West Branch
An American literary magazine published three times a year by Bucknell University's Stadler Center for Poetry.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
West Branch is an American literary magazine associated with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1977, it is published by the university's Stadler Center for Poetry and appears three times annually. The magazine presents contemporary writing across several literary forms, including poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translation, and literary criticism. The publication's identity is centered on literary quality and formal ambition rather than on a narrowly defined genre or commercial market. Its editorial preferences emphasize strong craft, originality, vivid language, emotional depth, and purposeful experimentation with form and structure. This places West Branch within the tradition of university-affiliated small literary magazines that provide a venue for emerging and established writers while contributing to the broader American literary culture. Over its history, West Branch has published work by contributors including Kazim Ali, Jacob M. Appel, Dorothy Barresi, Cornelius Eady, Terrance Hayes, Harry Humes, Colette Inez, Ted Kooser, C. M. Mayo, Dennis Nurkse, Anne Panning, Edith Pearlman, Elaine Terranova, Chase Twichell, and Robert Clark Young. Work first published in the magazine has also received wider recognition through later selection for The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Poetry, and The Pushcart Prize: The Best of the Small Presses. Examples cited in reference material include Randy DeVita's story "Riding the Doghouse," which was reprinted in The Best American Short Stories 2007, and Marjorie Hudson's story "The Clearing," which received a Pushcart special mention in 2008. In addition to its print issues, West Branch publishes West Branch Wired, an online supplement featuring fiction, poetry, and interviews. The digital supplement extends the magazine's editorial presence beyond its periodic print schedule and gives readers access to additional literary content. West Branch marked the publication of its 100th issue in fall 2022, an important longevity milestone for a university-based literary journal. Joe Scapellato has served as editor-in-chief since 2021. The magazine remains an active literary publication operating under the institutional umbrella of Bucknell University's Stadler Center for Poetry.
History
West Branch was founded in 1977 as a literary magazine connected with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Its publishing home is the university's Stadler Center for Poetry, an institutional setting that places the journal within Bucknell's broader literary and arts environment. From the beginning, the magazine's scope has encompassed multiple forms of contemporary writing rather than being limited to poetry alone. Its published genres include poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translation, and literary criticism. The magazine has developed as a small literary publication whose principal value lies in editorial selection and literary discovery. West Branch's stated or described editorial orientation favors writing with strong craft, originality, and emotional depth. It also welcomes vivid language and imagery and experimentation with form and structure when that experimentation serves a clear artistic purpose. This combination of formal openness and editorial discipline has shaped the magazine's role as a venue for writers working across conventional genre boundaries. Across its publication history, West Branch has featured both emerging and established contributors. Names associated with the magazine include Kazim Ali, Jacob M. Appel, Dorothy Barresi, Cornelius Eady, Terrance Hayes, Harry Humes, Colette Inez, Ted Kooser, C. M. Mayo, Dennis Nurkse, Anne Panning, Edith Pearlman, Elaine Terranova, Chase Twichell, and Robert Clark Young. The subsequent recognition of work first published in the journal has helped demonstrate its connection to the wider literary ecosystem. West Branch-published work has been selected for The Best American Short Stories, The Best American Poetry, and The Pushcart Prize: The Best of the Small Presses. Randy DeVita's "Riding the Doghouse" was reprinted in The Best American Short Stories 2007, while Marjorie Hudson's "The Clearing" received a Pushcart special mention in 2008. The magazine has also expanded its publishing format through West Branch Wired, an online supplement containing fiction, poetry, and interviews. The supplement complements the print magazine and provides a digital channel for additional editorial material. This two-format presence allows West Branch to retain the identity of a periodic literary journal while maintaining a broader online publishing program. Joe Scapellato has served as editor-in-chief since 2021. During the following year, West Branch celebrated the release of its 100th issue in fall 2022. Reaching that issue count represented roughly four and a half decades of publication since the journal's 1977 founding and confirmed its continued activity within university-based literary publishing. The available reference material does not identify a founder, detailed succession of earlier editors, circulation figures, subscription revenue, or a specific end date; the magazine is described as active.
- 2022
The magazine publishes its 100th issue
[1]West Branch celebrates the publication of its 100th issue in fall 2022.
- 2021
Joe Scapellato begins serving as editor-in-chief
[1]Joe Scapellato takes on the editor-in-chief role.
- 2008
A West Branch story receives Pushcart recognition
[1]Marjorie Hudson's "The Clearing," originally published in West Branch, receives a Pushcart special mention.
- 2007
A West Branch story is selected for The Best American Short Stories
[1]Randy DeVita's "Riding the Doghouse," first published in West Branch, is reprinted in The Best American Short Stories 2007.
- 1977
West Branch is founded
[1]West Branch begins publication as an American literary magazine associated with Bucknell University.
Products and positioning
A university-affiliated literary magazine focused on accomplished, original, emotionally resonant writing and purposeful experimentation across poetry and prose.
Print literary magazine · 1977
West Branch
The core publication is a literary magazine issued three times each year. It publishes contemporary poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translation, and literary criticism. Its editorial approach favors polished craft, originality, emotional depth, vivid language, and purposeful formal experimentation. The magazine has provided a platform for a broad range of writers and has published work that later received recognition through major annual literary anthologies and prizes.
Online literary supplement
West Branch Wired
West Branch Wired is the magazine's online supplement. It extends the publication's editorial program with additional fiction, poetry, and interviews, giving the journal a digital publishing presence alongside its print issues. The available reference material does not specify its launch date, publication frequency, or separate business model.
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