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Fiction & Poetry

Fiction

“The Queen of Bad Influences”

It is possible I’m too flexible for virtue and too virtuous for villainy.
Fiction

“Elias”

I need to open the door now, it’s not the end of the world, it’s just that it’s been such a long time since anyone’s knocked on my door.
Fiction

“Love of My Days”

She knew who the man was, knew a bullet furrow when she saw one.
Fiction

“Fairy Pools”

There is an exchange, she thought. Something passes between this life and the next that allows you to be here for a while.
Fiction

“Travesty”

No thought was so devastating to Prima as the thought that she was ascribing wisdom and seriousness to something that would turn out to be stupid.

Flash Fiction

A series of very short stories. Read them all »

Flash Fiction

“Happy New Year”

A long time ago, lots and lots of people lived on this island. Now there are only a few of us.
Flash Fiction

“The Third Premier”

He must be forever changed, we thought, entire fields of joy no longer his, every lovely thing tainted.
Flash Fiction

“The Books of Losing You”

I visited your room once to bring the book back but all we did was talk—you in shorts and me using your dumbbells. Was there a chance that night?
Flash Fiction

“The Door Between Us”

Again, I pressed my ear against the wall, but I heard nothing. Why couldn’t I have said something to her?

This Week in Fiction

New Yorker fiction writers discuss their stories from the magazine.

This Week in Fiction

Jim Shepard on Catastrophes and Timing

The author discusses his story “The Queen of Bad Influences.”
This Week in Fiction

Jon Fosse on Writing as an Act of Listening

The author discusses his story “Elias.”
This Week in Fiction

Louise Erdrich on Being Haunted by the Landscape of the Past

The author discusses her story “Love of My Days.”
This Week in Fiction

Patricia Lockwood on Fairies and Putting the Writing Mind Back Together

The author discusses her story “Fairy Pools.”

The Writer’s Voice

Writers read their stories from the magazine.

The Writer’s Voice

Jim Shepard Reads “The Queen of Bad Influences”

The author reads his story from the June 16, 2025, issue of the magazine.
The Writer’s Voice

Louise Erdrich Reads “Love of My Days”

The author reads her story from the June 2, 2025, issue of the magazine.
The Writer’s Voice

Patricia Lockwood Reads “Fairy Pools”

The author reads her story from the May 26, 2025, issue of the magazine.
The Writer’s Voice

Lillian Fishman Reads “Travesty”

The author reads her story from the May 12 & 19, 2025, issue of the magazine.

The Fiction Podcast

A monthly reading and conversation with The New Yorker’s fiction editor, Deborah Treisman.

Fiction Podcast

Edwidge Danticat Reads Zadie Smith

The author joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Two Men Arrive in a Village,” which was published in The New Yorker in 2016.
Fiction Podcast

Yiyun Li Reads William Trevor

The author joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Piano Tuner's Wives,” which was published in The New Yorker in 1995.
Fiction Podcast

David Wright Faladé Reads Madeleine Thien

The author joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Lu, Reshaping,” which was published in The New Yorker in 2021.
Fiction Podcast

Paul Theroux Reads V. S. Pritchett

The author joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Necklace,” which was published in The New Yorker in 1958.

The New Yorker Novella

Long-form fiction. Read them all »

Novellas

“Server”

It was empty when I logged in. I’d been off it since Vic died, four years ago.
Novellas

“The Bicycle Accident”

“Of course, Arlette understood, this was not a tragedy. Tragedy would be a broken neck or spine. Paralysis for life. A coma.”
Novellas

“Muscle”

“It’s time to turn up the heat a little bit more. My boys are getting bored, and that’s not good for their appetite or their temper.”
Novellas

“What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf?”

“He got out of the car, closing his door quietly, and crept through the woods toward the brick house.”

Poetry

Poems

“Murmuration”

“They take shapes / in air / like a scarf trick.”
Poems

“The Terminal”

“They stand next to him, in a posture of awkward confession, carefully giving him the words.”
Poems

“Inquest”

“What will you miss most about her? / Was she breathing when they found her?”
Poems

“An Ocean of Clouds”

“I sing for clouds, constant rains, a fern chorus / of things forgotten.”

The Poetry Podcast

Readings and conversations with The New Yorker’s poetry editor, Kevin Young.

Poetry Podcast

Erika Meitner Reads Philip Levine

The poet joins Kevin Young to read and discuss “What Work Is,” by Philip Levine, and her own poem “To Gather Together.”
Poetry Podcast

David St. John Reads Larry Levis

The poet joins Kevin Young to read and discuss “Picking Grapes in an Abandoned Vineyard,” by Larry Levis, and his own poem “The Shore.”
Poetry Podcast

Edward Hirsch Reads Gerald Stern

The poet joins Kevin Young to read and discuss “96 Vandam,” by Gerald Stern, and his own poem “Man on a Fire Escape.”
Poetry Podcast

Jericho Brown Reads Elizabeth Alexander

The poet joins Kevin Young to read and discuss “When,” by Elizabeth Alexander, and his own poem “Colosseum.”

More Fiction & Poetry

Poems

“Even Here It Is Happening”

“It’s mustard color, the dress— / I must wear it like a uniform.”
Poems

“The Inheritance”

“Mother, your hair / has fallen / for the last time, / and I can’t raise it up.”
Poems

“Last Exit”

“Yesterday bleeds in the rearview mirror / As tomorrow’s fires fan out everywhere.”
Poems

“Make the Audiobook Before the Book Is Made”

“Each morning, stand before a steamy mirror / talking to your reflection.”
Poems

“What Happened to New York”

“On the table in my room, cigarettes, knife, notebook, 7 P.M. I sit down to write so my head don’t blow up.”
Poems

“her disquietude absorbed.”

“By an attendant memory she is walking / alongside the child on his cycle.”
Poems

“Fugue”

“He has enough in his I.R.A. to fly first class to / Byzantium.”
Poems

“Henry’s Ode”

“Ladderless. Here it is again.”
Fiction

“Nocturnal Creatures”

This is the way infestations work: first gradually and then all at once. He will never be able to eradicate. He can only hope to contain.
The Writer’s Voice

Saïd Sayrafiezadeh Reads “Nocturnal Creatures”

The author reads his story from the May 5, 2025, issue of the magazine.