2025 Pushcart Prize Nominations

The announcement you’ve all been waiting for: our nominations for the 2025 Pushcart Prize! As usual, we received so many excellent submissions this year, and it was a tough choice, but we feel that these six pieces reflect the bold storytelling that we’re excited to publish.

We’d like to congratulate Devayani Anvekar, Elise Glassman, Mitch Kampf, Shivani Kshirsagar, Robin Wyatt Dunn, and Clint Sabom on your nominations!

These pieces took us on a journey to futuristic dystopias, explored romantic and parental relationships, recounted the devastating recent fires in Los Angeles, and contemplated our place in the world. All of these stories and poems deserve a close read. We hope you find them as moving as we did.

2025 Pushcart Prize Nominees

that slow DRAGGED END. by Devayani Anvekar

“the sky no more cerulean blue – soused in black ink, with it its moon and stars too. It is …

Dadless by Elise Glassman

“Dad was on his way, said, Trust me, Elise. Said stop your bellyaching, said For crying out loud I’m on …

You Forget How Wet A Fire Is by Mitch Kampf

“Your neighbors hose down windows and doors. They spray you by accident. Not that you care.” – excerpt from You …

The Side Wound of Christ is Intentionally Vaginal by Shivani Kshirsagar

“‘I am sure…’ I started, exhaling in turn, watching the plumes dress their face. ‘I am sure, gods are like…Let …

Daylight under the Geofence by Robin Wyatt Dunn

“I let them into the library to steal the books. They say they’re going to digitize everything. In time, we …

The Needle Man by Clint Sabom

content warnings reference to drug use [1291 words] In my worry chamber birds fly east and west but never north …

Best of luck to our nominated authors! We are cheering you on ✨

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