Writing

Venus Anani is a 22-year-old writer based in Maryland who loves all things black, surreal, and queer.

Fred DeMeo is a Pittsburgh-based poet who grew up in Arizona, where much of his writing was shaped. He has been writing poetry since middle school and recently returned to the work with renewed focus. His poems explore emotional landscapes of the desert, men, women, and generational differences.

Ori C. Li has a BA in Creative Writing & Literature from Wheaton College (MA). They are a recipient of the Poet & Author Fellowship from Martha’s Institute of Creative Writing, and have work published in The Margins (2022) and in Livina Press (2025). She likes it when Smudge Magazine tries to do something new every year.

Adrian Rhee is a psychology major from South Korea. Depending on the day, they also moonlight as a poet, artist, and (bad) philosopher. They write because they wouldn't be who they are if they didn't. Outside of writing, Adrian enjoys fibre arts, video games, and being pretentious. 

Kiara Seth is a Neuroscience and Computer Science double major at Wheaton from Mumbai. She loves poetry, and has a soft spot for pink skies. She misses the tropics, but New England is slowly helping her fall in love with the cold.

Isabella Song is an aspiring creative writing major and a nerd from a decently-sized town. She’s interested in seeing the beauty in each story, page, and the simple experience trying to live. She’s hoping to find some colors in the ever-expanding horizons.

Anson Wang is a 22 year old writer currently living in California. While at his job he dreams of writing a novel someday.

Phanta Yu (she/her) is a Posse Scholar, Thomas J. Watson Fellow, and Brooklyn Poets Fellow that loves snail mail and cyanotypes.