All About Five Willows

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Overview of Five Willows Literary Review

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Overview of Five Willows Literary Review

Five Willows Literary Review: A Comprehensive Overview

History and Origins

The Five Willows Literary Review stands as a unique presence in contemporary American literary culture, operating as an online journal affiliated with the Chrysanthemum Literary Society, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of literature, education, and cross-cultural understanding. Its digital archive spans back to at least 2012, with regular content and active leadership documented through to 2025, making Five Willows a sustained literary endeavor with notable community roots1.

Founded and managed primarily by Koon Woon, an award-winning Chinese-American poet, editor, and literary consultant based in Seattle, Five Willows Literary Review has sharpened its mission around publishing works that fit the elusive and evocative ethos of “Mr. Five Willows”231. The “Mr. Five Willows” persona alludes to a classical literary figure—often associated with Chinese poet Tao Yuanming (T’ao Ch’ien), who was called “Mister Five Willows” for the willow trees that surrounded his home—symbolizing contemplation, humility, and deep engagement with the rhythms of literary and daily life. This inspiration manifests in the journal’s editorial philosophy and its curation of profoundly reflective, multicultural, and philosophical literature31.

Five Willows Literary Review originated under the umbrella of the Chrysanthemum Literary Society, highlighting not only literary but also educational and world peace objectives. The blog’s earliest posted statement (October 2014) reaffirms its nonprofit and inclusive mission: “to promote literature, education, and world peace…for the betterment of all people of all persuasions.” This spirit of inclusivity and dialogue has run through its operational structure and content ever since41.

The organizational infrastructure further extends via Woon & Associates Literary Consulting, Goldfish Press, New Goldfish Press, the Chrysanthemum Blog, and the affiliated “Chrysanthemum Poems” forum. These links suggest a broader literary ecosystem cultivated by Koon Woon, bridging the digital journal with print and live literary communities, as well as educational programming13.

Editorial Focus and Mission

Five Willows Literary Review is best characterized by its eclectic, intellectually driven editorial scope. The journal’s guiding principle is to publish work that “fits the spirit of Mr. Five Willows,” described in various entries as encompassing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and reviews1. While the precise boundaries of this spirit are intentionally broad, editorial selections reveal an underlying preference for the following literary qualities:

Contemplative, philosophical, and humanistic writing: Many works meditate on memory, survival, identity, family legacy, and cultural resilience, often with roots in personal or historical narratives.
Multicultural and cross-genre sensibility: Five Willows bridges Eastern and Western traditions, with content referencing classical Chinese poetry and culture, as well as contemporary American and diasporic voices.
Focus on marginalized or underrepresented experiences: Through poetry and essays on immigrant life—particularly from Asian-American perspectives—the journal surfaces voices “from the margins of society” and spotlights themes of diaspora and community resilience3.
Open formal experimentation: The publication welcomes conventional and experimental forms alike, evidenced by its poetic abecedarians, haiku, prose vignettes, travelogues, and philosophical essays5.

Submission guidelines are intentionally accessible; writers are asked to send their works both in the body of an email and as an attached Word file to the editorial contact (koonwoon@gmail.com). This dual submission format accommodates a flexible digital workflow and invites broad participation1.

The review process is distinctly responsive compared to larger literary institutions—response times reportedly range from immediate to two weeks. This rapid feedback cycle, unusual in the world of literary journals, is emblematic of Five Willows’ inclusive, community-facing ethos and editorial agility1.

Notable Contributors

The roster of published writers and artists reflects both regional and international talent, with a distinct emphasis on close editorial collaboration and community participation. Koon Woon himself is the most consistent and influential contributor, not only editing but also writing poetry, essays, and editorial commentary. His works interweave themes of working-class and immigrant experience, resilience, and poetic justice, often set in or inspired by Seattle’s Chinatown-International District32.

