AJ Wentz
@ajwentz.com
Writer of speculative poetry and prose | not hip, cool, or with it | words in Lightspeed, Modern Haiku, Dreams & Nightmares, and elsewhere | co-chair for the 2026 Rhysling Awards | member of SFPA and Haiku Society of America | ajwentz.com
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AJ Wentz
@ajwentz.com
· Dec 5
I hear we’re sharing our publications wrapped.
2025 was, poetry-wise, a good year for me. I was able to share over a dozen poems through several journals, including my dream haiku journal.
I hope that some of these poems were able to bring you joy this year.
2025 was, poetry-wise, a good year for me. I was able to share over a dozen poems through several journals, including my dream haiku journal.
I hope that some of these poems were able to bring you joy this year.
Yes, crying to the new Noah Kahan single in the dentist’s parking lot is what I needed now, why?
January 30, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Yes, crying to the new Noah Kahan single in the dentist’s parking lot is what I needed now, why?
Art feels so frivolous right now, but art feels so necessary right now.
January 30, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Art feels so frivolous right now, but art feels so necessary right now.
Reposted by AJ Wentz
I had the honor of judging the senryu category in the 2025 San Francisco International Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka Contest run by Haiku Poets of Northern California. You can read the winning senryu and the winning poems in the other genres here: www.hpnc.org/2025
January 28, 2026 at 2:52 PM
I had the honor of judging the senryu category in the 2025 San Francisco International Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka Contest run by Haiku Poets of Northern California. You can read the winning senryu and the winning poems in the other genres here: www.hpnc.org/2025
This could be fun!
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs or published works
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs or published works
Let's try something different.
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs/Published works
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs/Published works
January 28, 2026 at 12:59 AM
This could be fun!
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs or published works
1 like = 1 random line from one of my WIPs or published works
The house is curled under a blanket of snow. I have a cup of coffee, a plate of toast and jam. I’m going to spend the day doing anything but doomscroll.
January 24, 2026 at 2:38 PM
The house is curled under a blanket of snow. I have a cup of coffee, a plate of toast and jam. I’m going to spend the day doing anything but doomscroll.
This might be the year when I have to accept the truth.
I might be a real poet.
I might be a real poet.
January 21, 2026 at 8:35 PM
This might be the year when I have to accept the truth.
I might be a real poet.
I might be a real poet.
There’s a book club I’ve been trying to join for months now, but my plans keep getting thwarted. The next meeting is tomorrow.
If this snowstorm hits early and prevents me from going, I’m giving up. Clearly it’s not meant to be.
If this snowstorm hits early and prevents me from going, I’m giving up. Clearly it’s not meant to be.
January 21, 2026 at 4:27 PM
There’s a book club I’ve been trying to join for months now, but my plans keep getting thwarted. The next meeting is tomorrow.
If this snowstorm hits early and prevents me from going, I’m giving up. Clearly it’s not meant to be.
If this snowstorm hits early and prevents me from going, I’m giving up. Clearly it’s not meant to be.
My girl scout cookies arrived in the mail yesterday, so whatever this snowstorm brings, I am ready.
January 21, 2026 at 11:52 AM
My girl scout cookies arrived in the mail yesterday, so whatever this snowstorm brings, I am ready.
Update: It went so well! We had ~18 poets of a variety of backgrounds and places on their poetry journey, and it was a promising first meeting for a monthly critique group! ☺️
Wish me luck—I’m trying to organize a local poetry group, and the first meeting is today. I have no idea how many people will show. Lowkey terrified.
January 17, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Update: It went so well! We had ~18 poets of a variety of backgrounds and places on their poetry journey, and it was a promising first meeting for a monthly critique group! ☺️
Wish me luck—I’m trying to organize a local poetry group, and the first meeting is today. I have no idea how many people will show. Lowkey terrified.
January 17, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Wish me luck—I’m trying to organize a local poetry group, and the first meeting is today. I have no idea how many people will show. Lowkey terrified.
Reposted by AJ Wentz
Only seventeen days until Only Human opens for submissions! In the meantime, check out our guidelines and select what poems to send us:
Guidelines — Only Human: English Language Senryu
www.onlyhumansenryu.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Only seventeen days until Only Human opens for submissions! In the meantime, check out our guidelines and select what poems to send us:
For a moment, I thought Sweethearts had gotten much more risqué since my youth.
January 11, 2026 at 12:50 AM
For a moment, I thought Sweethearts had gotten much more risqué since my youth.
Reposted by AJ Wentz
Good morning. I'd like to invite anyone who is interested to make a small gesture of kindness today. It's up to you to decide what that can be. The key is for you to act on the idea. With so much out of our control, we can choose how to be with each other today and every day.
