Robbie Maakestad
@robbiemaakestad.bsky.social
Senior Essays Editor: @therumpus.net / Associate Writing Professor / Program Director: MA in Writing / Books-in-progress: 1) CNF: A history of Jerusalem's City of David 2) Flash Fiction: Bill Murrays / Robbie & James Talk Music: https://bit.ly/RandJTM
Pinned
THE VIEW FROM BETHLEHEM by Robbie Maakestad
Israel Defense Force (IDF) Soldier: “What the fuck are you doing?” Banksy: “You’ll have to wait until it’s finished.” IDF Soldier (to subordinates): “Safeties off!” —Banksy’s account of painting the ...
xraylitmag.com
Honored to write about the West Bank Wall’s history through the lens of graffiti, a mystery I uncovered about Banksy’s art on the wall, & the ongoing oppression of Palestinians in the West Bank by the state of Israel. Thanks to @xraylitmag.bsky.social for publishing it xraylitmag.com/the-view-fro...
Don't miss @karenpalmer.bsky.social's "Aftermath" at @therumpus.net—a stunning essay about the Eaton Fire and the significance of what we surround ourselves with. #RumpusEssays
therumpus.net/2025/11/12/a...
therumpus.net/2025/11/12/a...
Aftermath - The Rumpus
Time-lapsed satellite video shows the Palisades Fire at 10:45 a.m., a hot red ball with an orange center sitting right on the coast. A wedge of smoke shoots out over the Pacific Ocean. At around 7:00 ...
therumpus.net
November 14, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Don't miss @karenpalmer.bsky.social's "Aftermath" at @therumpus.net—a stunning essay about the Eaton Fire and the significance of what we surround ourselves with. #RumpusEssays
therumpus.net/2025/11/12/a...
therumpus.net/2025/11/12/a...
It’s rainy today in San Diego, so when I dropped my kid at school, he started inside his classroom instead of lining up outside in the recess yard. The parents were in chaos trying to navigate this change to the drop-off because this was the first rainy day since school started.
November 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
It’s rainy today in San Diego, so when I dropped my kid at school, he started inside his classroom instead of lining up outside in the recess yard. The parents were in chaos trying to navigate this change to the drop-off because this was the first rainy day since school started.
Reposted by Robbie Maakestad
Don't we all love looking, as a wonderful poet observed, at dead things? A good season for that perspective. Thanks to @robbiemaakestad.bsky.social @mattweiland.bsky.social @therumpus.net. Companion piece from a WIP appearing soon in @revelliterary.bsky.social #booksky therumpus.net/2025/11/10/t...
The Spurious Glamor of Certain Voids - The Rumpus
Don’t we all love looking, Diane Seuss wondered, at dead things?
therumpus.net
November 12, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Don't we all love looking, as a wonderful poet observed, at dead things? A good season for that perspective. Thanks to @robbiemaakestad.bsky.social @mattweiland.bsky.social @therumpus.net. Companion piece from a WIP appearing soon in @revelliterary.bsky.social #booksky therumpus.net/2025/11/10/t...
New ROBBIE & JAMES TALK MUSIC Penny & Sparrow concert episode, featuring:
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:38 PM
New ROBBIE & JAMES TALK MUSIC Penny & Sparrow concert episode, featuring:
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
— Two Penny & Sparrow tracks
— @jawicks75.bsky.social talking horror films
— Me talking @jillchristman.bsky.social‘s “The Avocado” & braided essays
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
This @colinhamilton.bsky.social essay about writers dying is NEXT LEVEL GOOD. @therumpus.net #RumpusEssays
therumpus.net/2025/11/10/t...
therumpus.net/2025/11/10/t...
The Spurious Glamor of Certain Voids - The Rumpus
Don’t we all love looking, Diane Seuss wondered, at dead things?
therumpus.net
November 12, 2025 at 4:53 PM
This @colinhamilton.bsky.social essay about writers dying is NEXT LEVEL GOOD. @therumpus.net #RumpusEssays
therumpus.net/2025/11/10/t...
therumpus.net/2025/11/10/t...
Today I made a Bloody Mary using a pack of Arby's horsey sauce, and even I am truly disgusted with myself.
