Press Pause Press is a literary magazine with zero social media presence. Every year, we publish two beautiful volumes of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, music, and art in print and online. We have also been known to do special projects like our coffee table book dedicated to art created during the pandemic. In 2024, we are publishing our first full-length manuscript through our inaugural Beautiful Pause Prize contest.

Press Pause began in 2017 with a single poster strewn around Wilmington, North Carolina calling for submissions. Since then, we have grown into an international magazine, with contributors and readers from all across the globe.

Press Pause is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to give artists, writers, and musicians a quiet and vibrant space to create and share their art free from the noise of social media and the fast-paced demands of modern life. We truly appreciate any support we receive. Any donation big or small helps by keeping the lights on, printing our volumes, and supporting our mission.

Your donation matters. Press Pause is working toward:

Becoming completely self-sustaining
Paying our contributors
Paying all our staff, including readers
Building a writers and artists retreat center on Flying Fox Farm in Jacksonville, North Carolina. You can learn more about and support that endeavor here.

Press Pause Press Literary Magazine