The best bit about this is you can be involved! We need your writing about experiences inside shopping malls/centres. We’re looking for non-fiction but we’re not too picky about how it comes out… poetry, creative non-fiction, anecdotes, compilations of Facebook conversations, whatever… just make sure you email it to youareherecanberra AT gmail DOT com by 15 February 2012.

Here’s the full callout. Get writing!

Mall Stories

Food court food fights, drunk Christmas elves, guerilla hula-hoop performances… what’s the strangest thing you’ve seen in a mall? 

You Are Here wants YOUR non-fiction tales, poetry, anecdotes, urban myths and shaggy dog stories about malls and shopping centres. Funny, sad and weird – let us know!

Selected stories will be featured as a part of a project during You Are Here 2012, from March 8 – 18.

You Are Here is an annual multi-platform arts festival taking place in the Canberra CBD, showcasing the city’s alternative arts and underground culture. You Are Here aims to highlight the energy, innovation and talent of Canberra’s artists past and present, presenting and promoting their work in non-traditional venues, revitalising city spaces and attracting new audiences.

Email your writing (2 pages max) – to youareherecanberra AT gmail DOT com by COB 15 February 2012.

1. Third time ACT finalist Adam “Jacinta” Hadley‘s idiosyncratic bread of insanity/genius will knock Sydney audiences for six.
2. Australian Poetry Slam newcomer Miranda “Bling Bling” Lello combines beautiful words and images of bikes, words, cities and forgotten loves with a mean uppercut. Get ready for something very very special Sydney.

Congratulations to third place winner Barry who narrowly defeated Jay in a tense slam-off.

Should you wish to attend the annual blood brawl that is the national final (and I encourage you to!) grab your tickets and head to:

Australian Poetry Slam National Final – Write a Revolution
Sunday 27th November, 5pm
Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay

The national final takes place on Sunday 27 November at Sydney Theatre. Two poets from each state/territory will compete for the chance to win an amazing writer’s tour of China and Indonesia (over 18 national winner) or $500 (under 18 national winner).

Australian Poetry Slam: ACT Final
28 October 2011
The Front Gallery and Café
Wattle St, Lyneham

Please note that under 18 poets will need a parent/guardian in attendance to perform at The Front and that the time limit will be 2 minutes, not 3 as in usual Traverse Poetry slams. Be sure to read the rest of the rules:

1. Maximum of 20 entrants per heat.
2. Enter at the venue on the night of the heat 30 minutes before the heat commences.
3. Contestants must reside in the state/territory in which they are competing. In some cases, if your nearest heat is interstate, an exception can be made. In such cases, if you compete interstate and are one of the two winners, you will progress to the final as one of that state/territory’s winners. e.g. If you live in Queanbeyan (such as a certain previous APS winner) and you win the ACT final, you will go to the national final carrying the magnificent title of “Glorious Grand Champion of the Canberras”.
4. Random draw for performance order.
5. ABSOLUTE two minute limit. Time starts at your first word or when the timekeeper feels the performance has begun (no additional time allowed for introductions). Points will be deducted from the final score for exceeding the time limit — one point for every 30 seconds over time. For example: At 2:01 minutes you will lose a point. At 2:31 minutes you will lose another point…
6. Five judges chosen by the MC at random from the audience.
7. Judges hold up score cards using a 1 – 10 scale, with 10 being the highest. Of the five scores for each poet, only the middle three scores are counted. The decision of the judges is final.
8. Poem must be the original work of the performer written within the last 12 months. No plagiarism folks. One or two recognisable pop culture references are okay.
9. Performers must be prepared to perform two different poems in the heat.
10. In the case of a tie a “slam off” will be used at the discretion of the slam organisers.
11. No musical accompaniment. No props. No costumes. (ie; clothing related to the content of your poem)
12. Two performers with the highest scores in each State Heats will proceed to the national final.
13. Employees of libraries or venues that are hosting heats may not compete.
14. Random draw for performance order.
15. Contestants must sign a copy of the rules prior to performing.