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Today I made a Bloody Mary using a pack of Arby's horsey sauce, and even I am truly disgusted with myself.
Man, the pandemic really ruined it for all those people who wanted to name their first child “Covid.”
November 8, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Man, the pandemic really ruined it for all those people who wanted to name their first child “Covid.”
Pumped that @jillchristman.bsky.social's "Spinning Webs in Space" at @therumpus.net got listed as a Notable Essay in THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2025. Shout-out to @darcyjaygagnon.bsky.social for editing Jill's essay. #RumpusEssays
November 7, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Pumped that @jillchristman.bsky.social's "Spinning Webs in Space" at @therumpus.net got listed as a Notable Essay in THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2025. Shout-out to @darcyjaygagnon.bsky.social for editing Jill's essay. #RumpusEssays
My four-year-old suggested we "just buy a house for $1" so lmk if anyone here in San Diego is selling!
October 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
My four-year-old suggested we "just buy a house for $1" so lmk if anyone here in San Diego is selling!
Check out Episode 31: 1986 where @jawicks75.bsky.social and I look at music, films, and an essay from 1986.
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Check out Episode 31: 1986 where @jawicks75.bsky.social and I look at music, films, and an essay from 1986.
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Featuring:
- Music by Prince and The Cure
- Tim Hunter's RIVER'S EDGE
- Richard Ben Cramer's "What Do You Think of Ted Williams Now?"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
I'm loving Adam Curtis's SHIFTY. A found footage BBC documentary about Britain and Thatcherism. Well worth a watch as it informs today's U.S. political landscape in grim ways.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qtI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qtI...
1. Shifty: The Land of Make Believe Adam Curtis 2025
YouTube video by vegetative streaming 🇵🇸
www.youtube.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I'm loving Adam Curtis's SHIFTY. A found footage BBC documentary about Britain and Thatcherism. Well worth a watch as it informs today's U.S. political landscape in grim ways.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qtI...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qtI...
Not only was I not in Paris this weekend, but I also don't know how to ride a motorcycle or operate an angle grinder. PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT I RAIDED THE LOUVRE.
October 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Not only was I not in Paris this weekend, but I also don't know how to ride a motorcycle or operate an angle grinder. PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT I RAIDED THE LOUVRE.
Listen to Episode 30: Melancholy Songs if u like:
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
October 17, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Listen to Episode 30: Melancholy Songs if u like:
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
- Sad music
- @angermonsoon.bsky.social's essays
- Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"
- Up-and-coming Irish bands (DUG)
- @thomyorke.wastehq.social defending sad songs
- @jawicks75.bsky.social
- the word "fluorescence"
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
Okay, if nobody else wants to be the Duke of York, I can be the Duke of York.
October 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Okay, if nobody else wants to be the Duke of York, I can be the Duke of York.
Reposted by Robbie Maakestad
@lizcharlottegrant.bsky.social will be here for in-person/live-streamed events, leading a workshop and discussing her book "Knock at the Sky" on October 29th! Purchase your tickets here! plnu.universitytickets.com
October 16, 2025 at 5:36 PM
@lizcharlottegrant.bsky.social will be here for in-person/live-streamed events, leading a workshop and discussing her book "Knock at the Sky" on October 29th! Purchase your tickets here! plnu.universitytickets.com
Last night in class we looked at structure and transitions in @lizcharlottegrant.bsky.social‘s KNOCK AT THE SKY. Excited to have Liz out to @plnu.bsky.social for the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers series!!! In-person and streaming tickets here plnu.universitytickets.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Last night in class we looked at structure and transitions in @lizcharlottegrant.bsky.social‘s KNOCK AT THE SKY. Excited to have Liz out to @plnu.bsky.social for the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers series!!! In-person and streaming tickets here plnu.universitytickets.com
Robbie & James Talk Music: Episode 29 - On Rotation.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
October 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Robbie & James Talk Music: Episode 29 - On Rotation.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
robbieandjamestalkmusic.podbean.com
In which @jawicks75.bsky.social and I discuss:
-Amelia Earhart,
-Margaret Thatcher,
-"Shifty" by Adam Curtis,
-The purpose of art,
-Rick Rubin,
-Music by Public Service Broadcasting,
-Music by Spoon.