January 8, 2026 at 11:36 AM
Good morning. I'd like to invite anyone who is interested to make a small gesture of kindness today. It's up to you to decide what that can be. The key is for you to act on the idea. With so much out of our control, we can choose how to be with each other today and every day.
Reposted by AJ Wentz
i know we're all busy but i just overheard a plumber say "parlez-vous français ? non ? you motherfuckers don't even speak french, do you" to a pair of french bulldogs
January 8, 2026 at 2:18 PM
i know we're all busy but i just overheard a plumber say "parlez-vous français ? non ? you motherfuckers don't even speak french, do you" to a pair of french bulldogs
And so the tree comes down, ending yet another Christmas season.
January 8, 2026 at 1:45 AM
And so the tree comes down, ending yet another Christmas season.
Reposted by AJ Wentz
Bloggers / reviewers/ media outlets: If anyone is interested in I'M BUSY, please let me know? My publicist at Simon & Schuster has asked me for suggestions.
Pls reply or use my Contact form (debbieohi.com/contact/) w/your details, and I'll forward the info. Thanks so much!
#KidLit
Pls reply or use my Contact form (debbieohi.com/contact/) w/your details, and I'll forward the info. Thanks so much!
#KidLit
Excited about the Feb.24 launch of I'M BUSY, written by @michaelianblack.bsky.social
& illustrated by yours truly (Simon & Schuster BFYR), part of our I'M series about kids' emotions. Available for pre-order!
Thanks Kirkus for nice review: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Im-Bus... #KidLit #ImBusy
& illustrated by yours truly (Simon & Schuster BFYR), part of our I'M series about kids' emotions. Available for pre-order!
Thanks Kirkus for nice review: www.simonandschuster.com/books/Im-Bus... #KidLit #ImBusy
January 7, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Bloggers / reviewers/ media outlets: If anyone is interested in I'M BUSY, please let me know? My publicist at Simon & Schuster has asked me for suggestions.
Pls reply or use my Contact form (debbieohi.com/contact/) w/your details, and I'll forward the info. Thanks so much!
#KidLit
Pls reply or use my Contact form (debbieohi.com/contact/) w/your details, and I'll forward the info. Thanks so much!
#KidLit
First submission for 2026 logged!
January 4, 2026 at 8:10 PM
First submission for 2026 logged!
It’s a whiskey kind of evening
January 4, 2026 at 1:59 AM
It’s a whiskey kind of evening
I have nothing but expletives this morning
January 3, 2026 at 1:12 PM
I have nothing but expletives this morning
It's time! The nomination window is open for the Rhysling awards! Nominate your favorite 2025 poems.
All right poetry pals, it's January 1, which means that Rhysling Award Nominations are now open!
Check your SFPA Missive for details and nominations links.
And in the meantime, get to re-reading your fav 2025 poems 💖
Check your SFPA Missive for details and nominations links.
And in the meantime, get to re-reading your fav 2025 poems 💖
January 3, 2026 at 3:21 AM
It's time! The nomination window is open for the Rhysling awards! Nominate your favorite 2025 poems.
I told you I had more tricks up my sleeve! I’m excited to be working with David Oates to launch Only Human, a journal for senryu and other related forms.
Let’s make 2026 a year of poetry ✨❤️✨
Let’s make 2026 a year of poetry ✨❤️✨
Only Human is a new journal of English-language senryu that explores what it means to be human.
Submissions open February 1, and our inaugural issue will be released in April. In the meantime, visit our website to check out our guidelines and meet the editors at www.onlyhumansenryu.com.
Submissions open February 1, and our inaugural issue will be released in April. In the meantime, visit our website to check out our guidelines and meet the editors at www.onlyhumansenryu.com.
January 2, 2026 at 10:28 PM
I told you I had more tricks up my sleeve! I’m excited to be working with David Oates to launch Only Human, a journal for senryu and other related forms.
Let’s make 2026 a year of poetry ✨❤️✨
Let’s make 2026 a year of poetry ✨❤️✨
Necessities aside, let’s start the year the way we intend to spend it.
I intend to spend the day reading, writing, going on walks, and checking in with friends.
I intend to spend the day reading, writing, going on walks, and checking in with friends.
Starting the new year by cleaning up cat vomit 🫠
January 1, 2026 at 1:37 PM
Necessities aside, let’s start the year the way we intend to spend it.
I intend to spend the day reading, writing, going on walks, and checking in with friends.
I intend to spend the day reading, writing, going on walks, and checking in with friends.
Starting the new year by cleaning up cat vomit 🫠
January 1, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Starting the new year by cleaning up cat vomit 🫠
Happy new year, friends. May 2026 be kind to you 🥂
January 1, 2026 at 6:01 AM
Happy new year, friends. May 2026 be kind to you 🥂