Fiction allows readers to relate to place in new and nuanced ways. Authors such as Peter Carey, David Malouf, Venero Armano, Nick Earles, Krissy Kneen, and Rhys McAllister have shaped the way readers connect with, and imagine, Brisbane. Brisbane is a rapidly growing city. Spaces once associated with industry or recreation are being redeveloped into residential apartments or small housing blocks, particularly those in close proximity to the CBD. Inner city suburbs such as South Bank, Teneriffe, Paddington, West End, Kangaroo Point, Bulimba, Auchenflower, The Valley and New Farm are now being joined by The Barracks, Ballymore, the Albion Mill, Gasworks, and the Ekka grounds as residential opportunities.
In the wake of such changes, how will representations of Brisbane evolve? Will the traditional images of jacaranda lined streets and tin-roofed Queenslanders, with a mango tree and hills hoist in the backyard, make way for something else? As part of a project investigating urban planning and the gentrification of inner city landmarks, QUT researchers1 developed six characters to help inform the design of city apartments. The characters (described here) are grounded in data gathered from performance-based workshops that used creative character development activities.
Your task is to imagine how one of the six apartment-living characters might inhabit the city of Brisbane. Use the short story form to develop your chosen character: give them a name, a voice, a back-story and a narrative. Consider how your representation of Brisbane reflects changes in the city. Be creative in how you respond to the character descriptions; allow them to inspire rather than restrict you.
Six winners, i.e. one per character, will be chosen by a panel of three judges. The winners will receive $200 prize money and have the opportunity to further workshop and edit their story with the view of publishing as part of an anthology.
The competition is open to anyone, but if you are a QUT creative writing student
undertaking KWB101: Introduction to Creative Writing in semester one 2011, your short
story can be submitted as an alternative third assessment item. A criteria sheet for the unit is available on Blackboard. Please be aware that judging will occur separately to marking in KWB101; for example, a winning entry may not necessarily mean a high distinction. Competition closes 5pm Wednesday 8 June.
Submission Guidelines
Your short story:
- Can be any genre;
- Set in the past, present or future;
- Based on one of the six characters described here;
- The character’s residence should be within a five kilometre radius of Brisbane’s CBD, and specifically mention and/or describe the city or surrounding suburbs;
- 1500-2000 words;
- Not previously elsewhere (online or in print);
- Double spaced, with page numbers, 12 pt Times New Roman font.
- Stories not conforming to the criteria will not be considered for the competition.
How to Submit
If you are enrolled in KWB101 Introduction to Creative Writing:
Submit your story with relevant criteria sheet via Assignment Minder.In addition, please send an UNAMED copy of your story, with a signed and scanned entry form as a separate attachment to cifpg@qut.edu.au
OR
Send or drop off an UNAMED, printed copy of your story, with signed entry form to:
QUT Creative Industries PG office
Z6 101, Kelvin Grove 4059 Q
If you are NOT enrolled in KWB101 Introduction to Creative Writing:
Send an UNAMED copy of your story, with a signed and scanned entry form as a separate
attachment to cifpg@qut.edu.au
OR
Send or drop off a UNAMED, printed copy of your story with a signed entry form to:
QUT Creative Industries PG office
Z6 101, Kelvin Grove 4059 Q
Competition closes 5pm Wednesday 8 June.
If you have any questions, please contact Ass. Pro. Helen Klaebe (h.klaebe@qut.edu.au).
Download entry form >>
More information here.
