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
Nightstands
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variantlit.com
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!
TRossi (she/her)@trossiwriter.bsky.social · 2mo ago“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.
Can’t say enough about this gorgeous story!
Variant Literature@variantlit.bsky.social · 2mo ago"Around town, they called the factory Mother. Mother had a hundred divisions. Sometimes, when Yvette came home after a shift, her breath smelled like metal. Smelled like the opaque white plumes from the incinerators and the agitating spaces." Read "Exposure" by David Ryan variantlit.com/exposure/
Empathy is at the heart of this devastating flash from N. D. Stone.
Variant Literature@variantlit.bsky.social · 2mo ago"Truth is, I don’t go outside anymore. Don’t open my door. My mother’s wallet lies empty on the table like a gutted fish. I found it on our welcome mat, still warm from her hand when they took her." Read "The Hollow" by N.D. Stone variantlit.com/the-hollow/
Lessons in how to love another, rendered exquisitely by Joseph Randolph.
Variant Literature@variantlit.bsky.social · 2mo ago“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...
“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...
Micro Series
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variantlit.com
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!
Variant Literature@variantlit.bsky.social · 2mo agoRead "In a different world, I am not a stranger to this ranch," by @kplumhoff.bsky.social from Variant issue 23 variantlit.com/in-a-differe...
“*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/
The Peony Ant
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variantlit.com
“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
a man carrying a large white dog on his back
Alt: a man carrying a large white dog towards a beach
media.tenor.com
“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/
Exposure
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variantlit.com
So honored and overjoyed to share the beautiful “Exposure” by the phenomenal David Ryan. Read it here: variantlit.com/exposure/
Exposure
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variantlit.com
Over the moon to share Issue 23! The prose is varied and wonderful: haunting, contemplative, moody, and whimsical. Read it here:
Variant Literature@variantlit.bsky.social · 2mo agoWe're excited to share our summer issue! Issue 23 just landed and is full of new poetry and prose! variantlit.com/issue-twenty...
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/
Issues
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variantlit.com
We seek micros in a series of three, like this excellent prizewinner by @melissabowers in @fracturedlit.bsky.social: fracturedlit.com/bowers/
Grown-Ups Also Lie: Three Micros | Fractured
fracturedlit.com
Congrats to @queercomrades.bsky.social on the performance! Read the original story here: variantlit.com/zizzi/
Zizzi
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variantlit.com
Hongwei Bao (he/him)@queercomrades.bsky.social · 5mo agoPerformed 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...
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!
Variant Literature@variantlit.bsky.social · 6mo agoCheck out our issue 22 prose contributors! Joey Hedger / S. H. Woodgeard / Rowan MacDonald / Nicholas Claro / Christian Fuller / Elizabeth Rosen / S. L. Johnson / Chrissy Stegman / Rebecca van Laer / Gerardo J. Mercado variantlit.com/issue-twenty...
@megjnic.bsky.social and the wonderful folks of Lemon Grove Writers are hosting—come for the prompts, stay for the community!
Megan Nichols@megjnic.bsky.social · 6mo agoFree 2-hour writing sprints are open to writers at any stage! Join us at 11:00 AM CT (9:00 AM PT) on the following Saturdays: Feb 28th March 7th March 21st Sign up at lemongrovewriters.com Hosted by writers Megan Nichols, Jessica Lohafer, and Caitlin Morris.
Meet me at the intersection of FREE! POETRY! under the the tutelage of the wonderful @ashlogophile.bsky.social
Variant Literature@variantlit.bsky.social · 6mo agoWe're excited to announce a FREE poetry workshop! Ashley Kim @ashlogophile.bsky.social will lead The Weight of Small Moments: A Jane Kenyon Study on Feb 26th at 6PM PT variantlit.com/kenyon-works...
Want to know if we can go home again? Read this gem from @joeyhedger.bsky.social in the new issue of @variantlit.bsky.social
Joey Hedger@joeyhedger.bsky.social · 6mo agoI've got a new story out in @variantlit.bsky.social called "The Gunshine State." It's kinda about hating your hometown from someone who kinda hates his hometown and kinda also loves it. Thanks so much to the editors for giving it a home!!! variantlit.com/the-gunshine...
Don’t miss this bittersweet and timely story from @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social in the new issue of @variantlit.bsky.social
Liz Rosen@thewritelifeliz.bsky.social · 6mo agoWhat’s up, Bluesky asks? Just the appearance of one of my Maryland stories in a journal I really admire: @variantlit.bsky.social. variantlit.com/beacon/
