Monkeybicycle
A literary journal publishing fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and experimental short-form writing in print and online.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Monkeybicycle is an independent literary journal founded in Seattle in 2002 by Steven Seighman. It was established with the aim of publishing a mix of established writers and emerging authors whose work had not yet received broad attention. The project developed as both a web publication and a print journal, giving it a hybrid identity within the small-press literary ecosystem. The online edition, associated with Monkeybicycle.net, published frequently and became known for short fiction, one-sentence stories, audio podcasts, videos, and other forms of concise or experimental literary content. At one point, the site was updated twice a week and was reported to receive approximately 350 to 400 unique visitors per day. Its editorial history included contributors and editors such as Shya Scanlon, Matthew Simmons, Andrew Ervin, and Eric Spitznagel. The online journal also featured work by writers including Charlie Jane Anders, Blake Butler, Stephen Elliott, Roxane Gay, J. Robert Lennon, Tao Lin, Patton Oswalt, and Davy Rothbart. Monkeybicycle also issued a print edition twice a year. The print journal presented fiction, poetry, and nonfiction and was distributed through selected bookstores in the United States as well as through the publication's own website. The journal's issues were sold individually, with subscription options for multiple issues. Several editions used special editorial or collaborative formats. The third issue was produced jointly with the literary journal Hobart, while the fifth issue concentrated on humor, was guest-edited by Eric Spitznagel, and included an introduction by comedian David Cross. That issue also featured work associated with Patton Oswalt, Johnny Ryan, and Sarah Silverman. The journal's editorial profile combined literary publishing with comedy, pop-cultural writing, very short fiction, and unconventional presentation. Its contributors included both literary authors and performers, helping the publication occupy a space between a conventional literary magazine and a more experimental online culture journal. Issue six was described as the publication's best-selling issue at the time, and issue seven appeared in August 2010 with a broad group of contributors. Monkeybicycle's work received external recognition through anthologies and literary awards. Wendy Molyneux's online story "Beginnings of Ten Stories About Ponies" appeared in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2007, while Eric Spitznagel's "The Day the Aliens Brought the Pancakes" was recognized as a notable story in the same anthology. Stories by Amy Guth and Angela Woodward were selected as notable entries for the 2008 Million Writers Award, and Stefanie Freele's "Tinfoilers" was included in the Wigleaf Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions in 2009. Another story from the journal's third print issue, Ryan Boudinot's "Free Burgers for Life," was accepted for The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2003. In 2007, Monkeybicycle became an imprint of Dzanc Books. This affiliation connected the journal to a larger independent literary publishing organization while preserving its identity as a literary magazine. Publicly available reference material documents the journal's founding, print and web formats, editorial contributors, notable publications, and Dzanc Books affiliation, but does not establish its current publication status, ownership details beyond the imprint relationship, or present-day publishing schedule.
History
Monkeybicycle began in Seattle in 2002 when Steven Seighman created a literary journal designed to combine established authors with writers who had not yet received extensive recognition. From the beginning, it operated in two formats: a web publication and a print journal. Seighman worked with writer Shya Scanlon on the early editorial operation, and the project also developed a monthly reading series in downtown Seattle. The web publication, Monkeybicycle.net, became the journal's most continuously updated platform. Its content included conventional short fiction as well as one-sentence stories, videos, and audio podcasts. Reference material describes a schedule of two updates per week during an active period and reports daily traffic of roughly 350 to 400 unique visitors. Editors associated with the website included Matthew Simmons, Andrew Ervin, and Eric Spitznagel. The site published work by a wide range of writers, including Charlie Jane Anders, Blake Butler, Stephen Elliott, Roxane Gay, J. Robert Lennon, Tao Lin, Patton Oswalt, and Davy Rothbart. The print edition was issued twice annually and contained fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Copies were sold through selected bookstores in the United States and through the journal's website, with individual issues and multi-issue subscriptions available. The print project used collaborations and thematic experiments to distinguish individual editions. Issue three, published in 2004, was created jointly with Hobart. A story from that issue, Ryan Boudinot's "Free Burgers for Life," was later accepted for The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2003. Issue five was devoted to humor, was guest-edited by Eric Spitznagel, and included an introduction by David Cross along with contributions connected to Patton Oswalt, Johnny Ryan, and Sarah Silverman. Issue six was reported to be the journal's highest-selling issue at that point and received strong reviews. Monkeybicycle's contributors and publications gained recognition outside the journal. Wendy Molyneux's "Beginnings of Ten Stories About Ponies" appeared in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2007, while Eric Spitznagel's "The Day the Aliens Brought the Pancakes" was designated a notable story in that anthology. In 2008, stories by Amy Guth and Angela Woodward were recognized as notable entries for the Million Writers Award. In 2009, Stefanie Freele's "Tinfoilers" appeared in the Wigleaf Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions. A significant organizational development occurred in 2007, when Monkeybicycle became an imprint of Dzanc Books. This affiliation placed the journal within the broader independent literary-publishing network associated with Dzanc while retaining the Monkeybicycle name and editorial identity. Issue seven was published in August 2010 and included contributions from writers such as Elizabeth Alexander, Ryan Boudinot, Roxane Gay, Shya Scanlon, and others. Available reference material identifies a founding editor, web editor, and a number of previous editors, but does not provide a reliable current staff list or confirm whether the journal continues to publish. Its current status, present website activity, and detailed corporate arrangements therefore remain unresolved.
