VOLTA‘s mission is to publish, “pieces that constantly confront readers with images that startle them into looking at the world in new ways” and “reinvigorate the written word for our generation and encourage writers of all ages to keep engaging with and challenging literary convention.” The Spring 2026 issue opens with an Editor’s Note arguing that language has grown stale through algorithms, clichés, and AI. Drawing on Gertrude Stein’s call to experience the world directly, the editors contend that authentic writing comes from lived, embodied experience. While AI can imitate human expression, it cannot truly perceive the world, making literature an essential way to preserve human creativity and individuality.
Working toward preservation are the contributors in this issue with poetry by Cynthia Atkins, Smile Ximai Jiang, Phill Provance, Evan Kerr, Paige Webb, and David Ehmcke; fiction by Drew Johnson, Adeeb Chowdhury, and Florence Ashley; and nonfiction by Elena Bowman. All content is free to read online.