FYI, @therumpus.net is still open for essay submissions! If you want to get an idea of what we publish, check out the #RumpusEssays threads below.
therumpus.submittable.com/submit
therumpus.submittable.com/submit
The Rumpus Submission Manager
We have paused submissions for fiction and poetry, so we can catch up. We'll re-open for these categories on 10/15/2025.The Rumpus publishes original fiction, poetry, literary humor writing, comics, e...
therumpus.submittable.com
October 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
FYI, @therumpus.net is still open for essay submissions! If you want to get an idea of what we publish, check out the #RumpusEssays threads below.
therumpus.submittable.com/submit
therumpus.submittable.com/submit
In September 2025, we published 10 siiiiicccck essays at @therumpus.net so here’s a #RumpusEssays thread:
We kicked things off with Celia Bell’s “Unwriting the Great American Novel: Helen DeWitt’s ‘Your Name Here’”—an essay about Helen DeWitt’s novels.
therumpus.net/2025/09/09/u...
We kicked things off with Celia Bell’s “Unwriting the Great American Novel: Helen DeWitt’s ‘Your Name Here’”—an essay about Helen DeWitt’s novels.
therumpus.net/2025/09/09/u...
Unwriting the Great American Novel: Helen DeWitt’s "Your Name Here" - The Rumpus
The myth of the PDF is this: it is an unpublishable novel, circulated online after DeWitt despaired of getting it out by conventional channels. When I talked to my old coworker, it seemed shrouded in ...
therumpus.net
October 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
In September 2025, we published 10 siiiiicccck essays at @therumpus.net so here’s a #RumpusEssays thread:
We kicked things off with Celia Bell’s “Unwriting the Great American Novel: Helen DeWitt’s ‘Your Name Here’”—an essay about Helen DeWitt’s novels.
therumpus.net/2025/09/09/u...
We kicked things off with Celia Bell’s “Unwriting the Great American Novel: Helen DeWitt’s ‘Your Name Here’”—an essay about Helen DeWitt’s novels.
therumpus.net/2025/09/09/u...
We had an amazing @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series with @samuelashworth.bsky.social. He ran a masterclass on student drafts, read from THE DEATH AND LIFE OF AUGUST SWEENEY, and delivered a lecture titled “The Art of Telling.” Such a generous, wise human!
October 6, 2025 at 6:46 PM
We had an amazing @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series with @samuelashworth.bsky.social. He ran a masterclass on student drafts, read from THE DEATH AND LIFE OF AUGUST SWEENEY, and delivered a lecture titled “The Art of Telling.” Such a generous, wise human!
Pumped to have @samuelashworth.bsky.social visiting the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social program today to talk about THE DEATH AND LIFE OF AUGUST SWEENEY. In-person and live-stream tickets are still available plnu.universitytickets.com
Point Loma Nazarene University | Ticketing - Ticket Office Home
plnu.universitytickets.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Pumped to have @samuelashworth.bsky.social visiting the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social program today to talk about THE DEATH AND LIFE OF AUGUST SWEENEY. In-person and live-stream tickets are still available plnu.universitytickets.com
Reposted by Robbie Maakestad
it's tha 1st of tha month, submissions are open
thanks !
thanks !
October 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM
it's tha 1st of tha month, submissions are open
thanks !
thanks !
Thrilled to have @samuelashworth.bsky.social joining the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series tomorrow!!! Get your streaming and in-person tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Thrilled to have @samuelashworth.bsky.social joining the @plnuwritingma.bsky.social Visiting Writers Series tomorrow!!! Get your streaming and in-person tickets here: plnu.universitytickets.com
An honor to be featured on episode 94 of THE WRITTEN SCENE podcast. I had a lovely conversation about writing with the host, Adam Greenfield.
open.spotify.com/episode/5qFk...
open.spotify.com/episode/5qFk...
Episode 94: Robbie Maakestad
open.spotify.com
September 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
An honor to be featured on episode 94 of THE WRITTEN SCENE podcast. I had a lovely conversation about writing with the host, Adam Greenfield.
open.spotify.com/episode/5qFk...
open.spotify.com/episode/5qFk...