dSCRIBE
dSCRIBE 19 Submissions now open
Part of our annual creative writing program, inSITU, dSCRIBE is Darebin's very own print publication. This annual literary magazine publishes all forms of creative writing (including but not limited to fiction, poetry, short stories, journalistic pieces, creative non-fiction) from writers living, working or studying within the City of Darebin.
This year we’ll be publishing dSCRIBE 19, edited by Adalya Nash Hussein with cover artwork by Ben Juers. The theme of dSCRIBE 19 is 'Point'.
“Recent issues of dSCRIBE have seen writers following ‘Desire Lines’ and ‘Spiralling’ into the abyss, but now we’re getting straight to the ‘Point’.
Point as in Power____. Point as in ‘It’s rude to ____’. Point as in ‘What is the ____ ?’.
Writing that is purposeful, polemic and sharp (or at least textured). Put on a party hat and a pair of poulaines. Find where X marks the spot and describe it in terms of latitude and longitude, or GPS co-ordinates, or the Jordan Transverse Mercator. Make an obelisk, an asterisk, a shopping list. Consider the tip of the iceberg.
These are all just potential points of departure, it’s up to you to find the endpoint.”
— Adalya Nash Hussein, dSCRIBE 19 Editor
Selected entries to dSCRIBE will go on to win the 2026 Darebin Mayor’s Writing Awards. The issue will be published and launched in September 2026.
Entries are now open, and close on Sunday 17 May, 2026. You’ll find submission guidelines, eligibility information, and FAQs below.
While submissions are open, we hope that you’ll make the most of the FREE inSITU Workshop Series to work on making your submissions for dSCRIBE the best they can be.
Make sure you follow us on Instagram @darebin_arts and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date!
Submit entry
Eligibility Criteria
- Authors must live, work, study or play in the City of Darebin.
- Darebin Council Employees, including casuals, are not eligible for the Darebin Mayor’s Writing Award, but will be considered for publication in dSCRIBE.
- Authors must be 18 years of age or older. If you are under 18, we highly recommend you check out Voiceworks mag run by our friends at Express Media.
Submission Guidelines
- All submissions must be based around the theme ‘Point’.
- Limit of one submission per person.
- Word limit on submissions is up to 1,500 words. Poets may submit a maximum of 3 poems.
- Writing must be original and not have been published previously by any publisher.
- Submissions can be in any language, however a translation in English must be provided for assessment.
Submission Instructions
- Please make sure your name is not included in the submitted work. We use a blind submission process, to be fair to all. If your uploaded writing appears with your name on the document, it will be disqualified.
- Your writing must be typed, double-spaced, and submitted online as a Word file. Any font is acceptable. Ideally, size should be 11 or 12 point.
- If you need support accessing a computer or submitting online, Darebin libraries are on hand to assist you in submitting your work.
- Each page must be numbered and include the title.
- Please name your file using the following format: title of your work.file type eg. To the Lighthouse.docx.
- No hard copies or emailed writing will be accepted.
- No iPad documents, pdfs or photos will be accepted.
- The final selection of works to be published will be made by the assessment panel. No correspondence will be entered into.
Access
- If you require assistance completing this form, you can speak with a staff member at any Darebin Libraries branch.
- You can also reach out to the Darebin Arts Programming team at writingprojects@darebin.vic.gov.au.
Enquiries
If you have questions or would like more information about dSCRIBE or the inSITU writing program, contact: writingprojects@darebin.vic.gov.au
Submit entry
Previous editions
Click on the covers below to read past issues of dSCRIBE magazine.
d-scribe, 2025(PDF, 3MB)
d-SCRIBE, 2024(PDF, 6MB)
d-SCRIBE, 2023(PDF, 3MB)
d-SCRIBE (Youth), 2023(PDF, 1MB)
n-SCRIBE, 2022(PDF, 846KB)
n-SCRIBE, 2020(PDF, 33MB)
n-Scribe 14, 2019(PDF, 3MB)
n-Scribe 13, 2018(PDF, 3MB)
n-Scribe 12, 2017(PDF, 2MB)
n-Scribe 11, 2016(PDF, 510KB)
n-Scribe 10, 2015(PDF, 3MB)
n-Scribe 9, 2014(PDF, 1MB)
n-Scribe 8, 2013(PDF, 5MB)
More Information
For more information about n-SCRIBE magazine, contact:
Darebin arts writing projects
Email: writingprojects@darebin.vic.gov.au
nSCRIBE 2020 JOGGING AT NIGHT by Becki Bouchier
Local writer Becki Bouchier reads her work JOGGING AT NIGHT published in n-SCRIBE 2020 - the latest edition of Darebin's annual literary magazine.
Watch on YouTube
nSCRIBE 2020 THE MUAY THAI GRUNT by Jes Layton
Local writer Jes Layton reads his work THE MUAY THAI 'GRUNT' published in n-SCRIBE 2020 - the latest edition of Darebin's annual literary magazine.
Watch on YouTube
nSCRIBE 2020 THE TREADMILL A HAIKU FOR MA by Nicholas Ling
Local writer Nicholas Ling reads his works THE TREADMILL + A HAIKU FOR MA published in n-SCRIBE 2020 - the latest edition of Darebin's annual literary magazine.
Watch on YouTube