My Revels at Grapeshot Have Ended

Features Section Editor, Sophie Poredos, dramatically picks up her pen for the last time, and reminisces on her years at Grapeshot. 

My time at Grapeshot unfortunately has come to a conclusion. In the last few weeks of my Media and Communications degree, I look back with fond memories of Grapeshot, from my timid trepidation at applying in 2021 with my first story: “Kurentovanje: A Monstrous Ode to Spring”. 

I never thought that I would consider the best times at Macquarie University to be spent endlessly pouring over the ‘Style Guide’ during our final edit weekend. The stresses, the melt-downs and last-minute changes in the article tracker have all strengthened my abilities as a writer. 

I have perused and written in all our fabulous sections: from Palestinian pieces in Campus News: to talking about bimbos in Features: participating in the obnoxious Jung hype in Repeat Offenders: calendars for Variegated because I was facing writers block and a very first Creative piece in this issue, just because I’m feeling whimsical. 

But perhaps my most fond memory of them all, I have seen writers at Grapeshot Magazine strengthened into a supportive and welcoming team. Ideas are shared as a banquet, and the table is open for all to eat, with our team’s insatiable desire always hungry for more. 

Grapeshot certainly has me in a chokehold, and I don’t think I’m quite ready to let it go. I was even considering returning next year to study the ‘Marketing’ component of a Marketing and Media double degree, just to hold onto my relationship with Grapey. But with my eye-watering HECS debt, that feels like quite the irresponsible financial decision. 

To any new writers, media students or first-year wanderers I would implore you to consider joining Grapeshot Magazine. Because of my portfolio built at Grapeshot, I have a job in local journalism and have upcoming interviews for copywriting positions. 

As I write this story, my eyes are anything but dry (sadly tear-stains don’t translate onto a pdf document). I want to thank my team at Grapeshot, from my time as an Editorial Assistant in “Repeat Offenders” to Section Editor of “Variegated” and now, (arguably the best section), “Features”.

I want to thank past and present Editors-in-Chief who have all brought their own flair to the Magazine. I want to thank my Editorial Assistants and Section Editors, who have taught me to embrace creativity and lean into the unhinged. I also want to thank our readers, like you, for allowing us to write all the wonderful, wacky and political stories. 

Bittersweet longing tears at my chest, when I realise, my revels have ended. These our writers, as I foretell now, are all graduates melted into air, into thin air: And, like the baseless fabric of this university, The cloud-capp’d law building, The gorgeous central courtyard, my time spent at the Magazine itself, shall dissolve. We are such stuff, as dreams are made on, and my time at Grapeshot Magazine is rounded with a sleep. 

(A poor paraphrasing of the Tempest [1]). 

Farewell, Grapey. 

Until next time, I bid you adieu. 

ENDNOTES

[1] Shakespeare, William. 1564 - 1616. The Tempest,  Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1958.