Founded in 1998, 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 part of our press’s mission to support writers who might otherwise have difficulty being recognized because their work doesn’t answer to either the mainstream or to recognizable modes of experimentation.

Fence Books is an extension of that mission. Launched in 2001, Fence Books publishes poetry, fiction, and critical texts and anthologies, and prioritizes sustained support for its authors, many of whom come to us through our two book contests and then go on to publish second, third, fourth books.

The Motherwell Prize, formerly run as the Alberta Prize, is an annual series, generously endowed by Jennifer S. Epstein, which offers publication of a first or second book of poems by a woman, as well as a five thousand dollar cash prize. Past winners include Chelsey Minnis, Tina Brown Celona, Sasha Steensen, and Ariana Reines.

Our second prize series is the Fence Modern Poets Series. This contest is open to poets of any gender and at any stage of career, and offers a one thousand dollar cash prize in addition to book publication. Past winners include Joyelle McSweeney, Prageeta Sharma, Elizabeth Robinson, Christopher Janke, Geraldine Kim, Daniel Brenner, and Laura Sims.

Fence and Fence Books are programs of Fence Magazine, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization in the state of New York. Since 2007, Fence Magazine, Incorporated has been affiliated with the University at Albany and the New York State Writers Institute.

Fence Magazine, Incorporated wishes always to thank its generous supporters

New York State Council on the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
Jerome Foundation
The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses
Jennifer S. Epstein
and the Friends of Fence

as well as its Board of Directors: Anne Carson, Bill Clegg, Annie Dillard, Donald Faulkner, Jonathan Galassi, Susie Leness Gilbert, Brenda Hillman, Katy Lederer, Jonathan Lethem, Harry Mathews, Robert Polito, Christopher Stackhouse, Peter Straub, and Marjorie Welish.