Identity Theory

Some ghosts, like Larry, are all smell

This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social

Cartoon drawing of person holding a shampoo bottle with a raccoon head sticking out. Raccoon shampoo, not good

Hey, it's another @ampydoo.bsky.social cartoon.

Drawing of an island outside a window. Caption: Honey, why is the island so much closer today?

This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social

Cartoon drawing of 3 grey mullet fish. Caption: Gray mullet mullet

This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social

Choose barbaric yawp over AI slop.

Book Review: Alan Michael Parker’s Bingo Bango Boingo At the core of Alan Michael Parker’s 'Bingo Bango Boingo' is its major formal premise: stories laid out in the 25 boxes of a bingo card.

A review of our resident cartoonist's bingo fiction book.

We Only Get Drier by Jason Hardung - Identity Theory Still, it was love, and this type of love would pull me through later in life when there was no other kind.

Also new! "We Only Get Drier" by Jason Hardung (CNF)

The Alphabet of a Sidewalk Story - Identity Theory Yes, it’s true this all started with a crow. Or maybe it all started with the bagels.

New! "The Alphabet of a Sidewalk Story" by @julietpersimmon.bsky.social www.identitytheory.com/the-alphabet...

Cartoon drawing of man with goatee hanging on to knee of large person.

Dad, let go. This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social

Thomas Perry Dies at 78; Writer of Popular, Unconventional Thrillers

RIP to our old friend Thomas Perry.

nice surprise- thanks @identitytheory.bsky.social for the nomination ☺️

I am beyond honored that @identitytheory.bsky.social nominated my poem for the Best of the Net 2026! 💜

Naming a Dying Thing by Vic Nogay — Yellow Arrow Publishing Like humid Ohio summers, often wistful and lovely, yet undeniably heavy, Naming a Dying Thing by Vic Nogay is a sticky collection. At times a confrontation, at others an abdication, the poems within t...

COVER REVEAL!!! So excited to finally share the cover of Naming a Dying Thing with you all. You can preorder a copy from @yellowarrowpub.bsky.social

www.yellowarrowpublishing.com/store/p/nami...

Identity Theory Best of the Net 2026 Nominees: Fiction Deities by Jo Withers Nonfiction White Woman Freedom by Matthew Henry Poetry Little Bluestem by Pamela Manasco In Dreams by Shira Haus Reasons for Staying by Sarah Mills Sonnet for the Dreamers Craving Sleep by Janna Miller A chainsaw whirs through February air by nat raum As Is by Jillian Clasky Art Politeness of Giraffes by Alan Michael Parker Rothko Burger by Alan Michael Parker The Subway Boar by Alan Michael Parker

Congratulations to this year's Best of the Net nominees from Identity Theory!

Cartoon of woman reaching for papers in downward dog position. Caption: Downward Donna, File Clerk

This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social

What an honor to have a story selected by the amazing @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social! And thanks to @identitytheory.bsky.social for publishing “Egg, Five Ways”!

Reposting the poem I had in @identitytheory.bsky.social last week because it means something to me and I’m glad it was published in a good joint.

Submissions are tentatively scheduled to open October 1st. We will be finalizing responses to outstanding submissions for the rest of September. This has been a social media post in the year 2025. It was written from a bed with no sheets. The sheets are in the laundry. They will return soon. Fresh.

That time Uncle Roger side-stepped the apocalypse

Why rabbits don't sell Italian ices

Two from @ampydoo.bsky.social

Walking After: A Poem by David Rosenthal - Identity Theory Everything is fraught / with terror when one’s life is blessed / by saving.

Hey! Here's a new poem by @davidrosenthalpoet.bsky.social

Two Poems by Ruthie Chen - Identity Theory 'Letter to My Mother's Mother' and 'Mink'

Two new poems by Ruthie Chen on the site today.

The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest - Identity Theory He can be scary. He can be sweet. He always rings the doorbell.

What do we all need right now? Probably some “poems” crafted from Nextdoor posts! Many thanks to @identitytheory.bsky.social for featuring #satire www.identitytheory.com/unexpected-p...

The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest - Identity Theory He can be scary. He can be sweet. He always rings the doorbell.

"FREE couch!
It could be totally wild."

Read "The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest" by @keflann.bsky.social

Cape Disappointment: A Poem by Brittany Micka-Foos All beautiful things conceal their rough and hanging edges.

"but, that’s past. The future
is a sparkling fishhook.
All beautiful things conceal
their rough and hanging edges."

Read "Cape Disappointment," a new poem by @mickafoos.bsky.social.

Cartoon: Red, green and black squiggly lines. Man in bottom right corner looking up at the lines. Caption: That time Uncle Roger side-stepped the apocalypse.

This week's @ampydoo.bsky.social

Ampydoo Cartoon #178: Lost in the Code - Identity Theory A code cartoon from Alan Michael Parker.

We got lost in the code, but we're back with another @ampydoo.bsky.social cartoon.

I’m Sorry, I Know My Well-Being Is Bad for the Planet I should’ve been compost, in and out, no strain on this world I can’t seem to love any more nobly than a pig-loving bacon-eater.

I was due to be born August 1st, but my mom got toxemia, so they cut me out, jaundiced yellow, on June 12th. Hence the line “Ordained Leo, but born Gemini,” in my @identitytheory.bsky.social prose poem from last April, if you’d like to read it 😉 👯 🦁 🙏

www.identitytheory.com/im-sorry-pla...

Identity Theory turned 25 this week.

We've been on a long semi-hiatus, behind on many things.

We're now trying to put out a 25th anniversary issue with lots of new things.

Toy Collector by Rebecca Winterer - Identity Theory She doesn’t let herself consider that this happiness is another of her tricks.

"Erosion here is constant, and people often need rescuing from the collapsing edges."

This story by Rebecca Winterer in @identitytheory.bsky.social tenderly combs through memories washed up on the shores.

Last day of @smokelong.bsky.social #ArchiveChallenge

www.identitytheory.com/toy-collector/

Group of small TVs watching large TV. Caption: TV Evangelist.

This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social