Other contributors offer a diverse range of voices and genres. Notable names include:

David Gilmour: Frequently featured for reflective travel narratives, poems, and dispatches from locations as varied as Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Gilmour’s prose blends meditative travelogue with cultural inquiry and literary allusion51.
Barry Tebb: Poet known for his performances, such as “My Perfect Rose,” shared via the journal’s YouTube integration, adding a multimedia dimension to the literary experience1.
David Mason: Contributor of poetry and essays, including mathematically influenced work such as “A Mathematical Abecedarian Poem” and personal reflections on historical events like Nagasaki5.
Julie A. Dickson: Regular poet with works exploring environmental, psychological, and sociopolitical themes56.
Scarlett Phelan, Hardeep Sabharwal, Simon Perchik, Andrena Zawinski, and others contribute across poetry and fiction. The journal’s contributor page lists dozens of additional poets and writers, underlining its inclusive reach7.

Unique collaboration models stand out, including dispatches written as direct emails to Koon Woon (e.g., David Mason’s “Nagasaki memories”), as well as site-specific vignettes—such as the 2025 “Koon Woon’s Chinatown (AI Version)” special, which involved AI-enhanced poetic documentary of urban immigrant life38.

Publication Frequency and Schedule

The Five Willows Literary Review follows a nontraditional, flexible publication schedule that is strongly adaptive to its blog-based format. The journal does not adhere to strict quarterly or annual issues, but instead:

Publishes rolling releases and frequent entries: Multiple poems, essays, and reviews can appear within a single month, and yearly post counts range from a handful to dozens of entries1.
Archives reflect consistent activity from at least 2012 onward, with years like 2016, 2015, and 2014 containing more than 30 entries each.
The blog’s format leverages asynchronicity, supporting on-demand posting and immediate reader feedback.

This digital-first, blog-based strategy enables international accessibility, immediate content updates, and supportive interaction with both readers and contributors1.

Submission Guidelines and Review Process

Submissions are invited in the following manner:

Via email: Writers are asked to send manuscripts to koonwoon@gmail.com, providing both inline text (the body of the email) and a Word file attachment. This system maximizes compatibility and ensures ease of review for the editor1.
Genres accepted: Poetry, fiction, essays (nonfiction), and reviews—open to both established and emerging voices.
Editorial turnaround: The journal promises a response “immediate to two weeks,” which demonstrates its commitment to timely and thoughtful attention to each submission1.
Simultaneous submissions are welcomed, and the process is streamlined to minimize barriers to participation.

No submission fee is required, a choice that aligns with the journal’s nonprofit status and commitment to accessibility. There is no explicit mention of contributor payment; however, publications offer social recognition, a global readership, and inclusion in the journal’s digital archive910.

Unique Features and Special Sections

Five Willows Literary Review carves a distinct niche among small independent journals through a combination of literary, technological, and community-driven innovations:

Integration with the Chrysanthemum Blog and Chrysanthemum Poems: This offers an additional, parallel venue for poetry and dialogue among writers.
Multimedia presence: The journal features YouTube-hosted performances (notably Barry Tebb’s poetry), music videos, and links to musical projects like “Music by the Nebels,” inviting creative cross-pollination between art forms1.
Literary consulting and publishing partnerships: Affiliations with Woon & Associates Literary Consulting and Goldfish Press allow for a pipeline from online publication to potential print anthologies or further literary development.
Open community prompts: The journal poses literary questions directly to its readership—for example, “What makes a poet?” is a recurring prompt inviting reflection and submissions.
Innovative projects: Special editions such as “Koon Woon’s Chinatown (AI version)” (2025) demonstrate the journal’s embrace of technology (AI-generated vignettes), urban ethnography, and hybrid narrative-prose experimentation that foregrounds immigrant life and urban memory38.

Reputation and Critical Reception

The reputation of Five Willows Literary Review is anchored in several factors:

Longevity and consistency: A continuous digital presence since at least 2012, regular updates, and sustained editorial direction have established Five Willows as a mainstay in small-press and alternative literary publishing1.
Recognition by the literary community: Five Willows has been listed among the top 50 alternative literary magazines to submit to (AspiringAuthor.com, 2024), and referenced as a recommended venue for emerging writers seeking to build publishing credits in non-mainstream literary environments10.
Reputation score and rankings: The International Writers’ Collective ranked Five Willows Literary Review as a Tier 5 literary journal in 2025, denoting “modest reach or niche focus,” yet critically noted for its accessibility, free submissions, and digital-only model9.
Critical acclaim for special issues and contributors: Review outlets such as Lantern Review and Rain Taxi praised the authenticity and community relevance of issues like “Koon Woon’s Chinatown,” calling the writing “Li Po in modern drag, the voice of New America” and lauding its focus on stripping away illusion in pursuit of poetic beauty and justice3.
Institutional and governmental support: In 2019, the Chrysanthemum Literary Society received a $1,200 grant from the Washington State Arts Commission for anthology publication and public readings, lending additional institutional credibility6.

