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.


Submit to MZ Blog Submissions

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 all YOUR dramatics: tell us how YOU navigate this crazy world we live in.

Share your fresh and honest takes 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 of 500 and 1500 words long that pack a punch.

All your juicy and mind-shattering pieces can be sent in via Submittable.

So, let’s hear it, then!

Prompt list

  • Embracing our inner geeks – everything about fandoms and nerd culture.
  • What trends and aesthetics are making you pause and think about our culture now?
  • On job market prerequisites: multiple degrees, social media followers, internships, and ten other kinds of experiences. Why must we work so much harder now to land an entry-level job?
  • Children of migrants – what are your experiences growing up in the liminal space between a migrant background and white Australian culture?
  • Is there any room in the creative world for AI, or is it all a slippery slope?
  • The role of millennials and Gen Z in shaping political landscapes.
  • Optimism or dread about the future. What is Gen Z’s mindset in an uncertain world? And how do millennials feel?
  • From Goodreads reading challenges to a slew of homogenous books made entirely of popular tropes, has social media changed how we consume books, and if so, how? Are the changes for the better or the worse? What are your thoughts on the increasing commodification of culture and the continual push toward mass marketing?
  • On the question of media literacy and the rise of anti-intellectualism: Are the curtains just blue? Should we just ‘let people enjoy things’?
  • Can millennials and Gen Z people expect a career in the arts? What should they expect when they expect an arts degree?
  • Entering the adult world – what surprised you in your first ‘adult’ job?
  • The cost-of-living crisis, skyrocketing rent prices, and no place to call home: what does the future of home ownership look like for millennials and Gen Z?
  • The ‘macho man’ and the ‘nice guy’ are two ends of the toxic masculinity spectrum. Let us discuss the patriarchy.
  • How much ‘girl dinner’ is too much, and what does it mean to be a ‘girl’ in the first place?
  • Is it so much harder to be a young person nowadays? How do millennials and Gen Z deal with the world left behind by previous generations? What does generational trauma look like to you?
Submit to Manuscript Submissions

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.

Submit to Publishing Blog Submissions

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

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?
Submit to Book Review Submissions

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!

Tom and Finn (Literary Review Editors) 

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Fiction

  • We All Lived in Bondi Then - Georgia Blain
  • All the Words We Know - Bruce Nash
  • Povo - Adam Novaldy Anderson (ed.)
  • My Brilliant Sister - Amy Brown
  • Jade and Emerald - Michelle See-Tho
  • The Honey Eater - Jessie Tu
  • Woo Woo - Ella Baxter
  • The Echoes - Evie Wyld

Nonfiction

  • The Lucky Ones - Melinda Ham
  • The Pulling - Adele Dumont
  • Black Witness: The Power of Indigenous Media - Amy McQuire
  • Because I Love Him - Ashlee Donohue
  • The Men Who Killed the News - Eric Beecher
  • Repeat: A Warning from History - Dennis Glover

Poetry

  • Gawimarra Gathering - Jeanine Leane
  • Apollo Bay - William Fox
  • Refugia - Elfie Shiosaki
  • mark the dawn - Jazz Money
Grattan Street Press