Last year, publishing power couple Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman acquired beloved online lit mag The Rumpus. Today, the new leaders celebrated the launch of their rebranded site with new essays, fiction, and a fresh design.
The Rumpus was founded by writer Stephen Elliott and launched out of San Francisco in 2009. Under Elliott’s editorial purview, the site became one of our best and scrappiest online lit mags, launching the careers of writers like Cheryl Strayed (aka “Dear Sugar”), Yumi Sakugawa, and Steve Almond.
Though the guard changed several times after Elliott’s complicated exit, The Rumpus has hung on, mostly as a volunteer-run labor of love. But with masthead support from fan/contributors like Gay, the site has been able to weather certain storms that have felled peers in cyberspace.
In some respects, the Gay-Millman acquisition is a homecoming. Gay served as a long time essays editor for the site. And as she shared in a statement last March, “The Rumpus was one of the first places where my writing found a significant audience, and it helped shape me into the writer I am today.”
So what’s up next for this new-old magazine?
Millman, who will serve as the site’s new culture editor and creative director, suggests a vibe shift is nigh.
“We’ll still be covering with the same rigor and integrity, fiction, essays, poetry, book reviews, author interviews, and so forth,” the podcast host told Publishers Weekly. “But we’re also going to include more design criticism, art criticism, and overall cultural coverage. The soul of the writing and the coverage will be very similar; topically, it will be different.”
Both leaders have suggested the new site will not flinch from politics, or the concerns of the day. Gay plans to launch a companion Spanish-language vertical to appeal to a wider demographic of readers. And inspired by a chat with poet Reginald Dwayne Betts (the founder of Freedom Reads) the new editor also intends to launch a column that is edited and written by people who are or have been incarcerated.
In more general content news, a Rumpus feature planned for July will poll a swathe of creatives with the question, “What does freedom mean to you?” This reader hopes that will be a rebuttal to all the dubious America 250 content flooding orgs beholden to the neutered NEA.
But all that’s in the future. On today’s rebranded Rumpus, you can find an essay from Sheila Monaghan, a conversation with author Dave Housley, and two spanking new short stories.
Also, a briefly dormant site-sponsored book club is back in action. Monthly discussions with authors—open to all!—will kick off on June 30th at 7pm. The first guest is Ann Patchett; Millman will lead a discussion centered around her latest novel, Whistler. Readers can register here.
Brittany Allen
Brittany K. Allen is a writer and actor living in Brooklyn.
Facts Only
Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman acquired The Rumpus in 2023.
The Rumpus was founded by Stephen Elliott in San Francisco in 2009.
The magazine launched the careers of writers like Cheryl Strayed, Yumi Sakugawa, and Steve Almond.
The Rumpus has operated primarily as a volunteer-run publication after Elliott’s exit.
The rebranded site launched with new essays, fiction, and a fresh design.
Debbie Millman will serve as culture editor and creative director.
The magazine will expand to include design criticism, art criticism, and broader cultural coverage.
Roxane Gay plans to launch a Spanish-language vertical and a column edited and written by incarcerated individuals.
A July feature will ask creatives, "What does freedom mean to you?"
The relaunched site includes an essay by Sheila Monaghan, a conversation with Dave Housley, and two new short stories.
The Rumpus book club will resume with a discussion featuring Ann Patchett on June 30th.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The relaunch of The Rumpus under Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman represents a strategic pivot for a publication with a storied but turbulent history. The acquisition by two prominent figures in literature and design signals an intent to revitalize the magazine while preserving its legacy as a platform for emerging voices. The expansion into design and art criticism, alongside the planned Spanish-language vertical and incarcerated writers' column, suggests a deliberate effort to broaden the magazine’s cultural and demographic reach. This move aligns with broader trends in media where niche publications seek sustainability through diversification and inclusivity.
However, the narrative also raises questions about the tension between preserving a publication’s original ethos and adapting to contemporary demands. The Rumpus’s scrappy, volunteer-driven past contrasts with its new leadership’s professionalized vision. While the inclusion of marginalized voices is commendable, the success of such initiatives will depend on execution—particularly whether the magazine can balance its expanded scope without diluting its literary core. The planned feature on freedom, framed as a counter to "dubious America 250 content," hints at a political stance that could alienate some readers while resonating with others.
Patterns detected: none
The relaunch’s emphasis on community engagement, such as the revived book club, is a positive sign of its commitment to reader interaction. Yet, the long-term viability of The Rumpus will hinge on whether it can monetize its expanded offerings without compromising its independent spirit. The acquisition by Gay and Millman, both of whom have personal ties to the magazine, may mitigate concerns about corporate co-optation, but the challenge remains: can a rebranded literary magazine thrive in an era where digital media often prioritizes scale over depth?
Bridge questions: How will The Rumpus measure the success of its new initiatives beyond readership metrics? What safeguards are in place to ensure the incarcerated writers' column is ethically managed? Could the magazine’s political stance limit its appeal, or will it attract a more engaged audience?
Sentinel — Human
This text exhibits strong human journalistic characteristics, focusing on synthesis, specific attribution, and nuanced reflection rather than broad, neutral information delivery.