About the Journal

The San Joaquin Review was founded under the original name Backwash in 1963, by undergraduate students of Fresno State's English Department. The publication also produced under the named Common Wages, Sage, The Joaqu.n Review, and (559) JOURNAL is a student-run literary journal dedicated to showcasing creative work from writers connected to Fresno State and the surrounding Central Valley community. Since its inception, it has served as an evolving platform for poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art, shaped each year by new student editors and contributors. The journal reflects a longstanding commitment to literary expression within the region, adapting over time while maintaining its core role as a space for emerging voices.

Today, the journal continues to align with its mission to reaffirm, encourage, and professionalize the creative capacity of its writers. It promotes the cultural and social diversity of Central California, welcoming writers of all identities and backgrounds. The San Joaquin Review encourages work that reflects on lived experience, challenges conventional literary forms, and expands the boundaries of creative and experimental writing, fostering a collaborative and inclusive literary community.