CROOKED is seeking contributions for its inaugural issue. While our name carries the weight of the gnarled, the non-linear, and the defiant, we are purposefully raw. We are not looking for work that fits into a neat box or a pre-determined prompt. Instead, we invite work that exists in its own right: raw, unfiltered, and unapologetically itself.
We are looking for voices that mirror the “crooked” nature of our existence: those living outside the lines of suburban conformity, those navigating the tension of regional landscapes, and those practicing trans-anarchist resistance in the everyday. Whether your work is a quiet reflection on rural queer life or a loud, transgressive critique of the colonial status quo, we want to see it.
We encourage submissions across a broad spectrum of radical expression:
Experimental & Long-form Prose
Visceral Poetry
Visual Art & Photographic Essays
Anti-colonial Critique & Queer Theory
Underground Dispatches
We are particularly interested in perspectives that bridge the gap between urban centers and the regional fringes: stories of survival, thriving, and anarchy from the “off-grid” corners of so-called Australia. Send us your most authentic deviations.
Eligibility:
To ensure your work is considered for CROOKED, please confirm you meet the following criteria before submitting:
Location: You must be currently living/working in Australia.
Community: You must be an active subscriber to the SISSY ANARCHY Substack (free subscriptions are here: https://sissyanarchy.substack.com/subscribe).
Focus: We prioritise voices exploring the intersections of queer/trans identities, anarchist philosophies, and underground narratives.
Dates:
Pitch Deadline: Pitches are open until 19 February 2026, 23:59 AEST.
Notification: Contributors will be notified of the outcome by 26 February 2026.
Final Submission: The deadline for completed pieces is 26 March 2026.
Publication: the inaugural issue will be published in June 2026.
Please note: We are unable to provide individual feedback for rejected pitches. Kindly inform us if you are submitting a simultaneous pitch to other publishers or if you are proposing a piece that has been previously published.
Rates:
We believe in fair compensation for queer and trans creators. For long-form pieces (short stories, essays, etc.) we can offer $250, and for anything smaller (poetry, etc.) we offer $100.
If you can’t access the button above, please use the link here.
CROOKED is looking for opinionated queer and trans people, and allies, based in Gurambilbarra / Townsville to join our new Writing Workshop. If you have something to say about trans and queer life here—whether that’s about art, community, politics, nightlife, or daily survival—we want to hear from you.
We are now looking for 8 members to join the club and commit to the following:
Attend 4 evening workshops led by writer and publisher P. Eldridge (founding editor of SISSY ANARCHY).
Explore different ways of writing, reflecting, and sharing opinions about trans and queer life and culture in the region.
Work towards producing a piece of original writing (poetry, essay, or fiction writing) to be published in the first issue of CROOKED.
A Creative Maintenance Allowance (CMA) will be offered to all 8 members to cover the time and expenses associated with attending the sessions, doing light homework in between, and producing a final piece for publication. The allowance is set at $50 per session, totalling $200 for attending all 4 sessions and submitting work.
Workshops will take place via Zoom on Wednesday evenings, beginning late February/Early March (dates to be confirmed). If you are selected, dates will be sent for your confirmation.
Please ensure you are available to attend all sessions before applying.
The aim of this Writing Workshop is to capture a range of trans and queer voices and experiences from Gurambilbarra / Townsville. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to speak openly about what queer life here means to you.
If you can’t access the button above, please use the link here.
Before you go, please consider sharing this post (screenshot it, share the instagram post here, do what you want) so the word of this new opportunity can reach all your cool pals.
Share CROOKED or get bent 😉
CROOKED TEAM: MICHAEL SMITH, CAITLIN MCLOUGHLIN, P. ELDRIDGE
FOLLOW for more on Instagram: @sissyanarchy or @crooked.magazine
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