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Submitting to black&write!
The black&write! Fellowship competition accepts online submissions and hard copy submissions. Here's what you need to know when submitting your manuscript.
If you have any questions about submitting please email us at Indigenous.writing@slq.qld.gov.au or call us on 07 3842 9985
The black&write! Fellowship competition asks writers to tell us about their manuscript.
In your submission to black&write!, we'd love to see writers include an overview that:
- is approximately 100-150 words
- tells us why you wrote your story
- outlines the plot (beginning, middle, end) OR the main themes and concepts if it is a collection of poems/short stories
- mentions any published books similar to the story you are entering
- anything else you think we should know about your story
Before submitting to black&write!, we suggest reading through your manuscript carefully to make sure it’s in the best shape it can be and tells the story you want. It is not necessary to get your manuscript professionally edited before entering the black&write! Fellowship competition. If your manuscript is selected, you’ll go through the editing process with us!
black&write! doesn’t offer individual editing services outside of the black&write! competition and publishing partnerships. To find editing services and more information you can check out the below:
Many writers centres will also offer manuscript assessments and editing options.
Each state has writing centres that offer opportunities and advice for writers. They may have short courses, mentorship opportunities, reading and writing groups or prizes.
- Queensland Writers Centre
- Writing NSW
- Writers Victoria
- Writers SA
- Writing WA
- TasWriters
- Northern Territory Writers Centre
Other helpful organisations:
- First Nations Australia Writers Network (FNAWN)
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
- Kill Your Darlings (KYD)
- The Wheeler Centre
- Varuna: The National Writers’ House
- Australian Society of Authors
- The Copyright Agency
If you have any more questions feel free to contact us at Indigenous.Writing@slq.qld.gov.au.

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Kill Your Darlings
black&write! has partnered with Kill Your Darlings to help create more publication opportunities for First Nations writers. Check out the below pieces that have been published by Kill Your Darlings and edited by one of the black&write! Junior Editors.
- Water is Life and Life is Finite by Natalie Cromb
- Australia’s Double Standards on Statues and Sacred Sites by Patrick Mercer
- Why Culturally Aware Reviews Matter by Lisa Fuller
Griffith Review
black&write! has also partnered with Griffith Review to give our editor interns and junior editors further training and experience. This partnership involves getting insight into how Griffith Review works and how to edit shorter pieces of work.
If you’d like to know more about the editing internship with black&write!, have a look here.
To submit to Griffith Review, check out their submissions information here.