writer, author of Birthmarks (Wipf & Stock), poetry editor at Fare Forward she/her https://www.whitneyrioross.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3mm3xwql2es2rHey, I have a book coming out. https://bellepointpress.com/products/thunder-makes-us?_pos=1&_psq=thunder&_ss=e&_v=1.018 May 2026 03:51 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm3xwql2es2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3m7vhzgho5c2lThank you, @onlypoemsmag.bsky.social ! https://substack.com/@whitlynnrioross/note/p-181388275?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=7387d13 Dec 2025 20:48 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7vhzgho5c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3m25vpustyc2aCongrats to the Fare Forward Poetry Competition winners! First Place: "Dire Wolf" by Isabel Cristina Legarda (@poetintheor.bsky.social) Second Place: "Wisdom" by Joyce Schmid Third Place: "Postcard from Mexico City, 15 July 2025" by Alena Coleman01 Oct 2025 20:43 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3m25vpustyc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lynylkwcys2gMany thanks to Earth & Altar (@earthandaltarmag.com) for publishing my poem “Ode to Doilies” and offering some space for playful theological aesthetics. https://earthandaltarmag.com/posts/ode-to-doilies?fbclid=IwY2xjawMxU0VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHiA7bm9_L-9BHU7_IScJWOmp6qkSKODHJ6rBmRTvNF7iFqROmF9A61W4O8iH_aem_oiEz28RjWsbOQyx8-LuyXA12 Sep 2025 19:26 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lynylkwcys2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3ltznnb33r22oSo incredibly proud of my twin flame, Monty Bennett, for writing this incredibly thoughtful, vulnerable, and important essay about her experience as a gay Christian. I consider this required reading. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/christian-church-gay-marriage/683527/?gift=kc0LsQhVkhE_BEpHJjnit6eD6K6uc3Vx5vj6n1k7c5U&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share15 Jul 2025 19:37 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltznnb33r22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lps6deb3rs2rI was delighted to have this poem in EcoTheo Review last week! I also 100% recommend screaming in a field for your mental health. [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 May 2025 22:33 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lps6deb3rs2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lmqn6mgxjs26There are roughly a thousand important theological takeaways from Palm Sunday, and this is one that is far too often ignored. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/13/opinion/palm-sunday-protest.html?smid=url-share14 Apr 2025 03:38 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmqn6mgxjs26https://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lm6fob5les2zThis week, my sister offered culture recs in The Atlantic Daily, and they included part of my poem originally published in @rogueagent.bsky.social 😮 I accept this nepotism as payment for years of being a chauffeur, secret keeper, & help in times of troublemaking. https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/daily/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacL0xps20Y7-brfdW7-KKvEpurFgXFESFB8HTg__HtBPJt6V_pTsnj2T46Exg_aem_7i56PjqUCQT41szBIm2V1g06 Apr 2025 21:36 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lm6fob5les2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3llxi4sie6s2uI finally made/updated an author website. Thank you to poet Lauren Smothers for letting me use her wonderful photography! www.whitneyrioross.com https://www.whitneyrioross.com04 Apr 2025 03:31 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3llxi4sie6s2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lkvwrbu3uk2vI'm honored to be included in the gorgeous @lastsyllablelit.bsky.social's latest issue! Many thanks to them for publishing this long poem that took me forever to write as I wrestled with what it means to be the descendent of a long line of white Southerners. https://lastsyllablelit.com/heres-a-truth?fbclid=IwY2xjawJKmtlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVPB2giWi-pHbghe8_VJyDJo-bTDeiwhwbAdHjZx3eGCMNrb0SXfgWlJLQ_aem_-AS6tHlLFNe4sIcgDf-L5w21 Mar 2025 19:22 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkvwrbu3uk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lii5ohyn5s2aWe have been in Texas for less than 24 hours, and my accent has already gotten stronger. God help me.18 Feb 2025 20:58 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lii5ohyn5s2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lh2tyav7ck2vWant to hear wonderful poems to kick off your weekend? Come to The Still Point, featuring the winners of the Fare Forward Poetry Competition! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-still-point-featuring-the-winners-of-the-2024-poetry-competition-tickets-1155628799849?aff=erelexpmlt31 Jan 2025 20:35 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lh2tyav7ck2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lg7n7b3vtk22Proud to see my sister starting off this presidency by holding spineless power seekers accountable. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/01/january-6-insurrection-republicans/681360/21 Jan 2025 00:52 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lg7n7b3vtk22https://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lclgsee52222Language and dance are my love languages. Thank you so much to Earth & Altar for publishing this poem. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Dec 2024 19:49 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lclgsee52222https://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lcbeoxhx7s2eSo honored by the nomination and also honored just to be on any list that includes these poets! [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Dec 2024 19:44 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcbeoxhx7s2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lbxffj72u22fMy dad, when asked about when he started dating my mom: "She was a marrying prospect." He calls healthy heifers that he'll keep in the herd good breeding prospects.27 Nov 2024 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbxffj72u22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lbicffw6fk2jWe've entered the season when I have to start wearing jeans. I have never gotten used to this transition. Thoughts and prayers appreciated.21 Nov 2024 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbicffw6fk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3lawphvtp522rI'm here for real now.14 Nov 2024 20:33 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lawphvtp522rhttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3kyrc64mvfs2aPlease listen to the most recent season of @npr.org 's Embedded podcast about sex testing in sports. And please don't bully women for being great athletes. Actually, just don't bully anyone.02 Aug 2024 21:30 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3kyrc64mvfs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/whitlynnrioross.bsky.social/post/3krgzf7iqes2xI forget that this site exists sometimes and therefore forgot to share my thoughts on this great short story collection by Julia Ridley Smith from @blairpub.bsky.social https://farefwd.com/index.php/2024/03/20/sex-romp-gone-wrong/01 May 2024 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:ptr6gj2rg65nfe4aj7c25cwe/app.bsky.feed.post/3krgzf7iqes2x