Westerly Magazine

18/12/2024

✨ Season's greetings! 🎄

We are taking a little break over the holidays and will be returning on Monday, 13 January.

Thank you to each and every contributor who trusted us with their work in 2024 and to every reader who enjoyed that work!

Thank you for another excellent year, in which we published print issue Westerly 69.1 as well as released two new Online Special Issues, free for all to download.

Print issue 69.2 is forthcoming, and can be expected in early 2025. Watch this space!

We wish you all a wonderful festive period.

13/12/2024

Our final book review of the year is now ready for your reading pleasure on the Editor's Desk!

Rachel Watts reviews Tracy Ryan's ‘The Queen’s Apprenticeship’ (Transit Lounge), a tale that follows two women from different worlds in Renaissance France.

'The novel [...] captures the experiences of gender and social change in the halls of power and on the roads of the French cities and countryside in an occasionally dizzying number of voices, written works and anecdotes.'

Read it on our website here: https://shorturl.at/f3YGf

12/12/2024

All of us at Westerly are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of Brenda Walker, who died in an accident earlier this week.

Brenda was an integral and beloved member of the Western Australian writing community and will be missed by many. The Westerly team are especially grateful for her contributions to the Magazine over the years, as writer, editor, advisor and colleague. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to her husband, Alex, and to her son, Tom.

Writing on Facebook, Alan Fyfe shared these words by Brenda, from ‘Reading by Moonlight’:

We each have one life, one share of action and vision and money; a single life for all our speech and thought, our decent gestures and the decisions that might undo us, our welcome or unwanted love, our parties that may or may not come off. One life to satisfy our vast and human sense of voyaging. With the right books we find out what imaginary strangers have done with their share of this amazing thing, life.

They seem especially poignant today. Vale Brenda Walker.

06/12/2024

Enjoy this book review with your Friday afternoon cuppa!

The poems in 'ICAROS' (Vagabond Press) by Tamryn Bennett, illustrated by Jacqueline Cavallaro, are offered as rituals for remembering nature, what we are made of and in turn what makes us.

Reviewer Angela Aris writes:

'You get out what you put in when you read 'ICAROS'; careful engagement with the poetry is essential if you want to come away with a fulfilling reading experience. The collection narrativises Bennett’s search for meaning as she journeys through and interacts with different environments, and the resulting poetry is down to earth (so to speak)'.

Read it on the Editor's Desk here: https://shorturl.at/e1536

04/12/2024

Aspiring comic artists, here is a masterclass for you!

The award-winning Isobelle Carmody is presenting a masterclass on writing graphic novels on 16 January at State Library of Western Australia!

This workshop will introduce anyone wanting to foray into the world of words and images to the many different ways words can be enhanced by images. Those attending will learn how to create images that work even if they (think they) can't draw, and they will come away with a basic understanding of how a graphic novel works.

Learn more and book your ticket here:

Get tickets on Humanitix - Masterclass - The Graphic Novel Writing Project with Isobelle Carmody hosted by Writing WA Inc. Geographe Room, Ground Floor, State Library of Western Australia, 25 Francis St, Perth WA 6000, Australia. Thursday 16th January 2025. Find event information.

03/12/2024

ICYMI: 'Approaching the Ocean', a prose poem by Paul Hetherington from OSI16: Oceans is available to read on the Editor's Desk!

'The palm of your hand imprints the sand and presses grains on my shoulder. The Indian Ocean washes our bodies. Our infant daughter wakes every few hours and her nuzzling cries clamber in dreams. You place oily hands on her downy body.'

Read 'Approaching the Ocean' in full here: https://shorturl.at/uv5vS
Download OSI16 in full here: https://shorturl.at/tNmWb

02/12/2024

ICYMI: The book launch for 'The Moment of the Essay: Australian letters and the personal essay' by Daniel Juckes is tomorrow, Tuesday 3 December at UWAP's Love House!

Edited by Sarah Collins and Tony Hughes-d'Aeth, this is the second in UWA Publishing's Vignettes series which is aimed at sharing the knowledges that are emerging in the contemporary university and that consider the complexities of modern life.

