Grattan Street Press is a trade publisher based in Melbourne. A start-up press, we aim to publish a range of work, including contemporary literature, trade non-fiction, and to re-publish culturally valuable works that are out of print. The press is an initiative of the Publishing and Communications program in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne, and is staffed by graduate students, who receive hands-on experience of every aspect of the publication process.
The press is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to build long-term relationships within the Australian literary and publishing community. We also partner with community organisations in Melbourne and beyond to co-publish books that contribute to public knowledge and discussion.
Welcome to the MZ Blog, where we discuss the wonderfully unique world of Millennials and Gen Z!
If you’ve got something to say, then let yourself be heard. This space is for YOUR joys, YOUR woes and YOUR hot takes: tell us how YOU navigate this crazy world we live in.
Share your fresh and honest thoughts with us! Shoot us an email at mz@grattanstreetpress.com and tell us why your story is a must-read!
Feeling stuck and not sure what to write about?
Fret not! Check out our awesome prompt list below for some inspiration. Don’t hesitate to be bold, anecdotal and unapologetically frank—we love that.
Just remember—keep it snappy! We’re talking pieces between 500 and 1500 words long that pack a punch.
All your juicy and mind-shattering think pieces can be sent in via Submittable.
So, let’s hear it, then!
Kate (MZ Blog Editor)
Prompt list
- Embrace your inner geek! Talk to us about fandoms and nerd culture.
- What current trends and aesthetics are catching your attention?
- Why is it so much harder for Gen Zs and Millennials to land entry-level jobs?
- Tell us about your unique experiences, background and identity: What makes you you?
- How is AI changing your world?
- How are Millennials and Gen Z shaping political landscapes nationally and around the world?
- How would you describe Gen Z’s mindset in these uncertain times? What about Millennials?
- Has social media changed the way we consume books, TV and film? Are creative industries now reliant on social media?
- On media literacy and anti-intellectualism: At what point does ‘just enjoying things’ become problematic?
- Any advice for entering the ‘adult’ world of full-time work?
- What does the future of home ownership look like for Millennials and Gen Z?
- What is ‘girlhood’ according to social media?
- In what ways has social media facilitated or hampered conversations about gender and identity?
- How do Millennials and Gen Z deal with the world left behind by previous generations?
- Any words of advice for Gen Alpha?
Grattan Street Press is seeking manuscripts for publication. We are keen to publish daring new works that are intelligent and engage with a wide audience. We are especially interested in works that have a distinctive voice and unique stories to tell.
We are seeking both fiction and non-fiction of a wide variety including: short story collections, novellas, memoir, political and historical fiction. But if you have something brilliant hiding in your desk drawer that doesn’t fit that bracket, don’t let that deter you. Send it to us and see what happens.
In terms of nonfiction, we’re looking for well-written long-form work that explores contemporary social, political and cultural issues with insight and literary flair.
When submitting fiction, please include the following:
- the first three chapters of your manuscript (or a maximum excerpt of 12,000 words)
- a short summary of the complete work
- a brief author CV
When submitting nonfiction, please include the following:
- one draft chapter
- a table of contents
- a 500-word outline of the proposed work
- a brief author CV
Just a quick note that GSP is actively seeking short story submissions for our short story collection that will be published in the first semester of 2025, so there’s plenty of time to submit. If you have any work you’d like to share, please send it through!
It will be reviewed in January when the editorial office reopens. Looking forward to seeing your contributions.
Thanks for your interest.
Note: Please send no more than two proposals. We’d love to read more of your work but we don’t have the staff right now.
Do you have thoughts on books, reading, publishing or literary culture?
Maybe there’s something that makes your heart soar or your fists clench. Maybe there’s a new trend that needs talking about. Maybe you’ve got a story the world simply needs to know!
If so, come spark a conversation on our publishing blog!
We are looking for original blog post submissions between 500 and 1500 words long.
Keen to write but need some inspiration? Below is a list of prompts to get you going. Have your own idea? Email us your pitch – we’d love to hear it!
Submit your work via Submittable.
Pitches or any other questions? Here’s our email: website@grattanstreetpress.com
Good Luck!
Abbey (Publishing Blog Editor)
Prompt list
- The cost of living and buying books
- Physical books vs e-books vs audio books vs … ?
- $19.99 at Big W, $29.99 at Dymocks – what’s the deal?
- Book covers, designs and fonts
- The reading experience
- Social media and its influence on reading
- Why is the publishing industry important?
- Should books have age limits?
- Popularity of celebrity memoirs
- Moral issues happening in the industry
- The rise of new wave genres (e.g. sad girl lit)
- The cult of fancy coffee table books
- A look back at past publishing fads (e.g. adult colouring books)
- The influence of book accessories/merch
- Interview a professional in the industry
- Your experience in the industry
- Your favourite small publisher: what do they do well?
- Thoughts on book bans
- Using AI to write books
- Diversity in publishing
- Issues in academic publishing
- What’s happening in the webcomic and graphic novel scene?
Grattan Street Press is seeking enthusiastic writers to review contemporary works from talented Australian writers. We are looking for reviews of recent fiction, nonfiction or poetry which showcase the voices of Australian authors.
Formal reviews should be 500-800 words in length. Each review should follow a general structure which introduces the book and the author, summarises the plot in up to 200 words. The rest of the word count should focus on offering your perspective and analysis of the work. Your analysis is the part of the review which interests us most!
If you're stuck on which book to review, not to worry! We've included a list of titles which we would love to see reviewed. If you are interested in reviewing any of the titles on our list and would like to have your thoughts published on our site, please send your submissions for appraisal to Submittable.
Alternatively, if you have a contemporary Australian title in mind which is not on our prompt list, we welcome your pitch to: editorial@grattanstreetpress.com.
We look forward to reading your unique perspectives on the Australian literary scene.
Happy writing!
Ziyao (Book Review Editor)
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Fiction
- Translations, Jumaana Abdu
- The Burrow, Melanie Cheng
- The Thinning, Inga Simpson
- Rapture, Emily Maguire
- Theory & Practice, Michelle de Kretser
- Juice, Tim Winton
- Chinese Postman, Brian Castro
- The Bittersweet Bakery Cafe, Catherine Greer
- Sea Green, Barbara Hanrahan
- Mother Tongue, Naima Brown
Nonfiction
- Cactus Pear For My Beloved, Samah Sabawi
- Black Convicts, Santilla Chingaipe
- Näku Dhäruk The Bark Petitions: How the People of Yirrkala Changed the Course of Australian Democracy, Clare Wright
- John Berger and Me, Nikos Papastergiadis
Poetry
- Naag Mountain, Manisha Anjali
- rock flight, Hasib Hourani
- Holocene Pointbreaks, Jake Goetz
- The Prodigal, Suneeta Peres da Costa
- Tintinnabulum, Judith Beveridge