Read the full terms and conditions (PDF).

Now Hear This
14 September @ The Street Theatre

Melanie Tait at 666 ABC is looking for storytellers to be part of the next night in the popular ‘Now Here This’ series. The theme is ‘changes’.

Preparing a poetry manuscript for submission
1-4pm Saturday 20 August @ ACT Writers Centre

This workshop will involve discussion and practical exercises in researching the market, structuring a manuscript and preparing a manuscript for a publisher. With Chris Mansell.

Book through the ACT Writers Centre

First line, first draft, finished poem: Writing poetry
10am-3.30pm Saturday 24 September @ ACT Writers Centre

Through exercises, extracts and discussion this workshop will examine the mystery and meaning of poetry, the difference between poetry and prose, the nature and importance of the linebreak, and different ways to build a poem. With Brook Emery.

Book through the ACT Writers Centre

Living Green Festival
16 October @ Albert Hall

Canberra’s first vegan festival. Looking for performers of all kinds. Artist application pack on website.

Knocking your poems into their best possible shape
1-5pm Tuesday 8 November  @ ACT Writers Centre

Good poems require the right combination of patience, inspiration and ruthlessness on the part of the poet. Poems need to be given the chance to be born before facing the necessary rigour of the editorial knife, but once a poem has made its way to the first draft stage, everything must be up for question. With Kevin Higgins.

Book through the ACT Writers Centre

Corinbank 2012
2-4 March @ Corin Forest mountain recreation park

Applications open for all kinds of artists.

The session today was actually quite unproductive and a bit disheartening, as I struggled with the perennial problem of honesty and originality. I believe if your work is honest, then it will be original: originality is your very personal stamp on the age-old work of others. That is some intellectual comfort, but also the source of pain on those days, like today, when you just cannot crack the concrete.

I was also comforted on this point in reading CJ’s new poem, called The Squat II, which he performed at the poetry slam on Friday. You can read all of the poem on CJ’s blog, but I’ll quote a stanza here:

On the first hearing/reading of this, it was honesty distilled. The images are strong and captivating and it is – although it now feels to me like the lowliest of all adjectives to use – original. Thank you for sharing this CJ.

On a more optimistic note, I managed to finish off my submission in time for Vignette Press’s forthcoming Geek Mook (on interactive fiction!) and submitted my performer application for the 2012 National Folk Festival, again – just in time.

I’ll start uploading some of my work soon, particularly material created through my Cafe Poet Program residency at The Front Gallery and Cafe.

Meanwhile, you can look forward to this month’s exciting poetry slam:

Traverse Poetry Slam: Winter
29 July 2011 7.30pm-10.30pm
The Front Gallery and Café
Wattle St, Lyneham

In the bleak midwinter, The Front offers a roaring fire of poetry, open mic chestnuts, and shaggy dog stories from your humble host, Jools. Register from 7.30 for your shot at baffling prizes and money donated by yr appreciative (hopefully) word-lovin’ audience.

Featuring ukulele tunes from Farida and something else special (for all the right reasons) in the middle.

Traverse Poetry Slam: Autumn
27 May 2011 7.30pm-10.30pm
The Front Gallery and Café
Wattle St, Lyneham

Quick post to say I started as Cafe Poet at The Front! I’m going to be there Saturday mornings (usually) for the next six months. Woo!

As part of the annual Canberra zine fair (hosted by the ACT Writers Centre and Canberra Contemporary Arts Space from 10am-4pm) there’s a zine-making workshop for 12 peeps run by Vanessa Berry, one of Australia’s best known zinemakers.

Vanessa has been making zines since the 1990s and her work has been published in the book Strawberry Hills Forever as well as exhibited at the MCA in Sydney. She continues to make zines, including I am a Camera and Disposable Camera.

Book online or 6262 9191
Cost: $25 non-members, $20 ACT Writers Centre  & CCAS members and conc.