West Branch (journal)
Encyclopedia
West Branch is an American literary magazine
based at Bucknell University
and published by the Stadler Center for Poetry. It was established in 1977 and publishes poetry
, fiction
, creative nonfiction
, and literary criticism
. The editor-in-chief is G.C. Waldrep
, a former editor of the Kenyon Review. In addition to the print magazine, West Branch also publishes West Branch Wired, an online supplement featuring fiction, poetry, and interviews.
, and The Pushcart Prize: The Best of the Small Presses
. Randy DeVita's story, "Riding the Doghouse," was reprinted in The Best American Short Stories 2007
. Marjorie Hudson's story, "The Clearing" received a Pushcart "special mention" in 2008.
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
based at Bucknell University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
and published by the Stadler Center for Poetry. It was established in 1977 and publishes poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction
Creative nonfiction is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service...
, and literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
. The editor-in-chief is G.C. Waldrep
G.C. Waldrep
George Calvin Waldrep is an American poet and historian. -Biography:Waldrep earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees in History at Harvard University and Duke University, respectively, before receiving an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa.He was visiting professor at Kenyon...
, a former editor of the Kenyon Review. In addition to the print magazine, West Branch also publishes West Branch Wired, an online supplement featuring fiction, poetry, and interviews.
Notable contributors
- Kazim AliKazim AliKazim Ali is an American poet, novelist, essayist and professor. His most recent books are The Disappearance of Seth and Bright Felon: Autobiography and Cities . His honors include an Individual Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council...
- Edith PearlmanEdith Pearlman-Life:Pearlman grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated from Radcliffe College. She has worked in a computer firm and a soup kitchen and has served in the Town Meeting of Brookline, Massachusetts....
- Robert Clark YoungRobert Clark YoungRobert Clark Young is an American author of novels, essays, short stories and journalism. Recurring themes in Young's fiction include the relation between alcoholism, the abuse of power, and institutional dysfunction in American life, while his nonfiction has recently focused on eldercare topics...
- Jacob M. AppelJacob M. AppelJacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
- Cornelius EadyCornelius EadyCornelius Eady is an American poet focusing largely on matters of race and society, particularly the trials of the African-American race in the United States. His poetry often centers around jazz and blues, family life, violence, and societal problems stemming from questions of race and class...
- Terrance HayesTerrance HayesTerrance Hayes is a prize-winning American poet. His recent poetry collection Lighthead won the National Book Award for Poetry...
- Ted KooserTed KooserTed Kooser is an American poet. He served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004 to 2006.-Early Life:...
- Colette InezColette InezColette Inez is an American poet and composer, and a faculty member at Columbia University’s Undergraduate Writing Program. She has published over nine books of poetry and has won the Guggenheim Fellowship, Rockefeller Fellowship, and two National Endowment for the Arts and two Pushcart Prizes...
- C. M. MayoC. M. Mayo-Life:A Texas native, C. M. Mayo was raised in Northern California and educated as an economist at the University of Chicago. She is a long-time resident of Mexico City, where she worked at an investment bank and at ITAM, a private university. At ITAM she taught international and development...
- Dennis NurkseDennis Nurkse-Life:Nurkse is the son of the eminent economist Ragnar Nurkse. He has taught workshops at Rikers Island, and his poems about prison life appeared in The American Poetry Review, Evergreen Review, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, TriQuarterly, The Kenyon Review, and other magazines...
- Dorothy BarresiDorothy Barresi-Life:She was raised in Akron, Ohio. She teaches in the English Department at California State University at Northridge, where she is Chair of the Creative Writing Program....
- Anne PanningAnne PanningAnne Panning is an award winning writer of both fiction and nonfiction. She teaches English at State University of New York at Brockport and co-directs the Brockport Writers Forum.-Biography:...
- Elaine TerranovaElaine Terranova-Life:She is the son of Nathan and Sadie Goldstein, She graduated from Temple University in 1961, and Goddard College, Master’s degree in 1977.She married her first husband, Philip Terranova, in 1961....
- Chase TwichellChase TwichellChase Twichell is an American poet, professor, and publisher, the founder in 1999, of Ausable Press. Her most recent poetry collection is Horses Where the Answers Should Have Been, which earned her Claremont Graduate University's prestigious $100,000 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award....
- Harry HumesHarry HumesHarry Humes is an American Poet, Short Story Writer, Professor, and Editor.-Life:He joined the army in 1958. He graduated from Bloomsburg State College in 1964, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with a Master of Fine Arts in 1967...
Honors and awards
Works originally published in West Branch have been subsequently selected for inclusion in The Best American Short Stories, The Best American PoetryThe Best American Poetry
The Best American Poetry series consists of annual poetry anthologies, each containing seventy-five poems.The series, begun by poet and editor David Lehman in 1988, has a different guest editor every year...
, and The Pushcart Prize: The Best of the Small Presses
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
. Randy DeVita's story, "Riding the Doghouse," was reprinted in The Best American Short Stories 2007
The Best American Short Stories 2007
The Best American Short Stories 2007, a volume in The Best American Short Stories series, was edited by Heidi Pitlor and by guest editor Stephen King.-Short Stories included:-Other notable stories:...
. Marjorie Hudson's story, "The Clearing" received a Pushcart "special mention" in 2008.