Fourth Genre Steinberg Memorial Essay Prize A project of Fourth Genre (see other related projects). About The Steinberg Essay Prize is named in honor of Fourth Genre’s founding editor, Michael J. Steinberg. The contest gives us an opportunity to highlight outstanding writers and their work. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee is USD $20 (average for contests). Want more insight into the affiliated editors' preferences? Read our interview with the editor(s) of Fourth Genre. Country of Publication United States Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Unknown AI policy Statistics Synopsis Regular Speed Fourth Genre Steinberg Memorial Essay Prize's overall average response time is within a normal range for contests. More ChallengingFourth Genre Steinberg Memorial Essay Prize's overall acceptance rate is lower than most contests. More ResponsiveFourth Genre Steinberg Memorial Essay Prize's overall rate of non-response is lower than most contests. Nonfiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 January 2027 12:00 AM MST (in 111 days) through 15 April 2027.3Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: Up to 6,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Experimental, Literary, Personal.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: Duosuma 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. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookX (Twitter) @FourthGenre Support this Publisher: Purchase Issue(s) Subscribe For the Editor(s): Request Interview Link to Duotrope Fourth Genre Steinberg Memorial Essay Prize Submission Statistics 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. This project ranks among the 25 Most Challenging Nonfiction Publishers in our database. Filter: Category: Group by submission Include related projects Accuracy We have received 200 reports from 194 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 3 min | 109.1 mean avg | 104.0 median | 180 max days (32.5 std dev) Responses 95.00 % Acceptances: 1.50 % of submissions accepted (138.7 avg. days per acceptance) | 1.55 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 93.50 % (109.4 avg. days per rejection) | 16.6 % personal, 83.4 % form, 0.0 % unspecified Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals 5.00 % (71.4 avg. days per withdrawal) Other Information The most common submission fee paid: USD $20.00. Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 31 Jul 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 15 Apr 2026. Date compiled: 11 Sep 2026 16:28 UTC (7 hours, 15 minutes ago). Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsFourth Genre Charges fees for all submissionsFourth Genre Multimedia Essay Prize Charges fees for all submissions Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 17 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only