Founded in January 2006[1] by Anna Goodall, Felicity Cloake and Hape Mueller, the first issue was published in April 2006.

A complete set of issues (1-16) are held at the British Library, St. Pancras, London.

The last issue of Pen Pusher was published in August 2010 and in February 2011 the magazine stated "our continuing lack of a grant or funding of any kind – and an ill-advised lack of interest in the digital world" as the reason.

The Kaiser Chiefs' front man, Ricky Wilson, designed the magazine's emblem[2] and was rewarded for his pains with the gift of an antique whistle as Pen Pusher's usual gift of thanks—a wheel of cheese—was unsuitable due to his dairy aversion.

[citation needed] Pen Pusher provided a platform for new writing talent and welcomed submissions of reviews, features, short fiction and poetry.