- 2010
Seventh print issue released
[1]Issue seven was published in August with contributions from a broad group of writers.
- 2009
Story selected for Wigleaf's short-fiction list
[1]Stefanie Freele's "Tinfoilers" was included in the Wigleaf Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions.
- 2008
Two stories recognized by the Million Writers Award
[1]Stories by Amy Guth and Angela Woodward were selected as notable entries.
- 2007
Joined the Dzanc Books publishing group
[1]Monkeybicycle became an imprint of Dzanc Books.
- 2007
Work published in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2007
[1]A Monkeybicycle-published story was selected for the anthology, and another was recognized as notable.
- 2004
Third print issue produced with Hobart
[1]Monkeybicycle collaborated with the literary journal Hobart on its third print issue.
- 2002
Monkeybicycle founded in Seattle
[1]Steven Seighman established Monkeybicycle as a literary journal with both web and print ambitions.
Products and positioning
An independent, experimental literary journal that combines online publishing, print issues, short fiction, humor, poetry, nonfiction, audio, and video while giving space to both recognized and emerging writers.
Online literary journal · 2002
Monkeybicycle.net
The web edition was the journal's frequently updated digital platform. It published short fiction, one-sentence stories, videos, audio podcasts, and other literary features. Its contributor base included both emerging writers and authors with established reputations, and its format allowed Monkeybicycle to publish more regularly than the print edition.
Literary magazine · 2002
Monkeybicycle print edition
The print journal was published twice a year and included fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Issues were distributed through selected bookstores in the United States and through the journal's website. The series included collaborative, humor-focused, and guest-edited editions, with issue six described as the best-selling issue at the time of the cited account.
Thematic print issue
Monkeybicycle issue 5
The fifth issue adopted an all-humor format and was guest-edited by Eric Spitznagel. It included an introduction from David Cross and contributions associated with Patton Oswalt, Johnny Ryan, and Sarah Silverman, demonstrating the journal's willingness to combine literary publishing with comedy and visual work.
Marketing campaigns
- Monthly downtown Seattle reading series
Seattle, United States
In addition to its print and online publishing, Monkeybicycle organized a monthly reading series in downtown Seattle during its early period, extending the journal's literary activity into live events.
Outcome. The cited material describes the series as very successful but does not provide attendance figures or a current status.
Brand decisions
2007
Adoption as a Dzanc Books imprintM&ABackground
Monkeybicycle had operated as an independent literary journal in both web and print formats since 2002.
Action taken
The journal became an imprint of Dzanc Books.
Aftermath
The affiliation connected Monkeybicycle with an established independent literary publisher. The available material does not specify financial terms, ownership mechanics, or changes to editorial control.
2004
Collaboration on the third print issueOtherBackground
Monkeybicycle used special formats and collaborations as part of its print publishing model.
Action taken
The third issue was produced jointly with the literary journal Hobart.
Aftermath
The issue included work that subsequently received anthology recognition, although the source does not quantify the collaboration's commercial impact.
Recent events
- 2010
Monkeybicycle issue seven published[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The seventh print issue appeared in August 2010 and featured a large group of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction contributors.
- 2009
Stefanie Freele story selected for Wigleaf short-fiction list[1]
Other
Stefanie Freele's "Tinfoilers" was selected for the Wigleaf Top 50 (Very) Short Fictions.
- 2008
Monkeybicycle contributors receive Million Writers recognition[1]
Other
Stories by Amy Guth and Angela Woodward were selected as notable stories for the 2008 Million Writers Award.
- 2007
Monkeybicycle becomes a Dzanc Books imprint[1]
M&A · Other
Monkeybicycle entered an imprint relationship with independent literary publisher Dzanc Books.
- 2007
Monkeybicycle stories recognized in major literary anthologies[1]
Other
Wendy Molyneux's story was included in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2007, and Eric Spitznagel's work was listed as notable in the same anthology.
- 2004
Joint Monkeybicycle and Hobart print issue released[1]
Other · Product launch
The third print issue was produced in collaboration with the literary journal Hobart and included work later associated with The Best American Nonrequired Reading.
- 2002
Monkeybicycle founded in Seattle[1]
Other
Steven Seighman founded Monkeybicycle as a literary journal intended to publish both established and emerging writers.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/monkeybicycle · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled