymore, that I often feel left behind or out of the general poetry scene. Things like this are a nice reminder that I am good at this and belong here :)
The 2026 Variant Lit Poetry Prize shortlist is here! The shortlisted poems will now move on to the final round of judging. The three prize-winning poems will be published this September.
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
July 18, 2026 at 8:46 PM
I write (and submit) so slowly anymore, that I often feel left behind or out of the general poetry scene. Things like this are a nice reminder that I am good at this and belong here :)
The 2026 Variant Lit Poetry Prize shortlist is here! The shortlisted poems will now move on to the final round of judging. The three prize-winning poems will be published this September.
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
July 18, 2026 at 5:40 PM
The 2026 Variant Lit Poetry Prize shortlist is here! The shortlisted poems will now move on to the final round of judging. The three prize-winning poems will be published this September.
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us and congratulations to this year's shortlisted poets:
Reposted by Variant Literature
They haven’t announced it on here yet but it’s up on Instagram—I made the shortlist for @variantlit.bsky.social ‘s poetry prize :)
July 16, 2026 at 12:42 AM
They haven’t announced it on here yet but it’s up on Instagram—I made the shortlist for @variantlit.bsky.social ‘s poetry prize :)
Reposted by Variant Literature
I’m stoked to have a poem shortlisted for The 2026 @variantlit.bsky.social Poetry Prize!
Congrats to my fellow shortlisted peeps!!
#poetrysky #poetrynews #poets #poetry
Congrats to my fellow shortlisted peeps!!
#poetrysky #poetrynews #poets #poetry
July 13, 2026 at 9:02 PM
I’m stoked to have a poem shortlisted for The 2026 @variantlit.bsky.social Poetry Prize!
Congrats to my fellow shortlisted peeps!!
#poetrysky #poetrynews #poets #poetry
Congrats to my fellow shortlisted peeps!!
#poetrysky #poetrynews #poets #poetry
Reposted by Variant Literature
Friends, please join me & @jacklegpress.bsky.social on August 6, at 7 p.m., for A Very Gay Literary Happy Hour, featuring @chenchenwrites.bsky.social, @benkline.bsky.social & Richie Hofmann followed by an open mic. 🥂 www.eventbrite.com/e/a-very-gay...
July 10, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Friends, please join me & @jacklegpress.bsky.social on August 6, at 7 p.m., for A Very Gay Literary Happy Hour, featuring @chenchenwrites.bsky.social, @benkline.bsky.social & Richie Hofmann followed by an open mic. 🥂 www.eventbrite.com/e/a-very-gay...
Reposted by Variant Literature
The final paragraph of my latest review, "The Hologram and the Hunted: on FOLLOW THIS BLOOD TO FIND A DEAD THING by Charles K. Carter" (Ferbwood Press: 2026), published by @variantlit.bsky.social
July 8, 2026 at 12:22 PM
The final paragraph of my latest review, "The Hologram and the Hunted: on FOLLOW THIS BLOOD TO FIND A DEAD THING by Charles K. Carter" (Ferbwood Press: 2026), published by @variantlit.bsky.social
New review up on the site from @lowermelody.bsky.social
"Tension between comfortable illusion and disquieting reality animates Charles K. Carter’s Follow This Blood to Find a Dead Thing (2026: Fernwood Press)."
variantlit.com/book-review-...
"Tension between comfortable illusion and disquieting reality animates Charles K. Carter’s Follow This Blood to Find a Dead Thing (2026: Fernwood Press)."
variantlit.com/book-review-...
The Hologram and the Hunted: on Follow This Blood to Find a Dead Thing by Charles K. Carter
Follow This Blood to Find a Dead Thing by Charles K. Carter (Fernwood Press: 2026) reviewed D.W. Baker for Variant Lit.
variantlit.com
July 7, 2026 at 11:21 PM
New review up on the site from @lowermelody.bsky.social
"Tension between comfortable illusion and disquieting reality animates Charles K. Carter’s Follow This Blood to Find a Dead Thing (2026: Fernwood Press)."
variantlit.com/book-review-...
"Tension between comfortable illusion and disquieting reality animates Charles K. Carter’s Follow This Blood to Find a Dead Thing (2026: Fernwood Press)."
variantlit.com/book-review-...
Reposted by Variant Literature
Reminder -- I'm taking part in a reading with three other writers on Thursday! Now's your chance to register. Hope to see you there! :-)
I'm home from traveling and THIS READING IS NOW LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY!
Looking forward to hosting @mrdecember.bsky.social @bernadettegeyer.bsky.social @ignatius2u.bsky.social and David Sullivan on July 9, 6:30 Central. Register here!
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Looking forward to hosting @mrdecember.bsky.social @bernadettegeyer.bsky.social @ignatius2u.bsky.social and David Sullivan on July 9, 6:30 Central. Register here!
us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
July 7, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Reminder -- I'm taking part in a reading with three other writers on Thursday! Now's your chance to register. Hope to see you there! :-)
Reposted by Variant Literature
Don’t explain it, visit the link in bio 🌺
“Without Explanation”: Megan Nichols Reviews Susan L. Leary’s Poetry Collection More Flowers @triohousepress.org #babyeatbooks
heavyfeatherreview.org/2026/07/06/m...
“Without Explanation”: Megan Nichols Reviews Susan L. Leary’s Poetry Collection More Flowers @triohousepress.org #babyeatbooks
heavyfeatherreview.org/2026/07/06/m...
“Without Explanation”: Megan Nichols Reviews Susan L. Leary’s Poetry Collection More Flowers
In More Flowers, Susan L. Leary doesn’t have to explain herself. Instead, she creates a psychological landscape in which the speaker careens between questioning and asserting, between the concrete …
heavyfeatherreview.org
July 6, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Don’t explain it, visit the link in bio 🌺
“Without Explanation”: Megan Nichols Reviews Susan L. Leary’s Poetry Collection More Flowers @triohousepress.org #babyeatbooks
heavyfeatherreview.org/2026/07/06/m...
“Without Explanation”: Megan Nichols Reviews Susan L. Leary’s Poetry Collection More Flowers @triohousepress.org #babyeatbooks
heavyfeatherreview.org/2026/07/06/m...
Reposted by Variant Literature
Very excited for this free online author talk + writing sprint! Happening July 18th!
July 1, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Very excited for this free online author talk + writing sprint! Happening July 18th!
Reposted by Variant Literature
Three weeks since, still can't believe this happened.
🎉🎉 Congratulations to the 2026 Lambda Literary Award Winner for Gay Poetry: It Was Never Supposed To Be by Ben Kline! @benkline.bsky.social @variantlit.bsky.social 🎉🎉
#Lammys2026 #LammyAwards
#Lammys2026 #LammyAwards
June 25, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Three weeks since, still can't believe this happened.