Entries are open! extempore Shouts Out its National Jazz Writing Competition [29.06.2011]
Where we thought we were going
In 2005, motivated by an impulse that in hindsight seems laudable but misguided, I started a writing competition aimed at raising the bar for reviews of jazz and improvised music in Australia. I called it the National Jazz Writing Competition.
I chose reviewing as the genre to focus on after talking to some musicians whom I held in high esteem. ‘There are a handful of good reviewers for CDs and live music’, they said. ‘But we can always use more.’ I was very happy to go with this suggestion. After all I was fuelled by enthusiasm about live improvised music, which I had just discovered.
Where we’ve ended up so far
I still love live music but my first love has always been writing. I dig words, man [she says in her best jazz kitty kat voice]. So the competition continues. But now it’s more for writers like me who find inspiration in improvised music (except I can’t enter the competition, of course!). After a couple of years focusing on reviewing, we’ve shifted direction, moving into short story (2008), essay (2009) and poetry (2010). The last two years, we’ve been supported by the Copyright Agency Limited’s Cultural Fund. Huge thanks to them for their support.
Mistaken identity
The name ‘National Jazz Writing Competition’ allows for a number of interpretations. Musicians sometimes think it’s a composition competition. Get it? Writing jazz. Jazz Writing. And there’s an ongoing dialogue with entrants and readers. ‘What is “jazz writing” anyway?’ they ask. ‘Is it writing about jazz? Or writing with a jazzy sense of timing? Or something else?’ My answer is naturally an infuriating ‘Yes’.
2011 – Short Stories
The competition changes genres each year so that fiction writers, poets and essayists all have a turn. As I write this, our 2011 competition (short story) has been accepting entries for a week. Stories are already coming in a wide range. That’s okay. It’s how we like it. A recent review published on the extempore website (in the form of a sestina no less!) said this about jazz in Australia:
I think this poetic reviewer, Peter Kenneally, is right. The best Australian jazz does ‘play’ with what comes to us from elsewhere and so does the best writing! I can’t wait to see what we get in our mailbag!
We’ll inevitably see more than one entry about Miles Davis. No problem with that of course, but there are other musicians too. Like, seriously. Thanks.
Some facts about the National Jazz Writing Competition
- There’s no entry fee and you can enter as many times as you like.
- Your short story entry needs to be less than 3000 words and inspired by jazz or improvised music.
- You need to follow the submission guidelines or you’ll be ineligible (see below for the website and our other contact details).
- I’m the competition coordinator and I’ll be checking your entry against the guidelines and if you miss something I’ll tell you. Once. ‘Cos I’m nice. Once.
- Your entries are blind (i.e. the judges don’t see your name on your entry).
- The prizes are $750 for first prize, $250 for second prize and $200 for third prize.
- Prize winning entries and others will be offered publication in a collection due for release in November 2012.
- Entries close on 18 September 2011.
We have two esteemed judges for this year:
Louise Swinn, who you might know from her writing and also for being Editorial Director with Sleepers Publishing. Sleepers has played an important role revitalising the short story in Australia in the last few years, so we’re chuffed to have Louise helping us this year!
Allan Browne, one of Australia’s most highly regarded drummers and bandleaders, who’s also a poet and renowned for his musical responses to the works of Rimbaud (pronounced Sylvester Stallone, for those in the know) and Kenneth Slessor’s Five Bells.
So that’s it, and thanks for reading. If you’re looking for inspiration, head out to your local jazz club and soak up the vibe (remember not to talk during the music, particularly during the bass solo!)
More information about the competition and how to enter is available on the extempore website. There you can find some examples of great Australian jazz writing or in back issues of the journal.
Miriam Zolin is chief publisher at extempore and the convener and coordinator at the National Jazz Writing Competition, now in its seventh year!
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