2021 marks our fifteenth year of publishing new writers from Western Sydney. Contributors include people who live, work or study in WS and also people who belong to a WS cultural organisation. You need to be 16 years or over and your entries not previously published in hard copy or online.
See WRITING ENTRY FORM for details. Writing entries due 16th May, 2021
(Art entry form available 1st May.)
This year’s ZineWest is supported by a City of Parramatta Creative Economy Grant.
You are a member of a panel selecting work for a new journal…
This workshop puts a simple question:
Three good pieces. One space left. Which piece will your panel publish?
Click on this download for the WORKSHOP SHEET which includes the three pieces.
We will also recap a few points from Felicity Castagna’s 13th Feb workshop on the form and shape of our writing. Plus Open Mic – 2 mins max of your original work. (NB don’t bring pieces intended for ZW21 – editors might be present.
Saturday, 27th February, 2021, 3-5 pm Zoom. Email us at to request a Zoom Link.
Mihaela Cristescu
We are very happy to announce that our Ezine edition focusing on Parramatta city and suburbs is ready to receive entries. This edition is part of the Writing Parramatta 2021 project supported by a City of Parramatta Creative Economy Grant.
BOOK AWARDS will be announced later in the year for written entries and images.
WritingParramatta2021_EntryForm In brief if you have a strong connection to Parramatta, and are 16 years or older, you are welcome to send us poetry, prose and images that reference the area. Your connection might be as a resident, worker, student or perhaps a frequent visitor. Feel free to contact us (see email on form) if you need clarification.
First round of entries closes 31st May, 2021. The editors look forward to your entries.
Photo: Mihaela Cristescu
NEW Writers Group Inc is grateful for the interest and encouragement shown to Parramatta writers, and to our colleagues in Western Sydney, through the support of our project, Writing Parramatta 2021, by a City of Parramatta Council Creative Economy Grant. More details soon. Carol Amos, President NWG Inc.
We always said the the POP UP ZINE (PUZ) was not a competition but that we might hand out a book award to one or two writers: Here they are:
PROSE AND POETRY Award: Matilda Hart with special mentions of Laila Nawsheen and C.A. Broadribb. Selectors were Sue Crawford, editor ZineWest, Rob Dunn, ZW selector and Carol Amos, NWG Inc President. As editor of PUZ I’d like to say how good the entries were and how different from each other, which adds dimension to this small collection and book awards harder to nominate.
HAIKU Award: Robyn Braithwaite (and bravo to the writers new to haiku).
We outsourced this decision to haiku experts, asking for a nomination of best suite of haiku and nomination of an individual poem. Quendryth Young and Nathalie Buckland independently came to the same conclusion. See Nathalie’s comment. It’s a mini lesson in itself.
Nathalie Buckland’s comment on best haiku (by Robyn Braithwaite)
another spring
raindrops on the road
make perfect circles
“The scene is set in line 1 with a seasonal word, as so often in traditional haiku. This forms one important part of the haiku, from which the next two lines juxtapose meaningfully.
Rain is significant in the Australian Spring, aiding new growth and replenishing waterways and dams. The reader can clearly picture the rain falling on puddles. However line 3 adds for me a significant element, the constant rotation of the seasons year after year, echoing the first word ‘another’. We take for granted the fact that Winter has given way to Spring, it is nothing remarkable, but this made me pause and appreciate our seasonal patterns.
For me this is a gentle but meaningful haiku, and my first choice.”
We are delighted to bring together members of NWG Inc and friends in a 2020 Anthology. Due to a very tight budget this year, C.A. Broadribb has prepared a zine similar to past printed editions that is available as a free pdf. NWG Inc Anthology 2020 will be uploaded to the National Library of Australia as part of our ISSN 2201-2699 series. There will be readings from the anthology at a zoom meeting on Saturday, 12 December. Contact us if you’d like to attend. The pdf will be moved to the ezine shortly. Cover image by Dannielle Viera.
Congratulations to all our contributors for putting together another memorable collection of writing and art from Western Sydney. The award winners are:
ART AWARDS – JUDGE, SOPHIA KOUYOUMDJIAN, Director of Parramatta Artists Studios
Best Image: $100 – Erin Macnaught
Runner-up: Giramondo title – Marina Robins
WRITING AWARDS – JUDGE, LUKE CARMAN, Author and lecturer WSU
1st Prize $400 – Arna Radovich for Last Breath
2nd Prize $300 – Louise Loomes for The Still Point
3rd Prize $200 – Matilda Hart for Magic Deck
Highly Commended: Awards – Giramondo titles
Peter Cartwright for Bi@19
Erin Middleton for My Body Stands in the Mirror
Dorian Stoilescu for The Insomnias of Summer
Editor’s Award: Giramondo Title – Raqiya Ahmed for Colour the Crescent
Thanks to everyone who has used our NEW SHOP to purchase copies of ZineWest 2020. Please order very soon if you want a copy in time for the launch on Saturday 28th November. Any delivery issues please let us know. ZW2020 sells for $15 plus postage. Contributors’ first copy is free plus $5 for posting.
Planning your writing in 2021? We consulted our ZineWest colleague, Jo Mularczyk, who has been published in a variety of journals, print and online.
The sources Jo uses to find submission calls include Australian Writers’ Centre, Writing NSW, WOW (Women in Writing) and Buzz Words (for children’s writers). “It is worth following publishers and magazines on social media or joining a facebook group for the specific genre you are interested in. Another tip is to follow the social media pages of other emerging authors so you can learn where they are being published. I often enter competitions which offer placement in an anthology or magazine.”
We’ve picked three of Jo’s suggestions for you to explore if you wish. NB These are not recommendations, however – always check for yourself! We will add more on FB.
AUSSIE SPECULATIVE FICTION – Australian/New Zealand “… a community of Australian readers and writers of speculative fiction, particularly aimed at supporting Indie writers.”
FICTION FACTORY – Uk based, open to international writers using English. Current short story up to 3000 words closes 30th November, 2020
BOORANGA Writers Centre fourW Anthology Australian and International
Associated prizes: Best Story, Best Poem. Entries due 30 June. This is a very popular and established anthology and competition. (Charles Sturt University)
Launch date for ZW2020, Saturday 28 November, 11 am on Zoom
Program: Writing and Art awards plus readings and Luke Carman’s report!
Launch will finish around 12:30 pm
Prizes – Writing: Judge Luke Carman
1st Prize is as previously stated $400
Due to a generous donor we now have cash prizes for 2nd: $300 and 3rd: $200
This means we can offer Giramondo titles to the highly commended writers
Best Prose and Best Poem – certificates
Editor’s award – Giramondo title
Prizes – Art: Judge Sophia Kouyoumdjian
Best Image: $100, runner-up: Book
NB We don’t advise awards ahead of the launch.
Obtaining your ZW2020 copies $15
Contributors’ first copy is free plus postage
For five or more copies ask for a postage quote:
| ZINE Items available | PRICE | |
| 1 Free copy | $5 (postage) | |
| 1 Free copy + 1 bought $15 | $20 (includes $5 postage) | |
| Two bought @$15 | $35 (includes $5 postage) | |
Cover images: Front: Michaela Simoni Back: Angela-Ana Pavlovic