Barbara is a poetry broadside, produced in Scotland. What is a broadside? A broadside is a single sheet of paper that’s easy to distribute, read, and fold into a pocket: “It is designed to be held in your hands.”

This tactile quality is a central part of Barbara’s mission: “We seek to challenge the increasing digitalisation of life and of writing. There is something more tangible, more delicious, about poetry that can be touched”. Barbara is created on a typewriter, photocopied, and distributed in person on the streets and in coffee shops: “You will find our publication out in the wild… These are wild words”.

Barbara also sometimes publishes very short prose—fiction and nonfiction—under 100 words.

So far, Barbara has published one issue, which explores the relationship between humans and nature and contains six pieces of writing. Although Barbara is only available to read in print, you can read other poems by the published authors by following the links provided here.

Right now, Barbara is seeking submissions for their second issue. Poets may submit up to four poems, 14 lines or fewer each. Barbara accepts all forms and styles of poetry: “from haiku to experimental freeform”. Again, they also sometimes accept prose—fiction and nonfiction. Authors of prose may submit up to four pieces, 100 words or fewer each.

Barbara accepts submissions from all authors, and they are especially interested in publishing writing by “those who consider themselves outsiders—whether in poetry or the wider world”.

Authors published in Barbara will receive a free digital copy of the broadside. Published authors are welcome to print the broadside and distribute it freely.

Barbara also plans to publish an anthology called Spine, which will include writing published in the broadside. All authors who are published in Barbara will be considered for Spine, unless they request otherwise. Authors published in Spine will receive a free digital copy.

Barbara accepts submissions via email, not online or by post. They accept simultaneous submissions, as well as writing previously published on blogs or social media.

Barbara does not accept writing created by AI. They only accept submissions that follow the guidelines they’ve posted online, so please read these guidelines in full before submitting.

If you would like to learn more or submit to Barbara, please visit their website here.