Nightstands by Alex Rost @arrost.bsky.social “The drawer of order accepted that it was not a drawer of order. That it would never, truly, be a drawer of order. Because in a world born from chaos, to chaos it will return.” variantlit.com/nightstands

Huge congratulations Ben Kline! It Was Never Supposed To Be is the 2026 Lambda Literary Award Winner for Gay Poetry!! @benkline.bsky.social

What would happen if you dreamed a new life and moved away from the old? Find out —read “Something,” @nickdmytrow.bsky.social ‘s first published work of fiction!

Can’t say enough about this gorgeous story!

Empathy is at the heart of this devastating flash from N. D. Stone.

Lessons in how to love another, rendered exquisitely by Joseph Randolph.

“A bottle slides just enough to break the pattern when his sleeve catches it, and he stills it with two fingers like it is fragile, like it contains the part of his brother that might still be reachable." from Micro Series by Joseph Randolph variantlit.com/micro-joseph...

In a different world, our feed would be full of art and beauty, like @kplumhoff.bsky.social ‘s illuminating spark. Read it and catch the light!

Let good literature mold your mind. Start here:

“*You’re funny*, said Beatrice. Her ex-boyfriend was dull and didn’t like to joke. *You’re beautiful*, said the ant. *Like a flower.*” @noramaynard.bsky.social in @variantlit.bsky.social variantlit.com/the-peony-ant/

“Before the girl with freckles disappeared into the hall, she turned and smiled and said to me, “Have a good day.” I didn’t say anything back. Mika was looking up at me with her misty eyes. And she was quiet too.” Read “Polynesian Fish” by Yitzchak Friedman @variantlit.bsky.social Issue 23

“They’re Irish, the others…. They pull up quietly, disrobe, and walk the sloped path right into the ocean…. Like stepping into their showers, they do this. He’s not sure if that makes them more crazy or less.” Read all of “Something” by @nickdmytrow.bsky.social in @variantlit.bsky.social Issue 23.

“At night, you drove by and the signs’ reflections darted out of the lush dark in bursts of light, like they’d been caught, like they were the trespassers.” Read David Ryan’s gorgeous story here: variantlit.com/exposure/

So honored and overjoyed to share the beautiful “Exposure” by the phenomenal David Ryan. Read it here: variantlit.com/exposure/

This story’s quite “Something” you won’t want to miss!

Over the moon to share Issue 23! The prose is varied and wonderful: haunting, contemplative, moody, and whimsical. Read it here:

Don’t miss this free workshop from @variantlit.bsky.social ‘s own @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social !

Get ready for @variantlit.bsky.social Issue 23!

Meanwhile, in the queue @variantlit.bsky.social, we seek narrative long-form fiction (see past issues for our editorial sensibility), flash prose, and micro (themed) series. Send us your beauties, the weirds, and the aches!

Day One of my residency week in Tamaqua, PA. What a bright, quiet place to write!

Send us your literary stories heavy with strange metaphor and liminal stands, grounded in narrative and ethereal beauty. Check out prior issues and submit here: variantlit.com/issues/

We seek micros in a series of three, like this excellent prizewinner by @melissabowers in @fracturedlit.bsky.social: fracturedlit.com/bowers/

Congrats to @queercomrades.bsky.social on the performance! Read the original story here: variantlit.com/zizzi/

Performed in my short play 'Zizzi' with Altus Chan at the Birmingham Hippodrome New Earth theatre makers showcase two weeks ago. Thanks to everyone involved for the support! www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/new...

And just like that, we are open for submissions. The world needs art and beauty, so send us yours. Guidelines @variantlit.com

Issue 22 will rock your world!

@megjnic.bsky.social and the wonderful folks of Lemon Grove Writers are hosting—come for the prompts, stay for the community!

Meet me at the intersection of FREE! POETRY! under the the tutelage of the wonderful @ashlogophile.bsky.social

Want to know if we can go home again? Read this gem from @joeyhedger.bsky.social in the new issue of @variantlit.bsky.social

Don’t miss this bittersweet and timely story from @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social in the new issue of @variantlit.bsky.social

Alligator by David Ryan is out today from Cash4Gold Books. Can’t wait to read!

We’re thrilled to announce our Pushcart Prize nominations for 2026: “On Craft” by Erica Dawson “Clutch” by Stephanie Frazee “Holes” by Nicole Desjardins Gowdy “Cooking Lesson” by Shira Haus “Five O’Clock Shadow in Philly” by Allen Means “The Opposite of Dusk” by Ron Riekki

It’s that time of year again!

Can’t wait to read this! Out 11/30 from Cash4Gold books. Preorder here: bookshop.org/p/books/alli...

“Poor Historian” by @rriekki.bsky.social haunts long after the read.

New remote classes starting this week with David Ryan: Studies in Shadow Form (starts tomorrow, Thursday, 7/24) and Irrealism: Surrealism and the Lyric Essay (starts Sunday, 7/27). His classes are so inspiring and generative! More info and signup here: curiovox.com/185-2/

What's in the box?

@variantlit.bsky.social’s own @barbaralockmd.bsky.social Her story’s sunlit-subtle menace will have you looking over your shoulder in a literary way!

What an honor! Thanks @variantlit.bsky.social for seeing something in this story!

A delightful and tender piece that I could read over and over and over again.

Congratulations Elijah! In case you missed it, read this @wigleaf.bsky.social Top 50 here:

"The mouse in the grass gains confidence, and it is harder and harder to keep track of her. She runs around and starts to remember herself, the part of her that ran through grasses in past lives." Read "Red White Fur" by Sonny Fillmore, about a snake, a mouse, a boy variantlit.com/red-white-fur/

"She presses her glossy lips together over a folded white napkin. When she pulls the paper from her mouth, there’s a perfect print of two coral lips—a Rorschach test: a butterfly. a boy. a blowfish. an ocean." Read this Micro Series by Laci Mosier from issue 21 variantlit.com/micro-series/

@derekshirae.bsky.social ‘s “Terminal” serves up strange snacks and an unlikely protagonist.

Yikes. Wondering where we’ll be even a year from now on this front.

One urgent care visit takes an unexpected turn in @beebs44120.bsky.social ‘s “Nothing Dead in Your Ear.” Read it in Issue 21 from @variantlit.bsky.social here: variantlit.com/nothing-dead...

Cannot recommend David Ryan’s classes strongly enough! His revision course is 🔥, the craft classes so generative! Check out the what’s starting soon along with other opportunities here: curiovox.com

Prose, lighthearted and somber—little somethings for everyone in Summer Issue 21!

This one catches you midsteam and pulls you under. If only it didn’t hit so close to home. 🧚