Fence

Founded in 1998 by Rebecca Wolff, Fence is a biannual journal of poetry, fiction, art, and criticism that has a mission to redefine the terms of accessibility by publishing challenging writing distinguished by idiosyncrasy and intelligence rather than by allegiance with camps, schools, or cliques. It is Fence‘s mission to encourage writing that might otherwise have difficulty being recognized because it doesn’t answer to either the mainstream or to recognizable modes of experimentation. Fence is long-term committed to publishing from the outside and the inside of established communities of writing, seeking always to interrogate, collaborate with, and bedevil other systems that bring new writing to light.

“Fence is made by people who do it for love and do it well… this unique and singular anti-clique avant-garde concern has published utterly uncommon voices—Harmony Holiday, Tess Brown-Lavoie, Ottessa Moshfegh, Edgar Garcia, Douglas Kearney, Chelsey Minnis, so many others— these Fence heard first or close to first, these Fence midwived and husbanded into the world, these Fence, a muscular and virile hero, championed.” —Ariana Reines 

“For two dozen years, Fence has been one of the primary journals of poetry and literature in the United States. Perhaps because it started with a plague-on-both-your-houses approach to American literary formations, it has manifested a post-tendency 21st century perspective with both openness and nuance. It’s pretty much perfect for these times.” —Ron Silliman 

The 40th issue of Fence. Featuring a forum exploring the question 'What's the Problem with American Poetry Right Now?" and a new dedicated translation section, as well as new poetry, fiction, art, and other prose.