In 2014 we featured some terrific Melbourne-based literary journals on our event calendar. Here are ten of our favourites.

Alquimie, edited by Joshua Elias

Distinguished by its content-rich approach and striking design, Alquimie is a new voice in the world of drinks. Forgoing trends and phases in lieu of deeper perspective, this publication presents a wide array of opinion and objectivity, and simplifies the complexities of beverage culture without pretension.

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Kill Your Darlings, edited by Brigid Mullane

Proudly independent, Kill Your Darlings is Australia’s most lively and entertaining cultural publication. Kill your Darlings was founded in 2010 by Rebecca Starford and Hannah Kent, and today it comprises a quarterly edition, a website and blog, regular events series, a writers workshop and an online shop.

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Archer Magazine, edited by Amy Middleton

Archer Magazine is an independent journal of sexual diversity, started in Melbourne in 2013. The print edition is published twice-yearly, and takes a snapshot of Australia’s attitudes to sexuality, gender and identity at the time of publication.

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The Lifted Brow, edited by Sam Cooney (Ellena Savage, Stephanie Van Schilt and Gillian Terzis will take over the editorship in 2015)

The Lifted Brow makes magazines from Australia and the world. Since its inception in 2007, The Lifted Brow has published the work of a wide variety of writers, including Christos Tsiolkas, Helen Garner, David Foster Wallace, Neil Gaiman, Rick Moody, Karen Russell, Tom Cho, Douglas Coupland, Heidi Julavits, Tom Bissell, Tao Lin, Rebecca Giggs, Margo Lanagan and many more.

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Stilts, edited by Katia Pase

Stilts is a literary collective based out of Melbourne. They publish a journal, run online projects, and host events across Brisbane and Melbourne, including bi-monthly storytelling nights in collaboration with Yarn: Stories Spun in Brisbane.

Keep an eye out for their most recent issue, arriving soon!

Meanjin, edited by Zora Saunders

Meanjin was founded in Brisbane by Clem Christesen (the name, pronounced Mee-an-jin, is derived from an Aboriginal word for the finger of land on which central Brisbane sits) in 1940. Meanjin moved to Melbourne in 1945 at the invitation of the University of Melbourne. Known primarily as a literary magazine, Christesen ensured that Meanjin reflected the breadth of contemporary thinking, be it on literature, other art forms, or the broader issues of the times.

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Overland, edited by Jeff Sparrow (Jacinda Woodhead will take over the editorship in 2015)

Overland is the most radical of Australia’s long-standing literary and cultural magazines and celebrated its 60th year in 2014. Their mission is to foster new, original and progressive work exploring the relationship between politics and culture, especially literature, and to bring that work to as many people as possible.

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Higher Arc, edited by Mieke Chew

Independently published out of Melbourne, Higher Arc comes from f Mieke Chew (Editor), Luke Brown (designer), Will Heyward, Jordan Dolheguy, Sam Rutter, Celia Brightwell and Elizabeth Bryer, to produce the kind of magazine they wished existed.

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The Blackmail, edited by Amelia Stein, Belle Place and Laila Sakini

Launching in 2009, The Blackmail began as a partnership between Creative Director Tristan Ceddia and Digital Director Gabriel Knowles. Coming from backgrounds in publishing and with strong ties to the cream of Australian influencers, comprising publishers, galleries, designers, artists, musicians and fashion, The Blackmail was placed in an enviable position with unrivalled access to Australian-based popular sub-culture.

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Discipline, edited by Nicholas Croggon and Helen Hughes

Discipline is a Melbourne-based contemporary art journal. It has a focus on longer, research-based essays, interviews and artist pages.

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