In May of 2025 literary icon Roxane Gay and renowned designer, Debbie Millman of Design Matters acquired the beloved publication The Rumpus. Since the acquisition, they’ve led the new visual and editorial direction with the aim to bridge the online literary community with real-world engagement. Recently, their initiative has brought community-sourced stories to readers and is striving to build connection and deliver boundary-pushing editorial with an emphasis on bold perspectives and voices.

We had a chance to talk with Debbie and Roxane about their recent initiatives, where The Rumpus is headed next and what they are hoping to do in the editorial space.

Talk to us about these new initiatives taking place at The Rumpus. In June it was The Pride 30 and in July it was “What Is Freedom?”. What is driving how you choose these opportunities for creators to contribute?

With each of our initiatives, we are showing our readers our priorities, our taste, and who we are as publishers and editors. Literature isn’t made or read in a vacuum so with projects like The Pride 30 and What is Freedom, we’re demonstrating that. In June, we wanted to celebrate Pride and so we turned to our very rich and deep archive. In July, we were thinking about the 250th anniversary of the United States and how it is a complicated thing given both the good and bad that has taken place over the past two and a half centuries. We wanted to hear from some of the most interesting writers and thinkers we know about how they define freedom because that is one of the driving principles of this country and also one of the most unevenly applied.

What have you discovered through the submissions you’ve seen so far?

One of the things I always marvel at in the submission queue is the breadth of creativity people have. Even the submissions that won’t work for us are interesting. Whatever crises there may be in reading and writing, people are creating all kinds of things and so much of it is wonderful.

There’s clearly real intent around bringing marginalized voices to the forefront of conversations. What gap were you seeing in the media that you’re hoping to fill?

The gaps in media are well known at this point so we’re just trying to prioritize excellent writing while recognizing that excellent writing comes from unexpected places sometimes. We are inclusive in every sense of the word, looking well beyond demography to aesthetics, ideas, and perspectives.

What would you say to writers considering submitting work to The Rumpus, but unsure if they should?

Actually reading the magazine is a really great guide in terms of whether you should submit or not. Your work doesn’t have to mimic what we’ve already published but our very deep archives do give a sense of the kinds of writing we have published over the years. You won’t see a lot of YA or genre fiction (though we aren’t at all opposed to genre writing) so if that’s your creative focus this might not be the right magazine for you. Really consider if your writing would be a good fit and then shoot your shot!. We welcome your work.

What does a quality submission have?

It seems redundant but a quality submission is polished. It has been proofread. That is just table stakes and yet, a lot of people send out work very prematurely. Moving beyond that, a quality submission holds our attention. It offers something unique whether it’s the subject matter or the writing or the voice or a combination thereof. We don’t mind flaws. We love work that is truly interesting, sometimes a little odd or challenging or difficult.

What do you want writers to know before they consider submitting?

You can’t get published if you don’t actually try to get published. Rejection is not pleasant but it is absolutely something you can and will survive, learn from and become accustomed to. Also, if you aren’t getting rejected, you aren’t trying hard enough.

As AI and social media saturation overwhelm the internet, how is The Rumpus working to make sure human stories that are designed for more than clicks find their way to readers?

Right now we’re using our judgment and common sense. It’s pretty clear when AI has been used in the writing process. Will things get by us? Maybe. But on the whole, we know AI writing when we read it. It’s bland and pedestrian, and lacks any soul. Debbie is also particularly good at sniffing out AI.

What role do you feel storytelling plays as we navigate the current landscape?

Storytelling remains one of the most effective ways of communicating with others, preserving histories and legacies, and sharing new ideas with the world. We need stories now more than ever and that is a guiding ethos for us as we navigate this difficult time.

Can you share any new initiatives that are coming up next for The Rumpus?

We are about to launch a summer reading challenge that will run through Labor Day and that will be a lot of fun. Our editorial and writing fellows are getting started in August so we’re excited to welcome those folks into The Rumpus fold. The culture section is growing and we have some great coverage planned for the fall. And, we’re getting ready for AWP even though it is several months away. We’re the premier sponsor this year and we’re excited to share who we are with that community. Given the success of our event this year, we’re looking to expand our event next year.

The Rumpus

Founded in 2009, The Rumpus is an influential independent online literary magazine dedicated to fostering community and championing diverse perspectives. For over fifteen years, the publication has served as a premier platform for emerging and established voices, publishing original fiction, poetry, essays, interviews, comics, and cultural criticism that challenge, provoke, and inspire. Work published in The Rumpus has consistently earned the literary world’s highest honors, including Pushcart Prizes, PEN America awards, Best American anthology selections, and Best of the Net recognitions. Today, The Rumpus remains committed to deepening cultural conversations and elevating work that drives a better understanding of the human experience. Alongside Debbie Millman and Roxane Gay, The Rumpus is co-published by Ruth Ann Harnisch and Sukey Novogratz.