Page Seventeen

This year we roamed wide and free in search of poetry at open mic nights. It is never an easy job to choose a poem that works well in performance as well as on the page.  However three great poems for Issue 8 have been chosen.

Congratulations to:

Brisbane – Chris Lynch  and ‘Pop-pop’s Backgammon Set’

Adelaide – Khalil Jureidini and ‘Untitled’

Melbourne – Angelina Mirabito and ‘Alone Together’

A big thanks to our judges Amelia Walker and Graham Nunn.

And our venues – Stoppingallstations, Hardboiled, and SpeedPoets.

Vicki Thornton – Acting Editor

It’s almost the end of June, which means there isn’t long to get submissions or entries in to us.

If you want to make a general submission, we accept stories, poetry and black and white images. Please use the relevant cover sheet, but feel free to email your submission (we may request a higher resolution image if what you submit is selected). There is a limit of 3 written pieces and 5 images. See the guidelines for more information.

If you want to enter the competition, there is no limit to how many pieces you may enter, so long as the correct fee accompanies your entry form and entries. You cannot email entries to the competition: they must be posted. You can enter short stories and/or poetry in the Short Story and Poetry Competition, or colour images in the Cover image competition, whereby the one fee of just $5 gets you up to 5 entries.

But, you have only until the end of next Wednesday, June 30, to do it, so get moving!

Also, congratulations to Angelina Mirabito, whose poem ‘Alone Together’ was selected for inclusion in Issue 8 at Stopping all Stations in Nunawading last Saturday. There were many great pieces to choose from and it wasn’t easy. Thanks to everyone who came along, both those who participated and those who enjoyed listening.

Don’t forget there’s a similar opportunity for Adelaide and Brisbane poets coming up. On Thursday 29th Julyand Sunday 1st August respectively. Check the Events page for details.

And, we’ve announced a little competition on our Facebook page. It’s free to enter and all you have to do is ‘Like’ our page then guess how many stories and poems we’ll receive in this year’s competition. The winner will receive an available issue of their choice.

Best of luck.

It’s come along quickly. Tomorrow we are selecting a poem from the open mic section of Melbourne poetry event Stopping all Stations to go into issue 8.

It’s easy, all you have to do is bring along one of your poems and registerto read/perform it in the open mic section.

It’s all happeneing at the Station St cafe, 26 Station street, Nunawading, from 2pm, Saturday 19th June. If you’re on the train, it’s right across the road from Nunawading station (Belgrave/Lilydale lines). There’s a $5 fee for the event, which includes lucky door prizes (including books and book vouchers), and the pleasure of also hearing featured poet Catherine Bateson read her work. There are no additional requirements or payments for you to enter, except you might like to bring an extra copy of your poem to leave with the judge/s in case yours is selected. The winner will also receive a copy of the current issue, Issue 7.

If spoken word isn’t your thing, or you’re not in Melbourne, there’s still time to send us your submission. You have until June 30 to submit up to three written pieces and/or black and white images, and/or to enter either or both the Cover Competition or the Short Story and Poetry competition.

Also, keep your eye on our Facebook page. In the next few days, we’ll be announcing a little competition that will only be open until the end of June.

Up to 5 poems for Issue 8 will be selected at spoken word events around the country. Issue 7 includes two poems selected this way, one from Melbourne and one from Queensland.

If you want to get in on the action, all you need to do is put your name down in the open mic section at one of the following events and hope the judge thinks your piece is The One (take a copy of your poem to leave with the judge if that’s the case). Or if you just want to hear all the fabulous offerings, by all means go along as audience and show support.

VIC: Saturday, June 19, 2-5pm at Stopping all Stations, Station St cafe, 26 Station St, Nunawading. $5 entry includes lucky door prizes and June’s featured poet is Catherine Bateson. The judges are myself (Tiggy) and Vicki.

SA: Thurs July 29, 8.30pm at Hard Boiled, La Boheme, 36 Grote St, Adelaide. Free entry. Judged by Amelia Walker.

QLD: Sunday August 1, 2-5pm at SpeedPoets, InSpire Gallery Bar, 71 Vulture St West End, Brisbane. Entry by gold coin donation. August feature TBC. Judged by Graham Nunn.

I’m working on a couple other states and will keep you posted. Keep an eye out for our Events page (to appear soon) where these details will be posted, including any updates.

Oh, and you can ‘enter’ whether or not you made a general submission to the same issue. The guidelines are set according to the event’s open mic ‘rules’. For example, some events may impose a limit of 3 minutes on the open mic and others 5 minutes, and each event may close the open mic list once a certain number of people have registered. The judges are looking for a poem that, while fabulous as a performance piece, would also be great on the page.

So, scribble one of those dates in your diary and get cracking on a fabulous piece.