Small plates are “in” at restaurants, with the goal of coaxing diners to sample and share. As a former restaurateur, I’ve always liked the idea. So, what does that have to do with what I’m reading? Everything.
Don’t get me wrong-there’s nothing better than devouring a good book. But sometimes a short story, an interview, or a couple of flash pieces serve up a healthy dose of daily reading, just enough to keep you curious and away from doomscrolling. Literary small plates.
Many literary journals offer terrific work, whether freely online or through subscription. I like both. On a recent Sunday morning, before a disastrous Green Bay Packers performance, I spent time with issue #17 of Waxing and Waning Literary. I read poetry by Josh Brantingham and Julie Shulman, watched Mischa Jakupcak’s short film Accidents and Emergencies, and ended with Benjamn Roque’s short story, “Yellow Texas Rose.” A varied, generous spread, all available online. I even wandered through a few back issues, the way you might linger over a menu to see what else strikes your fancy.
Later that day, after laying down one thousand words and half-watching football, I picked up my summer 2026 print edition of The Paris Review. I’m not an avid poetry reader. I admire the form, but it’s not my usual lane. Interviews, though, I love. The conversation with Harryette Mullen, the American poet and UCLA professor, was in-depth and engaging enough to send me hunting for her work. I wouldn’t have known the reach of her words or her importance as a major American poet had I not read the interview.
That’s the beauty of a literary nosh: you try something you didn’t expect, and suddenly you’re hooked. Even a detour off the beaten path can lead to beautiful places-in my case, some great reads with the added bonus of a short film.
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