Though Five Willows does not appear on the rosters of journals with mainstream national prizes or A-list anthology credits (such as Pushcart or O. Henry awards), its critical role in fostering creative dialogue and amplifying under-served voices garners it a substantive, if modest, standing among peer journals in the alternative and grassroots literary landscape.

Awards and Recognitions

While explicit literary prizes awarded to the review itself are not documented, a combination of external and internal recognition underlines its influence:

WA State Arts Commission grant (2019): Awarded to the parent organization for anthology publication and a reading event in Seattle, reflecting both artistic and community impact.
Affiliation with award-winning figures: Koon Woon, primary editor, is recipient of the American Book Award and the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award, lending the publication indirect prestige by leadership association2.
Positive reviews and citations by other respected journals and review outlets: Lantern Review, Rain Taxi, International Examiner, and cross-publication of contributors in venues like Quail Bell Journal35.

Parent Organization and Affiliations

Five Willows Literary Review is operated by and under the auspices of the Chrysanthemum Literary Society, with shared leadership and a corresponding nonprofit charter. The Society’s mission encompasses the promotion of literature, education, and world peace, and its IRS-registered nonprofit status enables tax-deductible donations to support its activities14.

Other key affiliations include:

Goldfish Press/New Goldfish Press
Woon & Associates Literary Consulting
PertinentVoices (another literary platform)
KoonWoon.com (main editorial and consultant website)
Amazon for distribution of select publications and print anthologies1.

Key Editorial Staff and Board Members

The editorial identity of the journal is intimately tied to Koon Woon (email: koonwoon@gmail.com), who functions as:

Editor-in-chief
Contributor and curator
Founder and community advocate

Woon’s profile as a poet, editor, and mentor encompasses his roles across the Chrysanthemum Literary Society, Goldfish Press, and literary consulting. There is no publicly listed broader editorial board; the intimate, community-facing nature of the journal suggests direct, personal management as a key distinguishing characteristic12.

Online Presence and Digital Platforms

An essential facet of Five Willows is its robust online and multimedia presence:

Primary Publication: Hosted on a Blogger-powered website, updated with continual posts, archives, and digital sharing options.
YouTube channel: Integral for showcasing performances, musical projects, and poetry readings, such as Barry Tebb’s “My Perfect Rose.”
Affiliated blogs and forums: Chrysanthemum Blog, Chrysanthemum Poems.
Amazon listings: For anthologies and selected contributors’ chapbooks.
Social media reach: Enabled through direct sharing buttons for X (Twitter), Facebook, and Pinterest.
Analytics: Site traffic and reader demographics published frequently, reinforcing transparency around international reach1.

Funding and Financial Model

True to its nonprofit status, Five Willows Literary Review operates under a donor-supported, tax-exempt financial model:

Chrysanthemum Literary Society: As its parent, holds 501(c)(3) registration, allowing all donations to be fully tax-deductible.
Open donation invitations: Regularly encouraged throughout the site’s content and submission guidelines.
Occasional governmental or institutional grants: Such as the Washington State Arts Commission support in 20196.
No submission fees or contributor pay: In keeping with accessibility and reliance on external support, not author payments or subscription revenue.

This aligns Five Willows with peer non-commercial nonprofits devoted to literary and educational advancement, rather than profit-driven publishing.

