Type Of Organization
Digital
Mission Statement / Editorial Focus
Established by combat veterans and maintained by a diverse board of veterans, military spouses, and people who are compelled by themes related to trauma, The Wrath-Bearing Tree publishes essays, reviews, fiction, and poetry on military, economic, and social violence or their consequences. We do not often draw lines in the sand, but when we do, we typically put ourselves to the left of that line. We despise kitsch, propaganda, and state-sanctioned murder. To our credit, we have not given up on the human race.
Social Media Platforms Used
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Is Your Group Affiliated With A University, Portal Or Other Agency?
no
Primary Editor/Contact Person
Adrian Bonenberger
Contact Title
Co-Editor, Wrath-Bearing Tree
Publishes
essays, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, reviews
Submissions Policy
We have an open submissions policy. Stories are read by a group of co-editors dedicated to the task; non-fiction by our non-fiction team, poetry by our poetry team, and soforth, and the co-editors then take a vote on whether or not to accept the manuscript for publication. Once that vote has been made, the author is contacted, and one of the co-editors who voted to accept their submission works with them until the work is at the point where everyone feels comfortable with it.
Accepts Unsolicited Submissions
Yes
Submission Guidelines URL
Simultaneous Submissions Accepted
no
Reading Period
Year round
Reporting Time
4 - 6 weeks
Author Payments
none
Number Of Unpaid Staff
10
Year Founded
2013
Number Of Issues Per Year
12
Ads?
no
Average Page Views Per Month
6,000
Average Unique Visitors Per Month
3,000
Publish Print Anthology?
no
Fiction
20
Nonfiction
20
Poetry
20
Reviews
20
Essays
20
Name
Adrian Bonenberger
Title
Co-Editor
How Did You Arrive At Your Current Position?
Together with 9 other writers, many of whom are military veterans or spouses, I co-founded the publication. It is run as an egalitarian co-operative, where decisions are made jointly. We are currently in the process of transitioning to a non-profit.
What Is The Staff Structure At Your Magazine/press?
The structure is decentralized, with each of the 10 co-editors sharing rights and responsibilities. Decisions are made jointly.
Do You Have Any Cover Letter Advice?
2-4 succinct paragraphs that both showcase your writing ability and effectively describe the story / essay / poem you're submitting is sufficient.
How Are Submissions Processed In Your Magazine/press?
Editors responsible for reading a particular section (Poetry, Fiction, etc.) vote on whether a piece ought to run or not. Majority usually rules, unless someone has a strong objection to publishing a particular piece.
What Do You Look For In A Submission?
Originality, vitality, beauty.
What Advice Do You Have For First-time Submitters?
Don't be discouraged if a piece is rejected—we have a pretty good accept rate—but some of our best publications have taken weeks or months of editing. If we see potential in a piece, work with us!
Do You Have A Favorite Unsolicited Submission Discovery Or Anecdote?
WBT published a story in September 2020 that an author had shopped repeatedly, receiving numerous rejections. We were enthusiastic about publishing. They sent a note thanking us for finally seeing the potential. This is not uncommon.
Who Is Your Ideal Reader?
Every reader is our ideal reader!
Digital
