Electric Literature
| Categories | Literary magazine |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Daily |
| Format | Digital |
| Total circulation | 5 million |
| Founder | Andy Hunter and Scott Lindenbaum |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Company | Electric Literature |
| Country | United States |
| Based in | New York |
| Language | English |
| Website | electricliterature |
| ISSN | 2152-0933 |
Electric Literature is an American literary magazine.
History
[edit]Founded by Andy Hunter and Scott Lindenbaum in 2009 as a print quarterly journal, Electric Literature transitioned to a daily website in 2012 under the helm of Halimah Marcus and Benjamin Samuel.[1]
Electric Literature publishes essays, reading lists, interviews, fiction, poetry, graphic narratives, humor, and book news, all available to read online for free without a paywall.[2] It launched the first fiction magazine on the iPhone and iPad.[3][4][5] Work published has been recognized[6] by Best American Short Stories, Essays, Poetry, and Comics, the Pushcart Prize, Best Canadian Short Stories, The Best of the Small Presses, and the O. Henry Prize.
in 2014, Electric Literature became a registered non-profit.[7]
In 2016, Halimah Marcus was appointed the first executive director of Electric Literature. She has been with the magazine since 2010.[8]
In 2021, Denne Michele Norris became editor-in-chief of Electric Literature, the first Black and openly trans editor-in-chief[9] of a major U.S. literary publication.
In 2022, Electric Literature was the Digital Prize Winner[10] of the Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes.
In 2023, Electric Literature partnered with Banned Books USA to offer free banned and challenged books[11] to residents of Florida.
In 2025, Electric Literature published their first book, edited by Norris and published by HarperOne: Both/And: Essays by Trans and Gender-Nonconforming Writers of Color. It builds on a prior essay series that Electric Literature sponsored for trans writers of color.[12][13] Both/And became a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Nonfiction.[14]
Recommended reading
[edit]Website type | Fiction literary magazine |
|---|---|
| Founder | Electric Literature |
| Key people | Halimah Marcus and Bejamin Samuel |
| Website | electricliterature |
| Launched | May 2012 |
In May 2012,[15] Electric Literature launched Recommended Reading, a weekly fiction magazine. Each issue is curated by a well known editor or writer.[16]
The Commuter
[edit]Website type | Poetry literary magazine |
|---|---|
| Founder | Electric Literature |
| Key people | Kelly Luce |
| Website | electricliterature |
| Launched | January 2018 |
The Commuter, a weekly magazine for poetry, flash, graphic, or experimental narrative, debuted in January 2018, helmed by writer Kelly Luce.[17]
Notes
[edit]- ↑ "Member Spotlight: Electric Literature". Community of Literary Magazines and Presses. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ About Electric Lit.
- ↑ Felicia R. Lee, "Serving Literature by the Tweet", The New York Times, October 27, 2009.
- ↑ Teddy Wayne, "Verge Q+A: Electric Literature", GQ, June 29, 2010.
- ↑ Andy Hunter, "Literature, Plugged In", Publishers Weekly, October 25, 2010.
- ↑ "Mission". Electric Literature. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ electricliterature (March 16, 2016). "Electric Lit Appoints Halimah Marcus as First Executive Director". Electric Literature. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ electricliterature (March 16, 2016). "Electric Lit Appoints Halimah Marcus as First Executive Director". Electric Literature. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ Stewart |, Sophia. "Denne Michele Norris Takes the Helm at 'Electric Literature'". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes". www.whiting.org. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Send your favorite Florida resident a banned book—for free". Literary Hub. October 13, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ "Announcing the "Both/And" Anthology Featuring Trans Writers of Color". Electric Literature. July 11, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Both/And: Essays by Trans and Gender-Nonconforming Writers of Color by Denne Michele Norris, Electric Literature". Publishers Weekly. May 27, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Announcing the Finalists for the 38th Lambda Literary Awards". Lambda Literary. March 18, 2026. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Member Spotlight: Electric Literature". Community of Literary Magazines and Presses. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ↑ Recommended Reading
- ↑ Lou, Jo (December 8, 2023). "Celebrating What We've Accomplished in 2023". Electric Literature. Retrieved February 29, 2024.