The Adroit Journal


The Adroit Journal is an American literary magazine founded in November 2010. Published four times per year by founding editor Peter LaBerge, the journal was produced in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania's Kelly Writers House from 2013-2017, was based in the San Francisco Bay Area from 2017-2019, and is currently based in the greater New York City area.

Contributors and staff

Authors featured in The Adroit Journal include Terrance Hayes, Franny Choi, Ned Vizzini, Alex Dimitrov, Lydia Millet, Chen Chen, Ocean Vuong, Danez Smith, Fatimah Asghar, Bob Hicok, Natalie Shapero, D. A. Powell, Laura Kasischke, Kaveh Akbar, Dorianne Laux, Randall Mann, Brynne Rebele-Henry, Phillip B. Williams, and Hieu Minh Nguyen.
Previous or current staff members of The Adroit Journal include Lisa Hiton, Talin Tahajian, Isabella Nilsson, Nkosi Nkululeko, Alexa Derman, Sarah Fletcher, Amanda Silberling, Jaclyn Grimm, , Rhodes Scholars Russell Bogue and Aaron Robertson, and Michele Selene Ang of 13 Reasons Why.

Anthology and press presence

Pieces from the journal have been selected for inclusion in The Best American Poetry, Best New Poets, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Verse Daily, Poetry Daily, and Best of the Net, and have been awarded the Pushcart Prize.
A video recording of Jim Parsons reading Max McDonough's poem ", originally published in The Adroit Journal, was featured by The New York Times in February 2018.

The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program

The Adroit Journal Summer Mentorship Program is a free, online program that pairs experienced writers with high school and secondary students. Mentees have been recognized through the National YoungArts Foundation & United States Presidential Scholar in the Arts designation, the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and the Foyle Young Poet of the Year Awards. Participants have also been featured in Teen Vogue and NPR, among other publications.

The Gregory Djanikian Scholars Program

Gregory Djanikian was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and came to the United States when he was eight years old. He has published seven poetry collections, the latest of which is Sojourners of the In-Between. The Djanikian Scholars Program recognizes six emerging writers each year, beginning with 2018.
YearGregory Djanikian Scholars in Poetry
2020Bryan Byrdlong, Steven Duong, Sara Elkamel, Matthew Gellman, Ae Hee Lee, & Gabriella R. Tallmadge
2019Gabrielle Bates, Bernard Ferguson, Aidan Forster, Dan Kraines, Alycia Pirmohamed, & Leslie Sainz
2018K-Ming Chang, Robin Estrin, Paige Lewis, Brandon Melendez, Michael M. Weinstein, & Keith S. Wilson

The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

The Adroit Prizes are awarded annually to two students of secondary or undergraduate status "whose written work inspires the masses to believe beyond feeling the work."
YearGenreGuest JudgeRecipientInstitutionRunner-UpInstitution
2020PoetryJericho BrownTBDTBDTBDTBD
2020ProseKristen ArnettTBDTBDTBDTBD
2019PoetryFranny ChoiFiona StantonInterlochen Arts AcademyDaniel BlokhAlabama School of Fine Arts
2019ProseJamel BrinkleyAngelo Hernandez-SiasColumbia UniversityJason LalljeeUniversity of Chicago
2018PoetryAlex DimitrovTheis AndersonUniversity of CambridgeLauren SandersonColgate University
2018ProseRachel HengPolina SolovyevaNew York UniversitySarah FengPinewood School
2017PoetrySafiya SinclairSafwan KhatibColumbia UniversityChristina ImSunset High School
2017ProseAllegra HydeCharity YoungPrinceton UniversityAidan ForsterSC Gov. School for Arts & Humanities
2016PoetryCorey Van LandinghamRachel CrueaOhio Northern UniversityTheophilus KwekOxford University
2016ProseKevin MoffettBrynne Rebele-HenryHomeschoolWalker CaplanYale University
2015PoetryTarfia FaizullahIan BurnetteKenyon CollegeBrynne Rebele-HenryHomeschool
2015ProseAlexander MaksikLydia WeintraubPrinceton UniversityJohn StegnerUniversity of Virginia
2014PoetryRichie HofmannNathan DurhamKenyon CollegeIan BurnetteKenyon College
2014ProseWendy RawlingsIsabel DeBreBrown UniversityMadeleine CravensOberlin College
2013PoetryGarth GreenwellShelley WhitakerHollins UniversityJacob OetSwarthmore College
2013ProseMarlin BartonElizabeth MartinPrinceton UniversityLily FishmanBarnard College
2012PoetryChloe HonumStephanie GuoCanyon Crest AcademyNicholas PierceTexas Tech University
2012ProseKirk NessetPhoebe NirBrown UniversityFlora CollinsVassar College