Submission Callout

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR VOLUME 17: ISSUE 3

UNDERSTORY

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Understory - with a literal meaning rooted in ecology, describing the plant life and vegetation that grow beneath the forest canopy, but above the forest floor - can also figuratively describe the stories and meanings hidden beneath the surface.

For Grapeshot’s third issue, we invite you to reflect on the layers that exist within life. Just as there are a forest floor, understory, canopy and emergent layer within a rainforest, there are multiple layers within everything, with something always hidden and beyond what meets the eye.

So interpret this theme however you like, whether literally, where you jump into the forest and dive under the canopy, or metaphorically where you explore buried concepts and feelings.

You might like to write about the world’s lush greenery and wildlife, tell untold truths and stories, unwind lies and conspiracies, be a voice for the voiceless or bring underrated media to light (among many other ideas).

 

Grapeshot accepts many types of works, including guides, news pieces, essays, memoirs, comics, artworks, poetry, short fiction, photographs, reviews, and more – so get creative! Feel free to DM us with any submission questions!

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 16/04/2024. Send your submissions to: grapeshot@mq.edu.au with the subject line: “Issue 1 Submission + [Composer’s Name] + [Form of Work]”. Feel free to DM us with any submission questions! Don’t let time run out! Mark the day in your calendar and get your pieces submitted!

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WHO CAN SUBMIT?

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We welcome submissions from Macquarie University students and staff. We do accept submissions from past students (alumni), but submissions from current students will be prioritised. 

 

We accept submissions year-round. All types of submissions are welcome, for publication in the physical magazine, on the website, and in our newsletter,  Grapevine. If we cannot publish your piece in the physical magazine, we will do our best to publish it online, though this cannot be guaranteed.

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Each physical magazine has a theme, which is used as a means to inspire and provoke thoughts, opinions, and questions surrounding a particular concept. Although Feature articles must be directly related to the issue’s theme, submissions for other sections (especially in News) need not adhere to the theme.

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If you submit work, be prepared to work with a Section Editor from the Grapeshot team to make structural changes to your article if the editor thinks that is necessary.

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THE SECTIONS OF THE MAGAZINE

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If you want to submit a piece for publication, think about what section you would like your piece to be in. Physical Grapeshot magazines are divided into the following sections: 

 

NEWS

Short news pieces, campus news, and national and international feature-length pieces that might be of concern to MQU students.

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FEATURES

Lengthier topic-specific articles which have a ‘human side’ to them, soft news pieces, personal essays and memoir pieces. 

 

CREATIVES

This section houses works from our talented creatives on campus, it includes fictional short stories, poetry, artwork, photography, comics etc.

 

VARIEGATED

Fun, short and miscellaneous. Variegated is where we put the pieces that don’t fit in other sections but are just too good to pass up. This includes short biographical pieces and fun articles.

 

REPEAT OFFENDERS

Recurring sections with a theme or objective. These include MOB, Pop-culture rewind, Challenge, I Don't get it, you are here, Nic’s Flix, Grapey Book Club, Horoscopes, Grapey Playlist, Aunty Grapeshot.

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Sometimes it is a bit of a blurry line between a feature article and a creative, or a review and an opinion piece. Your opinion and intention as the creator of the piece is therefore most important to how we decide where to place your submission within the magazine. Think about including this in the body of your submission email.

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HOW TO SUBMIT

 

Written Articles/Creative Pieces:

• Save the word document as titleofpiece_wordcount_yourname.docx

  • ​Example: NationalNews-Ukraine_859_NikitaByrnes.docx

• ​Email the article to grapeshot@mq.edu.au with the subject line: “Issue #[X]  Submission + [Composer’s Name] + [Form of Work]”. 

  • Example: Issue #4 Submission + Nikita Byrnes + News Article 

 

Other Types of Submissions: 

• Grapeshot welcomes all types of creative works, especially if they fit the theme of our upcoming issue! 

• “Other Types of Submissions” encompasses visual works that can be printed:  photo essays, and physical and digital artworks. 

• Please send an email to grapeshot@mq.edu.au and in the email write a short synopsis of: who you are, and what your work is about/showing. Indicate your interest to be published in the upcoming issue. We will get back to you about what form in which to send your work through.

• Be prepared to work with a design assistant or the Creatives Section Editor to make sure your work is published in the way most faithful to your intention!

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WORD LENGTH

 

Our word count is flexible but for a general guide:

• 1-page in our magazine = approximately 800 – 1000 words.

• 2-page spread = 1200 – 1800 words.

• 3-pages and above = over 2000 words. 

Send submissions to grapeshot@mq.edu.au

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*A reminder also that only Macquarie University students can contribute so please submit your articles using your Macquarie University student email in order to be eligible for publication.