West Branch

What this publication wants

This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Translation. Official guideline: West Branch guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and translation of original, unpublished work.
• Up to six poems or thirty pages of a single prose piece.
• Short-form fiction may be submitted as up to three pieces, so long as total pages stay under fifteen.

Subjects they avoid

• No more than two submissions per contributor in a given reading period - extras are rejected.
• Print only original, unpublished work.

Key requirements

• Paginated file with author name on each page
• Prose double-spaced with word count
• Up to 6 poems or 30 pages prose
• No more than two submissions per reading period

Who can submit

Open to submissions from any location; first North American serial rights purchased.

Rights

First North American serial rights, plus two contributor copies and a one-year subscription.

AI policy

Not stated in the guideline

How to write for them

Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.

BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.

How to pitch

Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.

1. Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
2. Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
3. Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
4. Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
5. Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
6. Say why it fits this publication.
7. Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
8. Close professionally and thank them for their time.
9. Send through the official channel only.

Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Online submission manager

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

• Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
• Submission: Online submission manager

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Submit via the West Branch online submission manager (Bucknell). File must be paginated with the name on each page; prose double-spaced with a word count.
• Wait four months before querying for a response.

What happens after submission

Expected response: Query after four months

If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.