I Left This Here For You To Read
We're proud to announce a new literary magazine for Darwin! And it's free! DCA is launching a new project titled 'I Left This Here For You To Read'. It's a collection of original material – poems, very short stories, drawings – by local talent.
Approximately six times a year, we will release a new issue of 'I Left This Here For You To Read'. They will be left in public places (such on park benches, on buses, around shopping centres, in waiting rooms...) for anyone to take – free of charge. Finders will be encouraged to read the magazine and then pass it on.
We will distribute our magazine in and around Darwin. Only 50 copies of each issue will be made. Posted copies will only be available to contributors.
Would you like to submit something to our magazine? We will include almost anything we receive.
- Written pieces must be no longer than 400 words
- Images must be black and white i.e. gray scale.
Submit by email (drawings can be sent as attached files, text can be just in the email) to left.this AT darwincommunityarts.org.au. Contributors will receive 2 copies of 'I Left This Here For You To Read'. Anybody interested in helping with editing and distribution of the magazine is also welcome to contact us at the above email address.
'I Left This Here For You To Read' is a non-commercial project that supports both the local literary scene and community-building. We thank Tim Devin for his inspirational project in New York and Boston that is the basis of our own magazine.
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Most of these issues haven't
Most of these issues haven't really been ironed out yet; there's some scope for the project to evolve so all suggestions are welcome. The 50 copies is arbitrary, though based on Tim Devin's idea ... if 50 is enough for New York, I think it's probably enough for Darwin :-) My impression is that it's the encouragement of sharing that's important, as well as rewarding contributors with privileged status. I don't see any problem in having some regular drop points - Roma Bar, for example - so that there's some way of finding the magazine. Maybe public libraries will take it too. It should be easy enough to register a few copies of each issue on BookCrossing.com and track them that way. Jackie's suggestion about a space for readers to make notes is super. A magazine with legs and a guestbook! Wow!
Great project. Jackie
Great project. Jackie Garbutt, a Board member, commented last night on hearing of this project that maybe readers can have a space where they can sign or note who they are or where they found the issue.
I was also thinking: would limiting the run to 50 make it less of a community publication, because it is not mass distributed? On thinking more about it, I think the limited run encourages passing on and sharing of the publication, physically encouraging a sense of community in that way. Also, it may be possible to repurpose some of the content as material for the web site or some other published material if there's need to widen circulation; this would, however, possibly undermine the basic idea of having only 50 copies of the publication, of the physical literary object or artefact that needs to change hands among the community.
Number of copies
New board member Pas Tassone was also excited about the magazine.
In regard to the number of copies, I too thought initially that 50 only would not represent a community kind of approach, but an exclusive and elitist one. However, there is also value in providing the opportunity for people (including strangers) to begin an exchange because of the magazine. That is, "lookk what I found today ..." or words of that effect.
The idea of having pages on which readers can write is OK, but the sticky beak side of me says: "I'd want to read it too, so how do I track the mag down to see the contributions, before it becomes pulp?" Anyway, much more to be discussed on this.
As far as a web presence for the mag, this could be offered to contributors as an option whether they want their material placed on a purpose designed webpage.