Literary Journal

Wrath-Bearing Tree

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Journals & literary magazines1 open opportunity listed

About the magazine

Wrath-Bearing Tree is an online literary and arts journal founded in 2013 by veterans and civilians associated with the military community. Taking its name from a line in A.E. Housman's 'A Shropshire Lad,' the journal provides a platform for writing and art that engages with war, military service, and their aftermath, while also embracing broader literary and artistic concerns. Its mission is to publish work that is unflinchingly honest, formally adventurous, and emotionally resonant, without regard to the writer's background. The journal has consistently featured poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art that explore the complexities of conflict, trauma, and recovery, as well as pieces that have no direct connection to military themes. By maintaining a rigorous editorial standard and a commitment to diverse voices, Wrath-Bearing Tree has become a vital space for contemporary writing that refuses easy sentimentality or political platitude.

Editorial focus

Established by combat veterans and maintained by a diverse board of veterans, military spouses, and writers compelled by themes of social justice and human resilience, the Wrath-Bearing Tree publishes essays, reviews, fiction, and poetry on military, economic, and social violence written by those who have experienced military, economic, and social violence or their consequences.

PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionTranslation

Submitting your work

Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31

Reading feeNo

PaymentNo payment

Response time3 to 6 months

Simultaneous submissionsYes

Unsolicited submissionsYes

Wrath-Bearing Tree accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art on a rolling basis, with occasional themed calls. Before submitting, read several issues to understand the journal's aesthetic, which favors work that is vivid, specific, and avoids clichés about heroism or victimhood. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify immediately if your work is placed elsewhere. Include a brief cover letter with your submission, mentioning any relevant background, but do not feel obligated to disclose military service. For visual art, submit high-resolution images and a short artist statement. Response times vary, but queries after three months are reasonable. The editors are committed to providing feedback when possible, though volume may prevent individual responses. Payment is in contributor copies for print anthologies; online publication does not currently offer monetary compensation.

We seek to expand the conversation around violence, conflict, and war. We especially like work that is thoughtful and balanced when it comes to questions of diversity. Send us your best fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. You don’t have to be a veteran, or write about war. Just hit us over the head with something.

Read official guidelines