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APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED






Stories of Collision

What happens when objects collide? There is the moment before, the impact and the aftermath, in which a series of energetic exchanges occur as forces ricochet, merge, consume, alter, fracture and shatter one another. 

As the moon affects the tide, collisions govern the way our world functions, from emergence through to collapse. Collisions occur in the physical realm, the political, the spiritual and beyond, through time, space, earth, bodies, culture, technology, ideals.

From the scope of a single-celled organism to vast galaxies, violent conflicts to a delicate kiss – the impact of one narrative, one character, one entity upon another as they cross paths can be at once elemental and monumental, like the devastating hurricane created from the flutter of a butterfly’s tiny, proverbial wings.

Soft Stir is calling for…

Soft Stir is calling for creative responses to our upcoming print publication, Issue 03: Stories of Collision. Whether you’re a poet, essayist, short story writer, interviewer, academic, photographer, illustrator, 3D artist, musician, sculptor, painter, all or nothing of the above – we accept proposals and finished pieces for written, artistic and cross-disciplinary works that respond to the theme.

We strongly encourage applications from First Nations peoples, people living with a disability, people from LGBTQIA+ communities, people based in regional and remote Australia, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. We welcome those who have and haven’t been published.

About Soft Stir

Soft Stir is an independent, Sydney-based publication examining art, music, culture, and philosophy through the eyes of emerging ‘Australian’ creatives. We believe in carving out an inclusive space for reflection, experimentation and creative expression to help emerging artists not only create work, but to see it shine, published and appreciated by the wider creative community.

What it’s like to work alongside us

Selected pieces will have the opportunity for collaboration with our creative and editorial team, who offer their support in order to bring your story to life – be it through small tweaks or a more involved editorial process. Throughout, our aim in supporting you is to help strike the ideal balance between your creative expression, the overarching theme of ‘Collision’ and the overall editorial vision.

The specifics

Word limit
Written pieces are subject to a 2500-word limit.

Applications close 
Sunday 27th of November, 2022, 11:59 PM, AEST.

Acceptance
Successful applicants will be notified by W/C Monday 12th December.

Deadlines
For both written and visual pieces, first drafts are due Tuesday 31st January 2023. We will then work with you to finalise the piece.

Remuneration 
All pieces are paid. Fees are determined based on the nature and length of the intended piece, and are communicated upon submission acceptance. We are an independently run organisation who try our hardest to pay contributors in a way that is both fair and realistic, while incentivising the creation of great work.

Selection criteria

When evaluating each proposal, we’ll consider the following:

  1. To what extent does the piece respond to the notion of ‘Collision’ in an interesting way?

  2. Is the proposed work critical: timely or timeless, reflective, research-based or relevant?

  3. Does the proposed work experiment with ideas or form? Does it challenge the norm?

Questions

If you have any questions (big or small), please email them to hello@softstir.co or DM us on instagram.

If you’d prefer to email your application, send the following through to hello@softstir.co

  1. Your name and/or artist name
  2. Your pronouns
  3. Location and postcode – traditional place names welcome
  4. Medium
  5. Artist bio (max 200 words)
  6. Proposal summary – please outline the details of your proposed contribution (max 250 words) OR concept summary for finished work(s)
  7. Work – for proposals, please attach at least one example of a work sample you're most proud of that's relevant to this application. For submissions, please attach your piece(s)
  8. Your website (if applicable)
  9. Your Instagram (if applicable)

We look forward to seeing what ‘collision’ means to you.
Soft Stir x



Soft Stir acknowledges the ancestral owners of the unceded lands, oceans and skies around which we work, reflect and create. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Always was, always will be.