Brandon Haffner

broken record on this but a similarly great beat for left wing media would be covering arts and culture and not just focusing primarily on politics and current events because there's a massive void there right now

One of my faves!

Here’s the shortlist for the 2025 John Dos Passos prize. The annual John Dos Passos Prize for Literature honors the country’s most talented fiction writers for career-long contributions to the genre. First launched in 1980, the prize is the oldest …

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to help run this awesome literary prize. Here are the finalists for the 2025 John Dos Passos Prize for Literature: lithub.com/heres-the-sh...

Solidarity!! Last week, Indiana University fired the director of student media & halted print on the Indiana Daily Student newspaper. Yesterday, Purdue’s student paper printed the banned edition & drove two hours to deliver it. Incredible www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/l...

I read this slim potent book twice in one day this week. Next day I read it back to front. Some deep stuff in here. Tremendous thinking and writing. Gonna be one I keep close by on small shelf of inspiring mainstays.

Every Undelivered Lecture from Transit rocks my face

Variant Lit mag logo on photo of moon in blue afternoon sky with text POETRY AND PROSE SUBMISSIONS OPEN OCTOBER 21

Awesome!!

Here Are the Finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards

National Book Award finalist. Amazing!!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/b...

James River Writers conference brings together Richmond's literary scene “We do have a national reputation. I think Richmond is getting known for being an artistic community.”

Wrote an article on Richmond's James River Writers, an organization trying to foster community around the arts despite increasing obstacles: www.richmonder.org/james-river-...

This book is a blast. Love Joy Williams!

Signatures of former Hambidge residents written on a cutting board in Mellinger Studio

The water of Betty's Creek swirls through rocks and trees

Eight Adirondack chairs sit in a circle on an expansive lawn near a triangular glass sculpture with trees in the background

A photo of the inside of Mellinger Studio at Hambidge depicts a desk, lamp, desk chair, reading chair, a table with books, and windows that look out into the forest

Returned home from Hambidge last weekend and I've been dreaming about it ever since. Added 30 pages to my novel project, drafted a new short story, wrote some poems, revised a bunch of stuff, read 8 books, and met amazing people (we started a book club!). One of the most peaceful places I've been.

We are creating a Spanish language section on The Rumpus, for original creative work written in Spanish and are looking for a volunteer editor for this section. If this could be you, please send a brief letter of interest to roxane@therumpus.net by Tuesday, September 2nd!

In 4 weeks!

Incubator We started in a basement with a budget of $300. We love helping others who have shoestring budgets make the books, journals, podcasts, and literary ephemera that they’ve been dreaming of. Bul…

This seems like a good to remind folks: if you have a literary project you want to start but need a little help and a little support, our incubator might be what you're looking for! bullcitypress.com/projects/inc...

Red Rabbit Ghost Check out Red Rabbit Ghost - <p><b>An impulsive young outcast confronts his small town's dark secrets in this atmospheric and haunting debut horror novel from brilliant new voice Jen Julian. <p/> "Dre...

Today is pub day for @jennicjul.bsky.social's Red Rabbit Ghost, a horror novel I've been excited to read for many many months. I teach Julian's short fiction every year, and every year the students and I are surprised and awed. This is going to be good, y'all.

bookshop.org/p/books/red-...

Congratulations to the Variant writers on the Wigleaf Top 50 2025 Longlist!

@danbillyc.bsky.social "Kilter" (Spring 2024)

@courtludwick.bsky.social "Quarter" (Spring 2024)

@emilyrinkema.bsky.social "The Interview" (Fall 2024)

@sarahroth.bsky.social "Postnatural" (Winter 2024)

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) Check out The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) - <p><b>"Alameddine is a writer with a boundless imagination."--NPR</b></p><p><b>From National Book Award finalist and winner of the...

If you feel an inchoate itch to preorder a book, you can scratch here:
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

Yep this right here

🎉SHE'S HERE!!🎉 Hugely excited to reveal the beauticious cover of my debut collection COLD TOAST feat. the artwork of renowned 70s artist Tim Mara 🔥
Out on 15th May! Preorders now available at www.dahliapublishing.co.uk/product/cold...

#flashfiction #shortstories #popart #printmaking

Teapot Summer by Brandon Ahmad Haffner Birthdays I remember the teapot summer. Thanks to Brenda I couldn’t forget if I wanted. I remember the day we found it I was strutting the center line on Main like a lunatic. Big-shouldered, daring ca...

Here's a fun (I hope!) story I made about some teenagers who find a magical teapot! Thanks to J Journal for taking this on. www.jjournal.org/post/teapot-...

I don’t want to “streamline” my writing. I don’t want to “increase my output.” I don’t want to “write a novel with one click.” I want to write stuff only I can write. I want to read and write novels with soul and heart and a unique voice. Fuck AI. Long live real writers.

This is a good one!

Celebrate 54 Years of VCCA and Beyond | VCCA This May, we celebrate 54 years of artistic excellence at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, a place […]

Since 1971, VCCA has been a haven for artists across disciplines — a place of creative freedom, support, and community. This May, as we mark 54 years, we ask you to consider making a $54 contribution to support the next chapter of VCCA’s story. 💝 vcca.com/54

Call for submissions. The Offing’s Essay department is seeking new works! In black text over a background of open books.

Call for submissions! 🗣️
The Offing’s Essay department is seeking new works! Follow the link to submit today!
theoffingmag.submittable.com/submit

Screenshot of Pen Robert w Bingham prize finalist list announcement from here https://pen.org/announcing-the-2025-pen-america-literary-awards-finalists/

I promise to stop talking about this today (there are obviously far bigger things happening) but I did want to call out that these books are all from small/university presses. In a lit world where it’s really hard to break a collection out, I’m grateful for the attention to small-press books!

Volunteer Day at VCCA Sign up to join VCCA for light yard work and free lunch at Mt. San Angelo.

To our local friends and #VCCAFellows: If you're looking for a fun outdoor activity next Saturday, April 12, we'd love to welcome you for Spring Volunteer Day at VCCA in Amherst, Virginia!

Please sign up by Tuesday, April 8: vcca.typeform.com/volunteer-day

Sad Grownups Check out Sad Grownups - <p><strong>For those who've been sad and tried not to be, seventeen stories about the absurdity of searching for joy in a dying world. </strong></p><p><br></p><p>A neighborhoo...

I could not be at AWP this year because of work. I'm sad to miss all the good talk about reading & writing. Also, as someone with a new-ish book out, I guess I'm missing the opportunity to spread the word - so here goes: I hope you'll consider ordering SAD GROWNUPS: bookshop.org/p/books/sad-...

Yep! Feeling this lately also. Still learning how & when to set those boundaries, but slowly getting more comfortable saying no to things. Good luck out there!

Yay, I've been awarded a residency at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. How wonderful and lucky, I can't wait. A little light!