'The Moment of the Essay' will be launched from 5pm at the UWA Publishing courtyard, Love House on Tuesday, 3 December.

The evening will feature an introduction by Tony Hughes-d'Aeth and a conversation between Daniel and Rachel Robertson, followed by book sales and signings. Light refreshments will be provided.

Attendance is free but please RSVP here: https://shorturl.at/NJb3H

29/11/2024

Head along for a free workshop tonight at Centre for Stories on mastering creative research with former Westerly Writers' Development Program participant, Ana Brawls!

This insightful, free workshop is designed for writers who are new to research or those seeking fresh approaches to integrating research into their creative process.

Ana will use her writing process and research to demonstrate how to:

· Prepare and design research for creative work.
· Develop methods for collating information.
· Apply the findings into your work.
· Incorporate lessons learned and the serendipity in coming across information.
· Develop a research practice which suits your work.

This workshop is at 6:30pm tonight at Centre for Stories. RSVP to secure your place here: https://shorturl.at/Y6HsU

Read Ana's work in Westerly here: https://shorturl.at/Ttspx

Are you a writer looking to incorporate research into your creative work? Join us for an insightful free workshop led by Ana Brawls. This workshop is perfect for writers who are new to research or those seeking fresh approaches to integrating research into their creative process.

28/11/2024

Head to The Art Gallery of Western Australia - AGWA 6pm tonight, Thursday 28 November to hear the award-winning Kirsten Han's lecture on human rights!

Han, whose advocacy and activism highlights how personal stories and writing can lead to social reform, will talk about stories as a form of citizenship. Become inspired to use your words to change and reframe pressing societal issues.

Brought to you by Centre for Stories, tickets are pay-what-you-feel starting from $20, with a student concession rate of $12.

Learn more and book your ticket on the Centre for Stories website here: https://shorturl.at/zrPk2

27/11/2024

Read Paul Hetherington's prose poem, 'Approaching the Ocean', from OSI16: Oceans on the Editor's Desk!

'Cumbrous feeling gathers and dissolves; days are as opaque, like an abstract image. We face the ocean; behind us are houses, a road we know well, a shop that sells hand-me-down clothes.'

Read the full work here: https://shorturl.at/1ykSg
And remember, you can download OSI16 in full here: https://shorturl.at/tNmWb

20/11/2024

Here's a poem from our latest Online Special Issue (OSI16): Oceans for you to read on the Editor's Desk!

‘Drowning (At the Mouth)’ is one of two poems in this Issue by Stephen Chinna.

'where standing there solo
in trousers and singlet
a scarecrow fisherman
a longline in water
a lean smoke in mouth
nonchalantly watches me
sweep past through the chop
head bobbing arms flailing
no doubt hoping
I won’t disturb his fishing
by snagging his line
or drowning or something'

Read the entire poem on our website here: https://shorturl.at/uv5vS
And to read Stephen's other poem, ‘Orange Grey Whales (BOOM)’, as well as the other excellent writing in OSI16, download it in full here: https://shorturl.at/49vDh

19/11/2024

Here's a free workshop on 27 November at State Library of Western Australia presented by the one and only Scott-Patrick Mitchell!

Join award-winning poet SPM for a free poetry workshop catered specifically to the LGBTQI+ community which explores, celebrates and honours our obsession with the beach and magnificent Australian coastline. You’ll be swept away, marvel at beachcombing, dive deep into Perth Canyon and write in response to climate change and how it will shape the future. Open to LGBTQI+ poets of all ages and abilities.

This workshop is limited to twelve spots only, so be quick to register your attendance! Visit: https://shorturl.at/OX5Rl

If you'd like to read some of SPM's writing in Westerly, find it here: https://shorturl.at/odsCf

Get tickets on Humanitix - Free Workshop: Q***r Coastal Poetics with Scott-Patrick Mitchell hosted by Writing WA Inc. Geographe Room, Ground Floor, State Library of Western Australia, 25 Francis St, Perth WA 6000, Australia. Wednesday 27th November 2024. Find event information.

