The beautiful pause prize
the 2025 beautiful pause prize is open now through may 1.
for full-length poetry manuscripts
the beautiful pause prize…
is a yearly prize of $1,000 and the print publication of a full-length manuscript awarded to a writer of exceptional talent and heart.
One runner-up will receive $500 and publication of a series of poems in one of our biannual print volumes.
Submissions open for POETRY manuscripts on November 15th, 2024.
Contest Timeline*
Winning and shortlisted manuscripts announced in August/September 2025
Publication and release of the winning manuscript in December 2025/January 2026
The prize will reopen for nonfiction on November 15, 2025.
Guidelines
18 and older to submit.
This contest is judged by Press Pause editors, and submissions are anonymized.
Please submit complete manuscripts. 30 poems minimum.
Only one attachment/manuscript per submission. A single author may submit multiple manuscripts but must pay the $25 reading fee for each submission.
Remove any identifying information from your manuscript. If there is identifying information anywhere on your manuscript, it will not be considered.
It is okay if some or all poems are published elsewhere separately, but not if they have been published as a collection before. Poetry collections should be thoughtful and cohesive.
What Makes a Beautiful Pause?
We are looking for original, honest, beautiful poems from humans. We have no gates to keep. Haunt us from every corner of every place. Send us thoughtful collections that make us pause, slow down, think, laugh, cry, and feel more connected to our fellow humans. As we always say: Send us whatever is in your hearts.
publishing with us
Dear Future Beautiful Pause Winner:
We love you.
Your manuscript will be treated with respect, with you at the helm of the editing process. We will copyedit your manuscript in suggestion mode, and maybe provide a few thoughts on developmental edits that you can take or leave. You will be able to extensively proof your work before publication.
We are fans of the feel of beautiful books in our hands. We don’t print anything that isn’t beautiful.
You will receive $1,000 immediately upon winning and 25 contributor copies when printed. You will receive royalties on all sales.
Because we do not have a social media account—(We’re Press Pause!)—we will also work with you to market your book and put a small budget behind doing so.
Questions? Email se.harsha@presspausepress.org.