A BART short story contest, “BART Lines,” opens June 1 to authors ages 18 and up with a mailing address in one of the five counties where BART operates: San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara.
The contest will be part of BART’s 50th anniversary celebration and is meant to highlight the literary voices that make the Bay Area unique, diverse and creative. Authors will have the opportunity to submit very short stories of 7,500 characters or less on the theme of “motion.”
Thirty finalists will be chosen by a panel of Bay Area literary icons including: Daniel Handler, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Ishmael Reed, JK Fowler, and Annalee Newitz.
Prizes include a $200 honorarium and the chance to have their stories made available on BART’s Short Edition website and in their four Short Edition Short Story Dispensers. Finalists will also be invited to participate in a reading at a BART station with Litquake in October.
Submissions close on or before June 30 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time or after 400 submissions have been received. BART is exploring the idea of a writing contest for authors ages 18 and under for next year.
Since when are “bay area literary icons” people I’ve never heard of?
Thank you for considering ages 18 and younger. My son is 14 with autism and LOVES BART. He wants to work there when he graduates!
Good, we need more art and literature about transportation in this world.
There once was an effective commuter system for thousands of people. Then the unions and poor management ruined the system.
The End
My entry would be “What I Saw On The Way To San Francisco “. Not sure if I would write the X, R or PG version.
How about Bart just working to be a safe, clean, and on time transit operation.
Save the other crap until you have effectively accomplished these.
My story would be about all the disquisting people and activities that are allowed to go on while minding my own business on BART. It has become the mobile cess pool for the socialists, homeless and thieves.
I am sure my entry would be axed as it would speak the truth.
My story would be about all the disquisting people and activities that are allowed to go on while minding my own business on BART. It has become the mobile cess pool for the socialists, homeless and thieves.
I am sure my entry would be axed as it would speak the truth. Yet another waste of money. Clean up BART and their management and reduce fares for those of us still stupid enough to pay.
Not what I call safe
BART is filthy and dirty
BART not worth the risk
Maybe a haiku contest????
+1 ….and get pay in line with other transportation entities – BART employees are waaaaaaay overpaid
The story should be titled… The Rise And Fall Of BART.
Bart sucks. End of story.
There once was a publicly funded transportation system which provided a valuable transportation service to all the aspiring commuters.
Then that transportation system became WOKE.
The End.
Once upon a time I was riding BART from the city to Concord. The smelliest homeless man in the whole world got on in Pleasant Hill. He found a seat in my car. He cause a few people to leave the car. I got off the train and survived.I wondered how long the smell would last after he got off. The end.
I won an “art contest” in Grade School (for BART) – when it first opened. All of the “passengers” were black and white (on a crowded platform) 2 passengers were looking at each other- (and were “in full color”). My intention was that they really “saw” each other.
Is there a word max or minimum or subject matter requirement?
@Helene Gelber-Lehman….You might slowly re-read the article…and consider not writing anything to avoid embarrassment.