18/11/2024

What an excellent write up on Daniel Juckes' 'The Moment of the Essay', the second book to be released in UWA Publishing's Vignettes series.

Don't forget to join us for the launch event on Tuesday, 3 December from 5pm for a 5:30pm start at UWAP's Love House Courtyard!

One of the series' editors, Tony Hughes-d'Aeth, will introduce the evening followed by a conversation between Rachel Robertson and Daniel that is sure to be riveting.

There will be book sales, signings, and light refreshments will be provided.

It's free to attend but essential to RSVP. Learn more and please register your attendance here: https://shorturl.at/NJb3H

If you'd like to learn more about the Vignettes series, visit: https://shorturl.at/IavWb

We are living in the moment of the essay and a new book examines the strategies the form offers for reflection and sense-making.

15/11/2024

ICYMI: Read ‘Fencing Lessons with Hermaphroditic Flatworms’ by Prema Arasu from Westerly Online Special Issue (OSI16): Oceans on the Editor's Desk!

'Soon enough, despite the masks, I can tell who is on each piste by their shoes and socks and height and by the way they move. My socks and shoes are white. Fencing is the only time I ever wear white. The white symbolises an ongoing willingness to learn.'

To read Prema's work in full, visit: https://shorturl.at/ts6EU

If you haven't yet, download OSI16 in full here: https://shorturl.at/49vDh

15/11/2024

The second in UWA Publishing's Vignettes series, 'The Moment of the Essay: Australian letters and the personal essay', is by Westerly's own Daniel Juckes and you're invited to the book launch!

Edited by Sarah Collins and Tony Hughes-d'Aeth, the Vignettes series is aimed at sharing the knowledges that are emerging in the contemporary university and that consider the complexities of modern life

'The Moment of the Essay' will be launched from 5pm at the UWA Publishing courtyard, Love House on Tuesday, 3 December.

The evening will feature an introduction by Tony Hughes-d'Aeth and a conversation between Daniel and Rachel Robertson, followed by book sales and signings. Light refreshments will be provided.

Attendance is free but please RSVP here: https://shorturl.at/NJb3H

14/11/2024

ICYMI: This year's PEN Perth Day of the Imprisoned Writer lecture will be presented by Sisonke Msimang 6pm Friday at State Library of Western Australia!

The Day of the Imprisoned Writer is an international day to support writers who resist repression of the basic human right to freedom of expression and who stand up to attacks made against their writing.

Learn more and book here: https://shorturl.at/hlQ8m

13/11/2024

Today on the Editor's Desk we're excited to share with you a work of creative nonfiction from OSI16: Oceans, our recent collaboration with The UWA Oceans Institute!

‘Fencing Lessons with Hermaphroditic Flatworms’ by OSI16 guest editor Prema Arasu is a fascinating blend of fencing, marine life, biology, history, gender, and feminism (to name only a few themes!) packaged into a wonderful read.

'After every lesson I shed my whites and find pinpoint bruises on the inside of my right arm and the outside of my right leg. Blood seeps out of broken capillaries and spills into the surrounding tissue. These love-bites are red with a purple halo. They blossom blue-green as haemoglobin is broken down into biliverdin, which is then metabolised into sickly yellow bilirubin and, finally, brownish hemosiderin, before fading away.'

To read this full piece on the Editor's Desk, visit: https://shorturl.at/ts6EU
And remember, you can download OSI16 in its entirety here: https://shorturl.at/49vDh

12/11/2024

ICYMI: The latest book review to be found on Westerly's Editor's Desk is of 'Greater City Shadows', a short story collection by Laurie Steed published by UWA Publishing!

'It’s Steed’s gift for the unexpected that gives his collection its edge—even for making observations that nobody would think of, but that simultaneously make perfect sense when you really consider them. This is partly a skill with language and partly a tendency to think outside the box, and it makes these stories brilliantly original.'

Read it here: https://shorturl.at/TxolB