The Rumpus

At The Rumpus, we understand that pop culture is everywhere online, so we aim to offer something different and thought-provoking. Our platform invites individuals to express themselves through their writing, sharing their unique stories and insights in a genuine and artistic manner. We are dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and showcasing pieces that might not find a place elsewhere, while also celebrating both emerging and established writers we admire. Our mission is to highlight narratives that foster connections, break down barriers, and confront authority. Founded in 2009, The Rumpus became part of Marisa Siegel's vision in January 2017, after she served as Managing Editor from 2014 to 2017. We aim to shift the narrative by introducing you to authors you may not know and offering insights on literature, films, and media that encourage deeper thought. We believe that reading creates a sense of community, and if you find yourself wanting more from The Rumpus, we have plenty to offer! Join our Rumpus Book Club, Rumpus Poetry Book Club, Letters in the Mail, and Letters for Kids—each initiative supports our ongoing efforts. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free, personal newsletter! We also invite you to be a part of The Rumpus by submitting your own work (please refer to our Writer’s Guidelines) to enrich our content. The Rumpus is a collaborative effort, where our writers, editors, illustrators, and readers play vital roles in shaping our identity.

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Articles

Take A Risk and Stand at The Edge of a Cliff: A Conversation with Jen Michalski

1 week ago | therumpus.net | Wendy Fox

I first met Jen Michalski in 2016, after I published an article about the somewhat dismal sales of my debut collection of short stories and Michalski, being Michalski, reached out to offer a review of my book in her literary journal JMWW. Since then, I’ve come to admire her not just as someone who gives back to the literary community but also as an author. Michalski is an award-winning author of eight books of fiction.
Despair is a Luxury, but Hope is a Discipline: A Conversation with Robert Macfarlane

1 month ago | therumpus.net | Janet Rodríguez

Robert Macfarlane’s newest book, Is A River Alive? (W.W. Norton & Co., 2025) starts challenging the reader on the cover as blue and green ribbons of water rush over the question.
Diannely Antigua's Good Monster

1 month ago | therumpus.net | P. Aiden Hunt

I have a confession: I’ve always had some aversion to confessional poetry. It often seemed to me that confessional poets rested too much on their confessions while neglecting their poetics and style, so they might as well be writing prose memoirs. Every bias has exceptions, however, and Diannely Antigua is one of mine. Antigua’s sophomore collection, Good Monster (Copper Canyon Press, 2024), continues her “Diary Entry” poems.
Rumpus Original Fiction: Find Me in the Light

1 month ago | therumpus.net | Priyanka Bose

During each of our first few dates, Amira tells me about a different ex. Even though she is only twenty-four, she has many of them, and according to her, they are all amazing and interesting people, and she is grateful to still have all of them in her life. Since I am almost thirty but have no relationship history of my own to share, I spend more time listening than talking, but I’m grateful for her lopsided attention. Conversations have always been a challenge for me.
Unfun: Mariah Stovall’s I Love You So Much It’s Killing Us Both

2 months ago | therumpus.net | Sean Carlson

For a moment in time, in the early and mid 2000s, emotional masculinity was all the rage. From MySpace darlings to mainstream radioplay, pop culture gravitated toward “emo”: alternative anthems with softer edges, vocals comfortable with vulnerability, and singalongs about valentines and similar sentiments.
The First Book: Sam Ashworth

2 months ago | therumpus.net | Samuel Ashworth

The Author: Sam AshworthThe Book: The Death and Life of August Sweeney (Santa Fe Writer’s Project, 2025)The Elevator Pitch: The rise and fall of legendary Chef August Sweeney, told through his autopsy at the hands of a woman he mysteriously handpicked for the job. ***The Rumpus: Where did the idea of your book come from? Sam Ashworth: In 2012 or so, I was a bartender in Boston. I was sitting in a sister bar with a coworker, and as you do, we started talking about dead bodies.
Imagining is an Act of Love: A Conversation with Lynn Steger Strong

2 months ago | therumpus.net | Katie Coleman

Lynn Steger Strong’s latest novel, The Float Test (Mariner Books, 2025), tells the story of four siblings coming together one Florida summer to grieve the death of their mother. Each sibling is navigating a cocktail of grievances and secrets that separate them from their loved ones when they need them the most, and they all want to know why their mother had a gun in her underwear drawer. The concerns of The Float Test run much deeper, however.
National Poetry Month: Sadie Dupuis

2 months ago | therumpus.net | Sadie Dupuis

Insisting on the truthdoes not serve the painter. Five hundred horses rundown the trail of blood and thenfive hundred horses run it again. I did this. Took my own photo, painted over my eyes, listenedcloser. And then I put in my earplugs. I met a million horses. I marriedvery few of them. Despite the power of the mind who can say who marries or how or whyor where horses do. Marriage isa friendship for hire. Like most jobs, it’s not the only gig around. I consulted the ancestry.
Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman to lead The Rumpus as magazine’s new owners

Mar 28, 2025 | therumpus.net | Alyson Sinclair

The Rumpus, one of the longest-running independent literary and culture magazines, will transition to new ownership under Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman, effective May 1, 2025, announced current Publisher Alyson Sinclair. “I couldn’t be more excited for The Rumpus to enter its next phase under Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman’s leadership,” said Sinclair. “They are writers and thought leaders I’ve admired for a long time.
Voices on Addiction: What I Learned About Myself from Watching Intervention

Mar 25, 2025 | therumpus.net | Katie Reilly

The top of Lauren’s hair is blonde, but the dark roots have grown out. Her hair is pulled up into a bun that is unintentionally messy. She’s a mom to three kids but lives with her partner in their car. Lauren is a heroin addict whose story appeared on A&E’s Intervention. At one point, I admired her. She acted how I wished I could. My mom died fourteen years ago and my dad four years later on her birthday. After his death, the show consumed me. Some days, I’d watch three episodes a day, others just one.