Founded in 1986 by former UH faculty members Philip Lopate and Donald Barthelme, Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts seeks to recognize and promote quality literature in the Houston community.
‘ ‘Gulf Coast gives graduate and undergraduate students at UH the chance to be involved in the production of a nationally distributed literary magazine,’ managing editor and teaching fellow Laurie Ann Cedilnik said.’
Biannually published, Gulf Coast features more than 300 pages of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, reviews and interviews.
The magazine has been able to gain recognition and bring respected writers, editors and publishers to the Houston area by holding three events each year – the Gulf Coast Reading Series, the Spring Issue Release Party in April and an Indie Book Fair at Domy Books in the early summer.
This Friday, Gulf Coast will hold its free monthly reading series at 7 p.m. at Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet St.. Graduate students Kathy Elliott and Kasten Glover will read selections from their poetry, while doctoral candidate David Stuart MacLean will read a story that takes place in the mid 80s.
‘It’s about how kids do ugly and awful things – weirdo Lord of the Rings stuff that takes place,’ MacLean said.’ ‘Humiliation when you’re 10 or 12 is so much worse and funnier.’
In choosing which piece to read, MacLean has three rules to follow.
‘I’ve learned that the three rules of reading are to be short or to be funny. Or, if you can’t be funny, write about sex,’ MacLean said. ‘I picked this story because it’s funny.’
Readings can also be an opportunity for people to enjoy a nice night out that doesn’t take much money or effort to plan.
‘Houston is this amazing literary hub.’ Small readings are the greatest opportunity, (and) it’s a great place to take a date because you can make them think you are arty and smart,’ MacLean said.
Gulf Coast is also holding its annual contest. While they do not accept submissions by UH students, faculty or recent graduates, many students from around the U.S. apply. Winners have their work published in Gulf Coast, as well as $1,000 in prize money.
Submissions to the magazine are also encouraged. Non-UH students are allowed to submit stories, essays and poems in genres such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry or reviews. However, graduate students are only allowed to submit reviews and faculty members can write critical essays.
If the submission gets published, there is also a payment opportunity.’ Payment varies, but it is generally $30 per poem and $20 to $150 per page of prose.
‘ ‘Gulf Coast seeks to publish the best writing from both emerging and established writers,’ Cedilnik said.’
More information about the literary magazine and subscription opportunities can be found at http://www.gulfcoastmag.org.
