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Barthelme Prize for Short Prose

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A project of Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts (see other related projects).

About

124 members set this contest as a Favorite.

The contest is open to pieces of prose poetry, flash fiction, and micro-essays. Established in 2008, the contest awards its winner a cash prize and publication in the journal.
Donald Barthelme (April 7, 1931–July 23, 1989) was an American author known for his playful, postmodernist style of short fiction. Barthelme also worked as a newspaper reporter for the Houston Post, was managing editor of Location magazine, director of the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston (1961–1962), co-founder of Fiction (with Mark Mirsky and the assistance of Max and Marianne Frisch), and a professor at various universities. He also was one of the original founders of the University of Houston Creative Writing Program.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee is USD $20.

Country of Publication & Year Established

United States Established in 2011

Publication Medium & Contest Frequency

Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year.

Fiction Temp Closed
Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:
General General
Lengths:
Flash Fiction Flash FictionUp to 500 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $1,000 for first prize.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Nonfiction Temp Closed
Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Lengths:
Essay EssayUp to 500 words; Up to 3 pieces.
Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $1,000 for first prize.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Poetry Temp Closed
Audience:

Open to a broad Audience.

Genres:
General General
Lengths:
Poem PoemNo line limits known; Up to 3 pieces.
Poetry Forms:

Prose poetry.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Professional payment. Details: USD $1,000 for first prize.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.
Media: Text.

Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.

Barthelme Prize for Short Prose Submission Statistics — Free Preview!

The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics.
AccuracyWe have received 5 reports from 4 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported45 min | 62.6 mean avg | 79.5 median | 93 max days (1,077.7 std dev)
Pending19 responses are pending (134 min | 146.7 mean avg | 146.5 median | 194 max days waiting | 741.3 std dev) from 19 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The most common submission fee paid: USD $20.00.
Most recent response reported was received on 02 Dec 2024.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 31 Aug 2024.

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Gulf Coast Online Exclusives Charges fees for all submissions
Gulf Coast Prize for Translation DNQ Charges fees for all submissions
The Gulf Coast Prizes Charges fees for all submissions
Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts Charges fees for all submissions
The Toni Beauchamp Prize in Critical Art Writing DNQ

Dates

Last Updated: 20 Dec 2024
Last Audited: 20 Dec 2024. (We audit each active listing twice a year. Learn more at link.)
Date Added: 27 Aug 2012

Before Submitting

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  • Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.
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  • Be professional, patient, and persistent.