West Branch About West Branch is a magazine of poetry, fiction, essays, and reviews. Founded in 1977 and housed at the Stadler Center for Poetry & Literary Arts at Bucknell University, West Branch publishes a fall, winter, and spring/summer issue each year. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 1977 Publication Media & Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationPublished 3 x per yearPrint Publication Print PublicationPublished 3 x per year 2,127 members set this magazine as a Favorite. Collapse section Fiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 August 2025* (approx. 45 days from now) through 01 April 2026.11Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: General.Lengths: Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words; Up to 3 pieces. Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words; Unknown number of pieces.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $0.10/word, max. $200.Submissions:Method: Submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Nonfiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 August 2025* (approx. 45 days from now) through 01 April 2026.Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: Up to 7,500 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $0.10/word, max. $200.Submissions:Method: Submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Collapse section Poetry Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 August 2025* (approx. 45 days from now) through 01 April 2026.23Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: General.Lengths: Poem: No line limits known; Up to 6 pieces.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro payment (US$5-49 per poem) to Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Pay ranges from Semi-pro payment to Professional payment. Details: USD $100.Submissions:Method: Submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment. Go to publication's website Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Bluesky @westbranchmagazine.bsky.socialFacebook FacebookInstagram @westbranchmagX (Twitter) @westbranchmag For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Support this Publisher: Subscribe West Branch Submission Statistics Free Preview! The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. This project ranks among the 25 Most Challenging Fiction Publishers in our database. This project ranks among the 25 Most Challenging Nonfiction Publishers in our database. This project ranks among the 25 Most Challenging Poetry Publishers in our database. Accuracy: We have received 572 reports from 462 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported: 2 min | 44.4 mean avg | 44.0 median | 391 max days (276.4 std dev) Responses 92.83 % Acceptances: 0.52 % of submissions accepted (83.7 avg. days per acceptance) | 0.65 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 92.31 % (43.5 avg. days per rejection) | 9.3 % personal, 70.6 % form, 20.1 % unspecified | 0.2 % shortlisted Non-Responses 7.16 % Lost/Returned: 0.17 % (33.0 avg. days before reporting submissions as lost or returned) Never Responded: 0.87 % (223.6 avg. days before reporting submissions as never responded) Withdrawals: 6.12 % (27.5 avg. days per withdrawal) Pending 17 responses are pending (76 min | 146.4 mean avg | 123.5 median | 317 max days waiting | 760.4 std dev) from 17 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information The editors will try to make a decision within 70 days. (17.1 % of the responses reported to us for this listing have taken longer than 70 days.) Do not query on the status of your submission before 120 days have passed. Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 04 Jun 2025. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 01 Apr 2025. Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only." Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 19 Apr 2025Last Audited: 23 Mar 2025 Date Added: 11 Feb 2006We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year.