About Nonsense & Lit

Nonsense & Lit is a space where literature meets pop culture, and where we believe the two are not opposites but partners in the same conversation. At its heart is a love of literature and poetry, both classic and contemporary, and a belief that they should be read, shared and enjoyed far beyond the classroom walls. We explore how language works, how stories travel, and how art moves between forms, from the written page to song lyrics and screen adaptations.

We publish essays, interviews, and deep dives that move between poetry, linguistics, folklore (sometimes the Taylor Swift album, and sometimes not), and storytelling, always with an eye on the cultural moments that shape them. Our work ranges from close readings of classic texts to explorations of contemporary media, whether that means analysing a pop lyric, tracing the history of a folk ballad, or looking at the way language shifts on social media.

Nonsense & Lit was created to be the kind of place we wanted to read ourselves. It is a place where analysis is thoughtful but not intimidating, where academic ideas can live alongside personal anecdotes, and where readers feel welcome to engage, question and join in. It is for anyone who loves language, whether you come for the literary criticism, the cultural commentary or simply the joy of discovering how words connect us.

About Karly

Karly is a linguist and writer. She holds a postgraduate degree in English Language from the University of Edinburgh and an undergraduate degree in Modern Languages and Linguistics from Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP).

Born in Mexico, she has also lived in Ireland, Scotland and Germany. Fluent in Spanish and English, she also speaks French, German and Italian. Her interests include poetry, intertextuality, pragmatics and discourse analysis, and she approaches them with a focus on making ideas feel accessible and engaging. She often draws inspiration for posts from Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter, incorporates personal anecdotes, and connects her work to everyday moments, creating a bridge between academic concepts and the ways we encounter language in daily life.

Karly also loves to travel and hanging out with her black cat, Gigio.

About Chels

Chels studied Communications, Film and Television at Nottingham Trent University, followed by an MA in English Studies at the University of Nottingham. She is Nonsense & Lit’s classics, folklore and adaptations expert.

Outside of Nonsense & Lit, she works as a tutor and academic proofreader, and has previously written for MindlessMag. She enjoys taking on weaving projects, loves crafts in general, and is a fan of both Sabrina Carpenter and Dolly Parton. She also has a soft spot for the seaside and has a dog, Molly, who supervises all editing from the sofa.