The AAWP is launching an exciting new publication pathway and prize for emerging writers: ‘Chapter One’. The winner of this manuscript competition will receive a written appraisal of his or her work from an established literary author and a letter of recommendation to University of Western Australia Press (UWAP) – a ‘tick of approval’ that will effectively place their manuscript on top of the submissions pile for priority assessment. The winner will also receive a $500 cash prize and fully subsidised conference fees for the annual conference of the AAWP in November, 2015, to read from their work. ‘Chapter One’ will open on 30 November 2014 and close on 30 June 2015.

Eligible writers are invited to submit one chapter (or 5,000 words) of prose from a literary novel, short story collection, or a hybrid work that crosses genre boundaries. Alternatively, they may submit up to 500 lines of poetry. If the full manuscript is as robust as ‘Chapter One’ the winner may secure a publishing contract with UWAP (http://uwap.uwa.edu.au). Click here to download full details of ‘Chapter One’ entry. Enquiries and submissions to submissions@aawp.org.au

The 1990s saw the rise of queer theory and politics and this special issue of TEXT Journal reflects and builds on Australia Queer, a pioneering collection of queer writing. This special issue seeks submissions—fiction, scholarly non-fiction, plays and essays—that address the question of what ‘Australia queer’ might mean in the current historical moment. Is ‘queer’ still viable, twenty years after its inception, or has it been superseded? What does it mean, in the early twenty-first century, to be ‘Australian’ and ‘queer’? The deadline for initial submission is 1 March 2015. Download full details.

Annamarie Jagose has described queer ‘as an umbrella term for a coalition of culturally marginal sexual self-identifications and … a nascent theoretical model which has developed out of more traditional lesbian and gay studies’ (1996: 1). In Australia, the arrival of queer was heralded by the work of writers such as Christos Tsiolkas, Dean Kiley and Fiona McGregor; the activism of groups such as the Australian chapter of ActUp; and scholarly work which includes journals such as Critical InQueeries (1995-98) and a 1996 Special Edition of Meanjin, entitled ‘Australia Queer’. Scholarly papers should be no more than six thousand words in length. Creative works will usually be 3,500–5,000 words in length, or poetry or short fiction up to 3,000 words in length, or as agreed by editors. Dowload the CFP for full details or email Dallas.Baker@scu.edu.au or Jay.Thompson@latrobe.edu.au

visible ink anthology 2014 is accepting submissions of short stories, non-fiction, poetry and visual art for its 26th annual anthology. This year’s theme is ‘Encounters’.

Original writing of up to 2000 words, photography, illustrations and graphic design from emerging Australian writers and artists will be accepted until 6 July. Entry is $6 and all published work receives payment. Submissions and enquiries to submissions@visibleinkanthology.com

visible ink is produced by a committee of dedicated RMIT Professional Writing and Editing (PWE) students. Each year, a new team produces the anthology from its inception to its launch.

For more information visit www.visibleinkanthology.com