Publications
PEN America publishes original literature through its annual PEN America: A Journal for Writers and Readers and the Glossolalia translation trilogy, both available for purchase below.
Prison Writing Awards Anthology
The 2018 Prison Writing Awards Anthology brings the winning works of the Prison Writing Awards together in a beautiful collection to share with the world. More
PEN America Best Debut Short Stories
This annual anthology features the winning works of the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize, recognizing writers with outstanding fiction debuts in print or online literary magazines. More
PEN America: A Journal for Writers and Readers
Published each spring, PEN America: A Journal for Writers and Readers publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, conversation, graphic narrative, and more. We champion international authors and provide first-hand insight into the… More
Glossolalia
Glossolalia is the translation magazine of PEN America. Glossolalia advocates for writers with limited access to the global reading community. By publishing works from lesser-translated languages, we connect storytellers to audiences… More
Read Original Literature from PEN America Publications and Programs
In addition to its printed publications, PEN America produces of a breadth interviews, poetry, graphic narratives, flash fictions, essays, translation, and book excerpts through its online series, literary awards, prison writing program, World Voices Festival, and other events throughout the year.
Jump to:
PEN Poetry Series • Prison Writing • The PEN Ten • Illustrated PEN • Guernica/PEN Flash Series
The Fears of a Little Country Prison Girl
The fears of a Little Country Prison Girl is one of the most important parts ever written in Rose Marie Davis’ life. It is Rose Marie Davis’ true story… More
The Technological Revolution
The 20th century will be remembered in the annals of history as the “Technological Revolution”. Industrial-Capitalism which seen in it’s birth in the 19th century in England, and spread… More
And I Was Small
Clarence Rice # 63456Box CWaupun, Wisconsin 53963AND I WAS SMALLNeon sign blinking: GOLDBAR. GOLDBAR. On/off. On/off. On/off. I stood watching. Thinking. Almost hypnotized. Off/on Off/on Off/on GOLDBAR GOLDBAR GOLDBAR. … More
A Better Way
“A NATION THAT CANNOT APPLY NEW REMEDIES MUST EXPECT NEW EVILS” - Sir Francis BaconCan prisons be abolished? Not yet. There are still offenders in our prison system that… More
Say You’re One of Them
That night, our home began to feel like an oven. We couldn’t sleep, even though we took off all our clothes.Once we locked up, a massive heat swallowed the… More
Retired from the Game
Retired from the Game“Umm . . . excuse me, miss.” I halted the sensuous stride of the six-feet beauty of a correctional officer.“Yes?” she snapped, pausing with an attitude,… More
Buried Child
I haven’t got anything under the sofa! Now mind your own damn business! Jesus God, you come into the house outa the middle of nowhere, haven’t heard or seen… More
Marie Étienne: King of a Hundred Horsemen
Translated from the French by Marilyn Hacker, who received the 2009 PEN Award for Poetry in Translation. Preface by Marilyn HackerMarie Étienne has always composed poetry and prose alternately or simultaneously,… More
States of Shock
CHARACTERSColonelStubbsGlory BeeWhite ManWhite WomanStubbs: MY THING HANGS LIKE DEAD MEAT!!! (Pause. White couple turns and stares at Stubbs. The Colonel ignores them. He’s busy taking several toy soldiers, tanks,… More
Alert Us
To any writer artist who is at risk, or is in need of assistance, including those denied entry into the U.S. as a result of the latest Trump Administration travel ban. 
PEN America On 
The proposed expansion of EU privacy regulations is deeply troubling. Particularly in this era of "fake news" and altered historical narratives, the ability to change or erase the record should be applied sparingly. https://t.co/D6ZYBZPdFo
[email protected]'s Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist on deck for discussion tonight at @TheEdisonLA for #LABookClub with @melissachadburn! #ReadtheResistance https://t.co/AZX3BANOBl