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.
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! However, please note that we don't publish poetry (small inclusions in larger prose works are allowed).
In terms of non-fiction, 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 non-fiction, please include the following:
- one draft chapter
- a table of contents
- a 500-word outline of the proposed work
- a brief author CV
GSP is also actively seeking submissions for our Work in Progress Blog (launching soon), which will be publishing extracts and short stories starting in September. If you have any work you’d like to share, please send it through via the dedicated WIP Submissions form (launching soon).
Thanks for your interest, we're looking forward to reading your submissions!
Note: Please send no more than two proposals. We’d love to read more of your work but we want to give each submission the time it deserves.
Grattan Street Press is seeking short stories and chapters/extracts from larger works for the Work in Progress (WIP) feature on our Publishing Blog! The WIP feature is a place for both emerging and established authors (that’s you!) to receive feedback from the public on anything still in development.
This is a practice that many celebrated authors have used to test out a wide range of elements, from writing style to points of view. Australian author Christos Tsiolkas published an early extract from The Slap in the literary journal Overland while he was still writing it, to gauge audience reactions to one of the book’s more controversial characters; the feedback he received helped shape that character into how he appears in the published novel.
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, send your work through! Accepted works will undergo a collaborative editorial process before being published on the blog.
For fiction, we’re looking for short stories and chapters/extracts from larger works, of any genre from literary fiction to fantasy. For non-fiction, we’re looking for chapters/extracts from larger works that explore contemporary social, political and cultural issues that resonate with a modern audience.
When submitting fiction, please include the following:
- a short story or chapter/extract of no more than 4500 words (less is fine!)
- a short summary of the complete work
- a brief author CV
When submitting non-fiction, please include the following:
- a chapter/extract of no more than 4500 words; please choose a chapter/extract that can stand on its own and that can be understood by the average layperson
- a table of contents
- a 500-word outline of the proposed work
- a brief author CV
Please note that acceptance of a WIP extract from a larger work does not equal acceptance of that larger work for full manuscript publication. We do not publish poetry (small inclusions in works primarily in prose are allowed) or erotica.
Please send no more than three proposals. We’d love to read more of your work but we want to give each submission the time it deserves!
Welcome to the MZ Blog!
The MZ Blog is a place for thoughtful reflections and think pieces that explore the lived realities of Gen Z and Millennials. We’re interested in what’s catching your attention. What can’t you stop noticing? What’s making you wonder?
We want to read pieces that start small but that seem to speak to something broader. Whether it’s a personal essay, a piece of investigative writing or a reflective take on something quietly shifting around you, we’re here for all curious, conversational writing that connects the dots and taps into what it actually feels like to be a young person right now.
Pieces should be between 500 and 1,500 words.
If you’re short on ideas, here’s some things we’ve been thinking about:
- AI: How are you experiencing AI and the way it’s changing things? This could be in your working life, at school or even socially. Is AI causing conflict between people who are for and against? Is AI creating a gulf or is it a tool for progress?
- The internet, technology & social media: What is it like to be part of the first generations who are growing up online? What is the relationship between your online persona and who you are in person? Has the constant presence of technology and social media hampered our ‘real life’ social relationships?
- Cultural & media criticisms: Let us know your take on the latest online/tik tok trend, Sydney Sweeney ad, sports or political happenings, or the newest show to take over streaming…
- Culture & identity: What are the consequences for how we build identity and community in the age of the personal brand? Is there a generational divide as to what constitutes ‘Aussie’ culture? Do you feel represented in Australian culture?
- Trending or niche media: Share your thoughts on any particular show/book/film/piece of media that’s taking over the zeitgeist at the moment. Why do you think that is? Is there a certain genre capturing our collective attention? What does it speak to? Is there an obscure show making a comeback, or that you can’t stop watching? What do you think about the supposed decline of media literacy? At what point does ‘just enjoying things’ become problematic? Why can’t we stop watching the latest episodes of Love island, even though we think they’re bad?
If you’re not sure if your idea is right for the blog - reach out! We’d love to hear about what’s got you thinking.
Bridget (MZ Blog Editor)
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!
Alessandra (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!
Rosie (Book Review Editor)
Book List
Fiction
- Stinkbug, Sinead Stubbins
- Crimson Light Polished Wood, Monica Raszewski
- The Immigrants, Moreno Giovannoni
- What Kept You? Raaza Jamshed
- Our New Gods, Thomas Vowles
- Wait Here, Lucy Nelson
- Lonely Mouth, Jacqueline Maley
- The Passenger Seat, Vijay Khurana
- Mother Tongue, Naima Brown
- Wild Dark Shore, Charlotte McConaghy
Non-Fiction
- Torn, Nicole Madigan
- Cult Bride, Liz Cameron
- Desire Paths, Megan Clement
- How to Dodge Flying Sandals, Daniel Nour
- Someone Like Me, Clem Bastow and Jo Case
Poetry
- In Your Dreams, Šime Knežević
- Not Telling, Alison J Barton
- Ritual, Sara M Saleh (ed.), Zainab Syed (ed.), Manal Younus (ed.)
- these memories require, Jacinta Le Plastrier
- Eclipse, Kirli Saunders