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Spilled Ink Newsletter: Issue #1
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Hello Dear Reader,
Welcome to the first-ever issue of the newly rebranded
Spilled Ink Newsletter,
presented by ScratchThat Magazine!
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Spilled Ink is an online newsletter and directory for writers presented by ScratchThat Magazine. Our purpose is to provide writers with one convenient location to find weekly updates, advice, and fresh content between issues of the magazine.
Not only will this newsletter deliver the latest ScratchThat updates directly to your inbox, but it will also act as a resource hub for all things relating to the local literary scene. Each week you can expect current information on submission dates, events, and creative opportunities both within the QUT community and the local Brisbane cultural scene.
We will also provide bonus content such as interviews, writing tips, and flash fiction prompts to inspire your creativity. Subscribers will also have the option to be automatically entered into Spilled Ink’s monthly book giveaways, and will have access to exclusive flash fiction competitions every fortnight.
In line with ScratchThat, Spilled Ink is committed to promoting and nurturing local arts and culture. Once again, welcome to Spilled Ink. We can’t wait to embark on this new journey with you.
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Hi! I'm Willow, a third-year creative writing student, and author of fantasy and contemporary fiction. I'm currently working on the ScratchThat newsletter and as Secretary of the QUT Literary Salon, so you might see me around the literary scene. In my (limited) free time, I love reading books, watching Pride & Prejudice (2005 obviously), and playing with my two pups, Tuppence & Bluebell.
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Hi everyone! I'm Jasmine and I am currently in my third year of my creative writing degree at QUT. Most of the time you can find me with a very large oat milk latte, rewatching New Girl and Gilmore Girls, or reading a trashy romance book. I love writing crime and mystery short story narratives, and am currently trying (and somewhat struggling) to write a novel-length new adult crime story.
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Hey all! I’m Grace, a third-year creative writing student, QUT Lit Salon’s 2022 Co-President, and Brisbane-based fiction writer. I am a lover of strong tea with milk, just about any kind of novel I can get my hands on, and my growing collection of tarot cards. I can be found most places online @graceharveywrites.
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Hello! I’m Téa, aspiring fantasy and contemporary fiction writer, and current third-year creative writing student. This semester I am part of the ScratchThat newsletter team along with the rest of these incredibly talented writers! In my spare time, I don’t do much else other than read and write, really. I figured, why not just make it a career then! I’m so excited to be part of this team and for everything that is on its way.
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Artworks by Catherine Lirakusuma
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Local Events
Mirandi Riwoe - The Burnished Sun @Avid Reader
When: 1st of April, 6:30pm @Avid Reader
Award-winning author Mirandi Riwoe in conversation with Fiona Stager about her new novel The Burnished Sun both in-store and online.
Ruckus Brisbane Wham! Bam! Cabaret Slam!
When: 12th of April, 6:30pm @The Bearded Lady
Ruckus Brisbane presents a slam night like no other! Showcasing performances by eight amazing artists doing dance, circus, poetry, music, or whatever they want. It's a good night to engage with some local, Brisbane artists, enjoy some drinks, and be unofficial judges!
Texta book club: Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray
When: 12th of April, 6:15pm @QUT Art Museum
Texta is no ordinary book club; it's for people who love art. To coincide with the exhibition Looking Glass: Judy Watson and Yhonnie Scarce at QUT Art Museum, we will be discussing Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by award-winning Wiradjuri author, Dr Anita Heiss.
Open Submissions
QUT Literary April Salon FOLKLORE
Closes: April 15th
The QUT Literary Salon is a monthly salon run by students for students. Submissions for their April Salon FOLKLORE are now open!
The Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction 2022
Closes: April 15th
The 2022 Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction is accepting entries of creative, insightful fiction up to 2000 words that engage with the theme AFTERMATH and is open to all women and nonbinary writers.
Voiceworks 2022 Winter Issue GLEAM
Closes: April 17th
Voiceworks Magazine are now open for submissions to issue 127: GLEAM for writers under 25.
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WRITING TIP #1
Grappling with the dreaded writer’s block? Us too! Don’t worry, every writer and creative goes through the same struggle, but we’re here to help you. Welcome to Spilled Ink’s Tip Jar, a codex of our team’s best advice and tricks to tackle any writing-related query.
Writer’s block is never easy, and always decides to rear its ugly head at the most inconvenient of times. Unfortunately, it happens to the best of us, but this also means that there are lots of different techniques to overcome it.
I suggest freeing yourself from self-imposed restraints. An avid planner myself, I find that I lose motivation to write when sticking to a strict plot, and often find myself disappointed with the end result. Sometimes writing straight from the brain onto the page can be freeing, if not very concise, but that’s okay too! The idea here isn’t to limit yourself, but to push past the block and let the creativity flow right out onto the page. It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be there.
So, next time you’re struggling to find the motivation to write, take an idea and run with it. Can’t think of an idea? That’s okay – Spilled Ink has that covered too! Keep an eye out for our writing prompts next week.
— Téa
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Willow
Reading: Do the subtitles on Bridgerton S2 count?
Listening: Wicked Game by James Vincent McMorrow
Viewing: Bridgerton S2 and Pride & Prejudice. I'd say I was in a Regency phase but this is my constant state.
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Jasmine
Reading: The only thing I'm reading right now is my own writing, and then proceeding to hate it, and delete it all.
Listening: Nail Tech by Jack Harlow
Viewing: Bridgerton S2 and then re-watching seasons 1 and 2 almost immediately after finishing the first watch.
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Téa
Reading: Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Listening: The Kiss of Venus by Paul McCartney and Dominic Fike
Viewing: Fresh on Disney+, and obviously Bridgerton S2
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Grace
Reading: Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors (unhinged women, unhealthy dynamics, may favs)
Listening: King by Florence + The Machine (I'm just holding out for the whole album)
Viewing: I finally finished Bridgerton S1 (on to S2 next)
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Meet our Featured Artist
Catherine Lirakusuma
Catherine is the incredible artist who drew the amazing portraits of our team that you'll see every week, so we thought it was only fitting that she be our first-ever Artist Spotlight.
Tell us a little bit about you.
Hi, I’m Catherine, but you can call me Cat. I’m currently a third-year fine arts student majoring in Animation and minoring in Graphic Design. As an art student, it might be obvious that I love art! But when I’m not drawing something, I love listening to music, playing games, hanging out with friends, finding good food to eat, or finding a new hobby to explore.
How would you describe your type of art?
Probably instinctive and “in the moment”. I say this because, although I do make sure to apply my understanding of art theory and such, I feel that I don’t really have a certain style I stick to. I tend to find myself drawing things in a style that I feel suits the subject, or in a way that just reflects how I feel at that moment. With that said, I really love experimenting with styles; particularly fun quick sketches, anime styles, semi-realism, and painterly-like styles.
How long have you been doing your type of art?
I’ve been drawing for as long as I remember, but I’d say I started taking it more seriously around six years ago.
What inspires you?
I gain a lot of inspiration from flowers, anime, games, and pretty much anything interesting I come across every day. Fandoms are also a big influence on my art as I love drawing things and people I take interest in. Lately, I’ve also been inspired by Baroque era art, which encouraged me to study and improve on my paintings more!
Where can people find you?
You can find my work in my portfolio:
https://catherines-portfolio-38c709.webflow.io/
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Want more? You can find ScratchThat on the platforms below.
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