Pen & Leaf Press is an independent literary press and arts organization dedicated to the publication of poetry, short fiction, and hybrid texts that prioritize formal risk and emotional precision. Founded in 2012 by a collective of writers and book artists, the press emerged from a desire to create a sustainable, non-commercial space for work that often falls between the cracks of mainstream publishing. Its core mission is to champion writing that is as attentive to the materiality of language as it is to the book as an object, frequently producing limited-edition chapbooks and broadsides alongside perfect-bound volumes. The press operates with a small, editor-led model, emphasizing long-term relationships with authors rather than one-off transactions.
Publishing focus
The editors look for literature that provides social commentary and endeavors to make an impact through the art of storytelling. They are drawn to poetry, but they consider narratives that have powerful and enduring messages, particularly if those images reference specific events.
PoetryFictionCreative NonfictionChapbookNovellaShort Story CollectionsEssay CollectionsNovelPoetry Collections
Calls & opportunities
3 listed
Manuscript submissions
Reading periodJan 1 to Dec 31
Reading feeNo
Simultaneous submissionsYes
Unsolicited submissionsYes
Writers should approach Pen & Leaf Press with a clear sense of its aesthetic: work that is formally inventive, linguistically precise, and comfortable with ambiguity. The press reads submissions during two open windows per year, typically in spring and fall, and charges no reading fee. Before submitting, read at least two recent titles to understand the press's editorial sensibility. Cover letters should be brief and focused on the work itself, not on credentials. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please notify promptly if the work is placed elsewhere. The press does not publish genre fiction, memoir, or work that relies on conventional narrative arcs; hybrid and cross-genre texts are welcome.