Origin and Mission
West Trestle Review was inspired by a VIDA panel at AWP where the speakers encouraged participants to make space for women and nonbinary writers in the literary landscape as a form of subversion. WTR began as a journal for poets in California and Nevada and now has expanded to include international poets, writers, and visual artists.
Why West Trestle?
The journal is based in Auburn, California, where visitors, residents, and travelers driving along Highway 80 pass under a great train trestle as they're entering old town. We think of that trestle as a gateway to the foothills. So for us, West Trestle exemplifies the idea of literature as gateway, as welcome, as bridge, and as home.
West Trestle's mission is to promote the work of underrepresented poets, writers, and artists. We are particularly proud of our Cross -Ties section, in which our contributors are invited to promote the work of their favorite writers, poets, and artists.
We welcome you along for the journey.
Why West Trestle?
The journal is based in Auburn, California, where visitors, residents, and travelers driving along Highway 80 pass under a great train trestle as they're entering old town. We think of that trestle as a gateway to the foothills. So for us, West Trestle exemplifies the idea of literature as gateway, as welcome, as bridge, and as home.
West Trestle's mission is to promote the work of underrepresented poets, writers, and artists. We are particularly proud of our Cross -Ties section, in which our contributors are invited to promote the work of their favorite writers, poets, and artists.
We welcome you along for the journey.
Statement of Inclusivity and Anti-racism
Despite West Trestle Review’s smallness and newness to the lit scene, we, the staff, feel it’s important to let our readers and contributors know that we are actively anti-racist upstanders for Black Lives Matter.
In addition, we celebrate the voices of all underrepresented writers and artists.
West Trestle Review has no budget currently and is funded solely by members of our volunteer staff; however, our staff members have personally donated to organizations working to support BLM protestors. We have protested, we continue to have difficult conversations with “all lives matter” folks. We are listening. We are reading. We are examining our privilege. We are speaking out against hate and ignorance. We will continue these acts of support and self-reflection. We will continue to learn. We will not ask people of color to do this work for us. We will not be afraid to have conversations about race and privilege, even though we know we may make mistakes. When we do, we will accept responsibility for them, listen to criticism, and work to right our wrongs.
As an organization, we recognize that two of the four WTR staff are white, and so much whiteness in a journal may be seen as part of the problem. We fully intend to diversify our masthead and to invite a diverse group of guest editors when we are able to offer payment for this work. In an initial effort to support women and non-binary poets, writers, and artists of color, the editors will:
In addition, we celebrate the voices of all underrepresented writers and artists.
West Trestle Review has no budget currently and is funded solely by members of our volunteer staff; however, our staff members have personally donated to organizations working to support BLM protestors. We have protested, we continue to have difficult conversations with “all lives matter” folks. We are listening. We are reading. We are examining our privilege. We are speaking out against hate and ignorance. We will continue these acts of support and self-reflection. We will continue to learn. We will not ask people of color to do this work for us. We will not be afraid to have conversations about race and privilege, even though we know we may make mistakes. When we do, we will accept responsibility for them, listen to criticism, and work to right our wrongs.
As an organization, we recognize that two of the four WTR staff are white, and so much whiteness in a journal may be seen as part of the problem. We fully intend to diversify our masthead and to invite a diverse group of guest editors when we are able to offer payment for this work. In an initial effort to support women and non-binary poets, writers, and artists of color, the editors will:
- Solicit submissions from women and nonbinary people of color whose work is new to us.
- Offer periods of free submissions when possible, at least twice per year.
- Seek alternative sources of funding so that we are able to offer free submissions, pay staff, contributors, and guest editors.
- Highlight reprints of writers of color via our Fairlies section.
- Invite contributors to uplift underrepresented writers and artists through our Cross-Ties feature.
- Include people of color in every online issue and live event.
- Provide on our website an annual report of our finances.
Finance Report as of 12/31/2023
This report does not reflect the roughly 400 volunteer hours spent in reading submissions.
If you would like to make a donation to support the work of West Trestle Review, click here.