Above Water Written Submission Guidelines
Above Water is a joint literary anthology and arts project by Farrago Magazine, UMSU Creative Arts & Southbank. Through its multimodal workshop program and exhibition, it seeks to encourage student engagement in the arts and provide a space for emerging artists and writers to develop their craft. This year, its theme is crisis.
The following set of guidelines are intended as a non-exhaustive framework to be referred to by prospective contributors to the Above Water anthology.
Direct all submissions to abovewater@farragomagazine.com.
Submissions deadline: 20th of July
Written forms:
1. Prose and short-form writing: Short stories, creative non-fiction & microfiction. Submissions limited to 2000 words.
2. Scripts: Theatre or screen scripts. Formatted as per standard Australian screen / dramatic conventions. Submissions limited to 2000 words.
3. Poetry: Poems with no limitations on style or substance. Visual poetry is encouraged. Submissions limited to 80 lines.
4. Lyrics: Entire songs or excerpts. Limited to 80 lines.
Notes on theme:
1. The Above Water 2026 theme is “Crisis”. This theme is both broad and unrestricted, and submissions do not necessarily have to exist within its boundaries.
2. Submitted work can respond to this theme in whatever medium and capacity deemed fit by writers and artists.
3. For more information and inspiration see our instagram @abovewateranthology
Submission guidelines:
1. Submissions must be the work of a University of Melbourne community member (student, staff, alumni, etc.).
2. Submissions must be received in a google or word doc format.
3. Writers submitting their work to the anthology should be prepared for an ongoing collaborative process with both the Above Water creative team and Above Water subeditors.
4. All submissions must be previously unpublished work