Westerly Magazine

24/06/2026

Join Will Yeoman at the City of Perth Library on July 1st in conversation with Bernice Barry author!

The writer and historian will be discussing her new book, 'The Names of a Hare'. Set in Cornwall in 1628, a young girl guards a dangerous secret: she can leave her body and fly. Steeped in herbal lore and forbidden spells, the girl becomes a woman as whispers of witchcraft across the land turn deadly. When witchfinder Matthew Hopkins sets out to hunt her down, their meeting will change the course of history.

Learn more and RSVP for free here:

Not a Book Club is a new author in-conversation series for readers who love stories, ideas, and conversation — without the homework. Hosted by the...

23/06/2026

It's time to whip out your best haikus! The Haiku on Hay Poetry Competition is open from 1 to 31 July!

🤩✒️Our Haiku on Hay Competition returns in July 2026! The competition runs from 1 to 31 July 2026, and you can find the details on our website: https://visitperth.com/events/haiku-on-hay-poetry-competition-2026
Want to get writing? Join our haiku writing workshops for adults, children or young adults, and discover the art of saying more with less. ❤🌊✒️

Adults: https://visitperth.com/events/haiku-poetry-workshop-with-rose-van-son
Children: https://visitperth.com/events/haiku-poetry-childrens-workshop
Young adults: https://visitperth.com/events/haiku-poetry-young-adult-workshop

17/06/2026

🚨 Friday night book launch alert 📚

Head over to Pigface Bookstore this Friday June 19th from 6pm to celebrate the launch of 'The Vo**ur', a new anthology from local author Christopher Konrad!

'The Vo**ur' is a collection of short stories inhabited by people who are, in their own ways, undergoing a quest—whether running to or from love, from themselves and others, or running towards better versions of themselves. They inhabit the worlds of literature and art, prisons, hospitals, war or back water towns. History, rats and crows are not optional.

The launch is free to attend but please RSVP here: https://l1nq.com/jwl8184

16/06/2026

Hem: a night of response is back at Fremantle Buffalo Club Inc. 7pm this Thursday June 18th for the first time in 2026!

The award-winning poet Lisa Collyer Poet will headline the evening, joined by other wonderful responders.

Tickets $7.50 for members and $10 for non-members.

Find Lisa's poem 'How to embrace a Quenda' alongside an interview between her and Hem Poetics in the Fremantle Herald Official here: https://heraldonlinejournal.com/2026/05/22/hem-talks-to-poet-lisa-collyer/

12/06/2026

Here's Westerly Magazine's review of the winner of the 2025 WA Premier's Book of the Year Award—'G-d, Sleep, and Chaos' by Alan Fyfe (2024).

12/06/2026

The Hope Prize is open for entries until 31 October!

The Hope Prize is an international short story competition seeking powerful, original stories of hope, courage or resilience.

Stories are to be 5000 words maximum and written in English.

2026 submissions close: 11.59pm AEDT (Melbourne, Australia time) 31 October 2026.

Learn more and submit here: https://shorturl.at/IqLqw

11/06/2026

Applications are now open for The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas' landmark writing program, The Next Chapter!

The Next Chapter program elevates Australian stories that aren’t being told and nurtures a new wave of writers to tell them. Each successful applicant will receive a $15,000 stipend and be paired with a handpicked mentor to work closely with them over a twelve-month period as they progress a major writing project.

Participants will also receive the opportunity to attend a residency at Varuna, The National Writers' House and attend an end-of year publishing intensive at The Wheeler Centre.

Of the writers selected, there will be one fellowship place dedicated specifically to a poet, The Malcolm Robertson Fellowship.

Closing 31 July. More here: https://shorturl.at/lUixz

10/06/2026

Head over to the State Library of Western Australia on Friday 19 June for the launch of their newest exhibition, X-Press Magazine: 41 Years on the Streets!

On 21 June 1985, the first printed edition of X-Press Magazine hit Perth’s streets, going from humble beginnings as a small but plucky guide to Perth’s nightlife, to a highly influential bible for all things music, art, fashion, food and drink in Perth.

Celebrate forty-one years of X-Press Magazine's cultural impact and legacy in Perth with an electrifying panel conversation between journalists, musicians and those closest to the magazinen and enjoy their war stories from the trenches of rock ‘n’ roll and print journalism!

The evening will also include musical interludes from Abbe May.

Tickets $15. Book yours here: https://shorturl.at/FF3SU

05/06/2026

ICYMI: Our review of the multi-award-winning 'G-d, Sleep, and Chaos' (Gazebo Books) by Alan Fyfe - author is live on the Editor's Desk!

Reviewer Talya Rubin writes:

'At times gritty and tongue-in-cheek, the poems about working class labour, drug addiction, grief and death are often contrasted with awe and spiritual grace. It is this balancing of opposites, this juggling of heaven and earth (with a touch of hell), that makes the collection vivid in its embodied navigation of the metaphysical.'

Find the review on our website here: shorturl.at/SvDU4

04/06/2026

Applications are open for the 2027 KSP Writers' Centre's residency program!

There are three categories of residency (upcoming, emerging, and established), open to Australian writers who are current KSP members.

Applications close: 30 June.

Benefits:
—Paid residency with CV credit and promotional exposure.
—Dedicated time and space to write in a peaceful, inspirational setting.
—Access to Katharine Susannah Prichard’s historic studio, a library and heritage walking trails, and WIFI with complimentary printing and writing groups.
—Opportunity to sell books at KSP events (self-managed sales).

Categories:
Pioneer (Upcoming) Residency (applications from writers aged under thirty-five strongly encouraged)
​—For writers yet to publish their first full-length manuscript or collection.
​—Minimum two positions available.
​—Stipend of $500.
​—Two-week residency.

Black Opal (Emerging) Residency
​—For writers with one or two full-length publications or collections.
​—Minimum two positions available.
​—Stipend of $1000.
​—Two-week residency.

Golden Mile (Established) Residency
​—For writers with more than two full-length publications or collections.
​—One position available.
​—Stipend of $2000.
​—Three- to four-week residency.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and regionally-based writers are strongly encouraged to apply.

Learn more here: https://shorturl.at/TR5OK