James Allen Hall
@jamesallenhall.bsky.social
850 followers 800 following 46 posts
Poet. Essayist. Co-host of Breaking Form: A Podcast of Poetry and Culture. All opinions are my own.
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Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
The queens visit Pittsburgh for a big dose of poetry -- occasioned by a weekend of events held in tribute to Ed Ochester (1939-2023). It's a dishy episode, despite the elegiac occasion. Listen online at
breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com
or wherever you mine your poetry.
Reposted by James Allen Hall
literaryhouse.bsky.social
HUUUUUGE congratulations to Lit House Associate Director Roy Kesey for winning this prestigious prize for his new book, LORE, out from Sarabande in May 2027.
sarabandebooks.bsky.social
Congratulations to Roy Kesey (@roykesey.bsky.social)
whose collection LORE was selected by Ed Park as the 2025 Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction winner and is scheduled for publication in May 2027!! Learn more here: www.sarabandebooks.org/all-titles/p...
Cream background. Black text at top reads: Winner of the 2025 Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction. In the center is a headshot of the author. Bottom left in script text is the author’s name: Roy Kesey. Bottom right is the white Sarabande logo.
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
Two weeks left to submit to Cherry Tree! Check out our guidelines at

cherrytree.submittable.com
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
What Senior Fiction Reader @nicanstett.bsky.social is enjoying when not reading submissions: fabulous books by @riggstah.bsky.social and @tonytula.com

Cherry Tree is open for submissions until October 1!
cherrytree.submittable.com/submit
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
When she's not reading submissions, CNF Editor Sufiya Abdur-Rahman is reading recent books by Rachel L. Swarns @rachelswarns.bsky.social and by CT 9 contributor Kristin Keane.

Cherry Tree is open for submissions til October 1 at cherrytree.submittable.com/submit
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
We asked our editors to name 2 books they're reading (when they're not reading Cherry Tree submissions). Fiction Editor extraordinaire @sarahblackman.bsky.social recommends books by former CT contributor @alvinlu.bsky.social and by Thalia Field.

We're open til Oct 1!
cherrytree.submittable.com
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
We asked our editors: what are 2 books you're reading when you're not reading Cherry Tree submissions?

Poetry Editor Alyse Bensel's answer: Rara Avis by former CT contributor @blasfalconer.bsky.social & Anelise Chen's Clam Down.

Cherry Tree is open til October 1
cherrytree.submittable.com
Cherry Tree logo joined by book covers for Blas Falconer's Rara Avis (poems) and Anelise Chen's Clam Down: A Metamorphosis. Other text says "what we're reading when we're not reading your work" that these picks are by Alyse Bensel, Cherry Tree poetry editor.
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
This week's episode takes place, places place, and plants poetry in your [placeholder]. Poets mentioned include @tracibrimhall.bsky.social @joseolivarez.bsky.social & @adrianmatejka.bsky.social among others!

Listen wherever you get your poetry podcasts, or online at breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
Cherry Tree is open for submissions through October 1. Send us your poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. All accepted pieces are considered for our special section of Literary Shade!

cherrytree.submittable.com
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
Smoke 'em if you got 'em! "Poetry Babies" is now streaming on Breaking Form. You can listen wherever you get your cigars and strollers, or online at breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com.
Reposted by James Allen Hall
simeonberry.bsky.social
“The father parks outside the Pleasure Place / but does not turn off the ignition. / Tells his son, I’ll just be a second. An hour later, / is found among the lifelike vaginas” — @jamesallenhall.bsky.social, “Fantasy” @fourwaybooks.bsky.social
FANTASY. The father parks outside the Pleasure Place but does not turn off the ignition. Tells his son, I’ll just be a second. An hour later, is found among the lifelike vaginas: your mom wants something but I can’t do it, and when his kid asks, my father says, rape fantasy, and his good son buys the video while he sits in the car. No big deal, I lie, handing over the paper bag that means it’s a sin to see inside. The movie plays inside my head. Every time I take to my bed alone, begin the ritual, private tenderness, I can’t stop unreeling it, can’t stop the man, his chest above my face so close I could punch him in his ribs, scrape off skin or a nipple, anything not to replay it exactly. James Allen Hall
jamesallenhall.bsky.social
All aboard for Season 3 of @breakingformpod.bsky.social !
Listen online at breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com/1865753, or wherever you get your bags packed.
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
We join Edmund White's partner, Michael Carroll, as well as the legion of Ed's & admirers in mourning his passing. We had the privilege of interviewing Ed, & we're glad his voice will continue to be heard.

He made queer life more possible.

breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com/1865753/epis...
Reposted by James Allen Hall
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
While we're working on Season 3 of Breaking Form, please enjoy a few encore presentations that you might have missed, or might enjoy revisiting.

This week: Fan Fic Poetry. You can listen online at breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
Scholarships available!

Find your voice & your writing kindred at the Cherry Tree Young Writers' Conference for high school students (rising sophomores, juniors, & seniors). July 15-18.2025 on the @washcoll.bsky.social campus.

More info at www.washcoll.edu/ywc
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
Literary submissions are sometimes mysterious to folks, so in this episode, we're giving some of our favorite advice to people submitting to literary journals and book publishers (mostly poetry).

Listen online at breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com, or wherever you plant your eggplants. 🍆
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
Inspired by Aaron Smith's poem "Brad Pitt," we asked AI to write about Brad in the style of..... We were curious: what could our pedagogy and poetry gain? And what would Anne Carson's poem about Brad Pitt's butt look like?

breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
This week on the podcast, we talk about the Atlantic's list of "25 most consequential" books of the 21st C.

Who's making your list?
Reposted by James Allen Hall
breakingformpod.bsky.social
This week on Breaking Form, we're discussing (yet another) article that purports to name "The Best Poetry of the 21st Century" (so far). Our episode title is obvs. very tongue-in-cheek. Have a listen online at breakingformpod.buzzsprout.com, or wherever you get your listicles.
Reposted by James Allen Hall
literaryhouse.bsky.social
We join our community in mourning Robert Earl Price, and celebrating his life & poetry. Here's an interview & reading Robert Earl did with Grace Cavalieri on The Poet and the Poem: www.gracecavalieri.com/images/Rober...
Reposted by James Allen Hall
cherrytreelit.bsky.social
FAQ: What's a literature discussion like at the Cherry Tree Young Writers' Conference?
A: Here's Dr. Courtney Rydel, Chair of Washington College's English Dept., leading a discussion about what medieval stories can teach us about modern craft.

More info can be found online at www.washcoll.edu/ywc