From the Jawbone Journal to Poetry and Short Story Collections

Supporting diverse voices through publishing locally and globally

A scenic landscape featuring rolling hills, a field of wildflowers, and a sunrise or sunset over a distant horizon with a sky filled with clouds and sunlight. Overlaid on the image are the words "JAWBONE Journal Issue 1 Summer 2025" and a subtitle "Words to keep you talking."

Jawbone Journal - One

Showcasing 57 South West Writers

Cover of Jawbone Journal Issue 2 Winter 2025 with a landscape photo of a hillside with trees under a dark cloudy sky and the title 'Imagine This...' with subtitle about valuing human connection over mineral wealth.

Jawbone Journal - Two

Showcasing 57 many from the South West Writers + UK + US + AUS

A scenic landscape during sunset with rolling hills, a seagull flying, and the sky with clouds. Overlaid text reads 'JAWWONE Journal Issue 03 Summer 2026' and 'Winging It... Angels or Demons; Birds of a Feather; Whispered Murmurings; Feathered Engines; Dreams of Flying; Birds on the Wing; A single White Feather; Cupid; Hearts Fluttering; Love on a Commercial Flight; or Just Making it Up as You go along...' and 'Words to keep you talking.'

Jawbone Journal - Three

Watch this space

Why Jawbone Journal?

We know that getting published is one of the hardest things for writers to do. We want to provide a platform that nurtures new and emerging writers to engage with a wider audience.

Subscribers fund our ability to produce the magazine and create a platform for othered voices — keeping the doors open for the next writer we might discover.

Subscribe for £16 for 2026, or buy a single issue from £7.50.

Poster advertising the Jawbone Journal subscription, featuring four issues with cover images of nature scenes like sky, ocean, and landscape. The poster highlights words like "A Gift of Words for The Writers," mentions free submissions to issues 3 and 4, and states that all issues post free with a UK offer for £28.
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Cover of JAWBONE Journal, Summer 2026, Issue 03, featuring a bird flying in a yellow-orange sky with clouds and a distant landscape.

Issue 3 — Summer 2026

Winging It...

Submissions for Journal 3 closed on 3rd May 2026 and will be released in July 2026.

The theme ‘Winging it…’ has given wings to imaginations and creatives have soared into the sky and beyond. Some of the images that stuck with me are; Grass Angels, Female Icarus, Mosquitoes, A Woman made of Flowers and the Raven Goddess - The Morrigan.

We have changed printers, the different process means more pages and therefore more writing and more writers. We read everything, yet still there is not enough space to publish everything we loved. We hope you enjoy reading issue 3 as much as we have curating it.

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A magazine cover or journal with a dark stormy sky over a hill with trees. The title is 'Jawbone Journal' with a dinosaur skull motif; issue 2, Winter 2025. The main text says 'Imagine This...' followed by a paragraph about valuing human connection and living in the moment.
A magazine cover or journal with a dark stormy sky over a hill with trees. The title is 'Jawbone Journal' with a dinosaur skull motif; issue 2, Winter 2025. The main text says 'Imagine This...' followed by a paragraph about valuing human connection and living in the moment.

Issue 2 — Winter 2025

“Imagine This…”

57 writers from across the UK, Australia and USA

The second edition of The Jawbone Journal was released in the first week of December 2025.

The Producers are Peter Roe, Izzy Robertson and Megan Simson. Co-Editors are Peter Roe and Izzy Robertson with Sub-Editing and features from Caroline Burrows and other invited writers for and on behalf of The Jawbone Collective CIC.

Format: A5 - 64 Pages Perfect Bound

Buy Issue 2 — £7.50
Cover of 'Jawbone Journal,' Issue 1, Summer 2025, with a sky background and a skull illustration of a jawbone in the top left corner. The text mentions 'The Word...' and a quote about poetry and prose from South West Wordsmiths. The bottom of the image contains a phrase 'Words to keep you talking' over a landscape with grass and trees.

Issue 1 — Summer 2025

"In the beginning, the word was...?"

Language is ephemeral, it is constantly changing, influenced by society, geography, circumstance and those who record it. The phrase “Poets and writers are the conscience of society” is often referenced and credited to many different voices. 

We believe that we have an opportunity as creatives to influence others. Words are powerful, they can dissuade, enrich, distract, empower, change, influence for good or ill… We see everyday the ramifications of words used as political weapons. Diplomacy. Propaganda. Rhetoric. Conciliation. Accord. Truth.

Words are being weaponised, being used to radicalise, persuade and obfuscate by corporations and politicians. Or are we being too sensitive? As a civilised and democratic society, what should we allow?

See what SouthWest Creatives did with the theme...

While you’re there, why not take out a subscription and support a grassroots organisation supporting South West Writers.

Buy Issue 1 — £7.50

  • "Thank you for accepting my submissions for inclusion in the summer Jawbone Journal. It is a huge honour and I can’t wait to see the journal and read everyone’s work. Thank you for the very special community you have created through the Jawbone Collective."

    – Beth Woodley

  • "I'm totally delighted to have a couple of poems accepted for the next issue of Jawbone. Thanks for the opportunity and for believing in my words."

    – Kate Rigby

  • "Thank you so much for accepting my poem, but also for accepting my partner’s piece. We have both been kicking our feet and giggling all night because it’s my partners first ever publication, and we can’t believe we get to be in it together. Thanks so much for that magic!"

    – Kathryn O’Driscoll

  • "I read Jawbone Journal from cover to cover in the ferry. Delighted to be part of it. Now I'm sitting on a deserted train platform in Monfrague and writing ‘Imagine this...' Wishing you wonderful summer."

    – Ione Harris

Why Subscribe?

Why subscribe over a single issue?

Community membership. Subscribers fund our ability to produce the magazine and create a platform for othered voices, keeping the doors open for the next writer we might discover. Subscribers also receive free submission to each issue — non-subscribers pay £3.

Subscribe for 2026 for £16

Meet the Team

  • A black and white photo of a man with gray hair and a beard holding a microphone close to his mouth, appearing to speak or sing.

    Peter Roe

    Managing Editor
    "Love Hertz" & "I'm in Love with My Barista"

  • Black and white photo of a woman with long hair, wearing glasses, smiling, indoors with a window in the background.

    Megan Simson

    Comms Director
    Dorchester Literary Festival Poetry Slam Winner

  • A woman with long hair wearing a hat with goggles, spikes, and pins, smiling at the camera in black and white.

    Izzy Robertson

    Chief Editor

  • Close-up black and white photo of smiling woman with windblown hair in front of ancient standing stones or monoliths outdoors, with other people visible in the background.

    Caroline

    Features Editor

Subscribe to the Jawbone Journal today

There are five subscription levels giving you the opportunity to support the The Jawbone Journal and our Arts Collective. We publish high quality collections, mentor, empower and support under-represented creatives as they build a fulfilling profession in literature and the arts.

Subscribe here