Comparative Analysis with Peer Journals

Placed within the landscape of American and international literary journals, Five Willows Literary Review presents several key differentiators:

Alternative, grassroots ethos: Identified as a top alternative literary journal for writers seeking unconventional and cross-genre publication opportunities10.
Niche focus and Tier 5 ranking (2025 International Writers’ Collective): While its reach and prize presence are more modest than venerable magazines like The Paris Review or Ploughshares, it stands apart for openness, rapid feedback, and support for marginalized or emerging writers9.
Distinct personal vision: The unified editorial direction of Koon Woon—himself an acclaimed, philosophically minded poet—gives Five Willows a more idiosyncratic, intimate feel than larger, institutional journals.
Rapid feedback and community engagement: Most established journals operate on months-long review cycles and strict issue-based releases; Five Willows’ almost real-time engagement and rolling online curation foster a community orientation that is highly valued by contributors.
Digital and multimedia integration: Its ready embrace of blog, YouTube, and social media presence offers a dynamic contrast with still largely print-centered or digital-PDF “issue” publications.

Reader Demographics and Geographic Reach

Few small-press journals provide as transparent or detailed a record of their international audience as Five Willows. Weekly site analytics indicate traffic from a diversity of nations and regions:

Country	Weekly Views (Sample, Aug 2025)
Netherlands	988
United States	386
Germany	182
Russia	147
Sweden	89
China	72
Austria	59
Iran	51
Singapore	43
Other	170

This international spread—prominent in the Netherlands, US, Germany, Russia, and China—underscores broad accessibility, resonance with multivalent audiences, and evidence that the journal’s content travels beyond anglocentric or regional borders, possibly due to its contemplative and cross-cultural literary voice11112.

Distribution Channels and Accessibility

Open-access, blog-based online distribution: All content is freely available with no paywall or restricted access, maximizing reach for readers of all backgrounds.
Amazon presence: Several anthologies, chapbooks, or contributors’ works are made available for broader purchase, enhancing print accessibility.
Multimedia and social sharing: Integration with YouTube for poetry performance and sharing buttons for major social networks amplify discoverability.
Accessibility for disabled readers: The web-based format accommodates screen-reading and text-magnification tools, though no explicit accessibility pledges are present.

Key Facts Table

Feature	Details
Journal Name	Five Willows Literary Review
Founded	At least 2012 (with parent org active since 2004)
Parent Organization	Chrysanthemum Literary Society (501(c)(3) nonprofit)
Editor-in-Chief	Koon Woon
Submission Email	koonwoon@gmail.com
Submission Method	Email (body text + Word attachment)
Response Time	Immediate to 2 weeks
Genres Published	Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Reviews
Publication Frequency	Monthly/Bi-monthly to rolling, blog-format
Distribution	Online, free; select works on Amazon
Notable Contributors	Koon Woon, David Gilmour, Barry Tebb, David Mason
Multimedia Integration	YouTube, Blog, Amazon listings
Donor Model	Tax-deductible contributions
Funding/Grants	Supported by WA State Arts Commission (2019)
Associated Entities	Goldfish Press, Woon Consulting, New Goldfish Press
Editorial Philosophy	“Spirit of Mr. Five Willows”: contemplative, multicultural, philosophical
International Reach	Readership spanning Netherlands, U.S., Germany, Russia, China, etc.
Digital Platforms	Blogger, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, Amazon
Language of Publication	English (with occasional bilingual references)

Conclusion: The Distinction of Five Willows Literary Review

Five Willows Literary Review is a literary journal marked by a potent combination of intellectual rigor, cultural inclusivity, and digital agility. Operating from a foundation in the Chrysanthemum Literary Society’s nonprofit mission, it maintains an ethos rooted in the poetic tradition of “Mr. Five Willows”—an emblem of introspection and ethical literary inquiry.

Its editorial vision, shaped by the voice and example of Koon Woon, privileges works that bridge philosophical depth with deep empathy for lived immigrant, diasporic, and underrepresented experiences. The journal’s rapid review process, multimedia reach, and international reader base enhance its unique position among peer publications, particularly within the alternative, grassroots genre.

For readers and contributors alike, Five Willows serves as a crossroads of tradition and new technology, of solitary reflection and vibrant community, and of the local and the global. It stands out not only for what it publishes, but for how it welcomes, responds, and grows with a worldwide community of seekers, writers, and dreamers.

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