Incarcerated Writers Bureau
Showcasing literary talent through prison walls
i
i
The IWB is a one-of-a-kind initiative that exists within an ecosystem of other individuals and organizations that share our sensibility and mission. What makes IWB a unique experience is its direct empowerment of writers on the inside to become professionalized as agents of their own careers.
All ResourcesPurpose
PEN America’s Incarcerated Writers Bureau (IWB) connects authors and audiences across carceral walls.
The IWB was developed to showcase the literary talent of incarcerated writers in the United States, and to equip publishing professionals, agents, journalists, and advocacy organizations with the tools and information to work across prison walls.
Writer and visual artist C. Fausto Cabrera talks about how he developed a writing practice and submitted his work for publication while living in Minnesota’s prison system.
Featured Writers
MEET THE WRITERS
i
i
For example, while the internet has made it easier for writers to submit and share their work, people in prison have restricted and monitored digital communication and no email.
All ResourcesLearn
Connecting incarcerated writers to publishing opportunities and readers is a challenging dance of limited access and burdensome logistics.
Discover various articles, webpages, and videos that offer best practices in working through the walls, from submission accessibility, editing recommendations, and communication considerations.
Stay Connected
Join the mailing list for PEN America’s Prison and Justice Writing Program to learn more about working in service of incarcerated writers.
LEARN MORE