Identity Theory
@identitytheory.bsky.social
Classic online lit mag (founded 2000). Interviews, fiction, CNF, micro, poetry, etc. We may or may not be edited by a corgi. Read us at identitytheory.com.
This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:42 AM
This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social
Choose barbaric yawp over AI slop.
November 3, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Choose barbaric yawp over AI slop.
A review of our resident cartoonist's bingo fiction book.
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.
www.identitytheory.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:22 AM
A review of our resident cartoonist's bingo fiction book.
Also new! "We Only Get Drier" by Jason Hardung (CNF)
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.
www.identitytheory.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Also new! "We Only Get Drier" by Jason Hardung (CNF)
New! "The Alphabet of a Sidewalk Story" by @julietpersimmon.bsky.social www.identitytheory.com/the-alphabet...
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.
www.identitytheory.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:20 AM
New! "The Alphabet of a Sidewalk Story" by @julietpersimmon.bsky.social www.identitytheory.com/the-alphabet...
Dad, let go. This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Dad, let go. This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social
RIP to our old friend Thomas Perry.
Thomas Perry Dies at 78; Writer of Popular, Unconventional Thrillers
www.nytimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 8:11 PM
RIP to our old friend Thomas Perry.
Reposted by Identity Theory
nice surprise- thanks @identitytheory.bsky.social for the nomination ☺️
Congratulations to this year's Best of the Net nominees from Identity Theory!
September 29, 2025 at 12:40 PM
nice surprise- thanks @identitytheory.bsky.social for the nomination ☺️
Reposted by Identity Theory
I am beyond honored that @identitytheory.bsky.social nominated my poem for the Best of the Net 2026! 💜
Congratulations to this year's Best of the Net nominees from Identity Theory!
September 28, 2025 at 10:58 PM
I am beyond honored that @identitytheory.bsky.social nominated my poem for the Best of the Net 2026! 💜
Reposted by Identity Theory
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...
www.yellowarrowpublishing.com/store/p/nami...
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...
www.yellowarrowpublishing.com
September 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
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...
www.yellowarrowpublishing.com/store/p/nami...
Congratulations to this year's Best of the Net nominees from Identity Theory!
September 28, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Congratulations to this year's Best of the Net nominees from Identity Theory!
This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social
September 21, 2025 at 11:41 PM
This week's cartoon from @ampydoo.bsky.social
Reposted by Identity Theory
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”!
This month's #Mondettes picked by @kathrynsilverhajo.bsky.social
⚡Ten wonderful flash fictions
🔍Ten splashes of analysis as to why Kathryn made these brilliant picks
🪴Three fantastic prompts to get you writing
mondettes.substack.com/p/september-...
⚡Ten wonderful flash fictions
🔍Ten splashes of analysis as to why Kathryn made these brilliant picks
🪴Three fantastic prompts to get you writing
mondettes.substack.com/p/september-...
September 2025
Ten stories picked by Kathryn Silver-Hajo
mondettes.substack.com
September 16, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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”!
Reposted by Identity Theory
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.
September 20, 2025 at 11:07 PM
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.
September 15, 2025 at 12:48 AM
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.
Hey! Here's a new poem by @davidrosenthalpoet.bsky.social
Walking After: A Poem by David Rosenthal - Identity Theory
Everything is fraught / with terror when one’s life is blessed / by saving.
www.identitytheory.com
September 14, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Hey! Here's a new poem by @davidrosenthalpoet.bsky.social
Two new poems by Ruthie Chen on the site today.
Two Poems by Ruthie Chen - Identity Theory
'Letter to My Mother's Mother' and 'Mink'
www.identitytheory.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Two new poems by Ruthie Chen on the site today.
Reposted by Identity Theory
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.
www.identitytheory.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:38 AM
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...
"FREE couch!
It could be totally wild."
Read "The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest" by @keflann.bsky.social
It could be totally wild."
Read "The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest" by @keflann.bsky.social
The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest - Identity Theory
He can be scary. He can be sweet. He always rings the doorbell.
www.identitytheory.com
September 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"FREE couch!
It could be totally wild."
Read "The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest" by @keflann.bsky.social
It could be totally wild."
Read "The Unexpected Poetry of NextDoor Digest" by @keflann.bsky.social
"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.
is a sparkling fishhook.
All beautiful things conceal
their rough and hanging edges."
Read "Cape Disappointment," a new poem by @mickafoos.bsky.social.
Cape Disappointment: A Poem by Brittany Micka-Foos
All beautiful things conceal their rough and hanging edges.
www.identitytheory.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:23 AM
"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.
is a sparkling fishhook.
All beautiful things conceal
their rough and hanging edges."
Read "Cape Disappointment," a new poem by @mickafoos.bsky.social.
We got lost in the code, but we're back with another @ampydoo.bsky.social cartoon.
Ampydoo Cartoon #178: Lost in the Code - Identity Theory
A code cartoon from Alan Michael Parker.
www.identitytheory.com
August 26, 2025 at 12:56 AM
We got lost in the code, but we're back with another @ampydoo.bsky.social cartoon.
Reposted by Identity Theory
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...
www.identitytheory.com/im-sorry-pla...
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.
www.identitytheory.com
August 1, 2025 at 2:20 PM
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...
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.
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.
July 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
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.
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.