Secondly, something to kickstart your mall story-ing: back in 2008 I made a zine about Canberra. Recently CJ pointed out that in that zine I had promised a second volume sometime in “late 2012″. Well, sad to say the second volume is still a long way off, but to mark the date I’ve uploaded A Zine About Canberra (PDF).

Unfortunately, in order to get the file down to a reasonable size the tour and mix tape scan are way too hard to read. Since I lack the requisite software and time to get this sorted, I’ve uploaded my Canberra ‘Walking’ Tour and mix tape as a separate PDF. Enjoy the excessive use of ‘brilliant’, ‘lovely’ and ‘awesome’ (but really, Canberra is a brilliant, lovely and awesome place. You should visit. Particularly during You Are Here).

Please note that some of this zine including the walking tour are well out of date, as are my contact details at the end.

Submissions have already opened for creative material to be used for another collection of audio walking tours in the Canberra CBD. Content is welcome from artists in any country, not just Canberra or Australia. Check the full callout and get your non-fiction, poetry and music to youareherecanberra AT gmail DOT com by COB 24 December 2012.

And big congratulations to CJ Bowerbird: 2013 Australian Poetry Slam winner.

And here are some great photos from the event, taken by Alex Moffatt:

Currently on my plate are two projects: firstly a short zine about my trip to the US, with special focus on my mini Lovecraft tour of New England, and a similar exploration of New Orleans inspired by Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers (oh so nerdy).

The second project is a computer game of my own, based on the poem Kubla Khan and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s experience of writing it. As the previous paragraph and earlier posts indicate I’ve had a long love of computer gaming: I’ve programmed my own simple games since I was a child, from text adventures to BASIC arcade clones and HyperCard interactive story stacks. I feel the time is right to come back to this medium and the game’s theme is a logical progression from my previous work. I hope to share the process of producing this game through this and subsequent posts as a way to keep myself on track and also to crystallise my thinking.

I already have a good amount of notes that I am compiling into a design document and am in the process of brainstorming with some creative people. The starting point for this game was is an essay I wrote at uni on the subject of Coleridge and Kubla Khan and the tension between creativity and chaos, which I might share later on down the track. At the moment I’m trying to go from this first spark of inspiration to making some very basic decisions about the game’s form. The first (and, unfortunately, some of the most significant) decisions to make is the kind of gameplay and the visual style. The working title of the game – Super Kubla Khan RPG – came very early on, but I’m not completely keen on doing a retro RPG. I still have such fondness for point and click adventure games, and I can think of some interesting in-game problems for this setting. As for the visuals: Top down? 2d scrolling? Or perhaps I should return to my interactive fiction roots. Perhaps there’s a way I can combine all of this?

Zombie Choose Your Own Adventure @ The National Folk Festival (2 shows)
Part of Lost In The Harbour – Poetry Showcase
4-4.50pm Friday 6 April 2012
Part of I’ll Shoot The Moon — Poetry Showcase
8.30-9.20pm Saturday 7 April 2012
Majestic Stage
Exhibition Park, Canberra

Performance Poetry Workshop @ The National Folk Festival
With Andrew Galan and Adam Hadley
12.00-1.00pm Sunday 8 April 2012
Majestic Stage
Exhibition Park, Canberra

You Are Here 2012 was a wonderful splendorous thing.

Mall Stories went off rather well, and promises to be available to download (hopefully) long into the foreseeable future… If you want to find out a bit more before you dive in, you can read this article, or this one, or even watch this nifty video:

My Live Action Canberra Zombie Choose Your Own Adventure* (With Giant Inflatable Dice) was properly debuted. And it will rear it’s ugly decaying head again as part of the National Folk Festival. Hey, it’s already on this kid’s must see list!

*Props go to The Lovely Brothers for their Zombies in Brighton! zine that inspired this.

First Traverse Poetry Slam for 2012! This Friday at The Front!

The best bit about this is you can be involved! We need your writing about experiences inside shopping malls/centres. We’re looking for non-fiction but we’re not too picky about how it comes out… poetry, creative non-fiction, anecdotes, compilations of Facebook conversations, whatever… just make sure you email it to youareherecanberra AT gmail DOT com by 15 February 2012.

Here’s the full callout. Get writing!

Mall Stories

Food court food fights, drunk Christmas elves, guerilla hula-hoop performances… what’s the strangest thing you’ve seen in a mall? 

You Are Here wants YOUR non-fiction tales, poetry, anecdotes, urban myths and shaggy dog stories about malls and shopping centres. Funny, sad and weird – let us know!

Selected stories will be featured as a part of a project during You Are Here 2012, from March 8 – 18.

You Are Here is an annual multi-platform arts festival taking place in the Canberra CBD, showcasing the city’s alternative arts and underground culture. You Are Here aims to highlight the energy, innovation and talent of Canberra’s artists past and present, presenting and promoting their work in non-traditional venues, revitalising city spaces and attracting new audiences.

Email your writing (2 pages max) – to youareherecanberra AT gmail DOT com by COB 15 February 2012.

1. Third time ACT finalist Adam “Jacinta” Hadley‘s idiosyncratic bread of insanity/genius will knock Sydney audiences for six.
2. Australian Poetry Slam newcomer Miranda “Bling Bling” Lello combines beautiful words and images of bikes, words, cities and forgotten loves with a mean uppercut. Get ready for something very very special Sydney.

Congratulations to third place winner Barry who narrowly defeated Jay in a tense slam-off.

Should you wish to attend the annual blood brawl that is the national final (and I encourage you to!) grab your tickets and head to:

Australian Poetry Slam National Final – Write a Revolution
Sunday 27th November, 5pm
Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay

The national final takes place on Sunday 27 November at Sydney Theatre. Two poets from each state/territory will compete for the chance to win an amazing writer’s tour of China and Indonesia (over 18 national winner) or $500 (under 18 national winner).

Australian Poetry Slam: ACT Final
28 October 2011
The Front Gallery and Café
Wattle St, Lyneham

Please note that under 18 poets will need a parent/guardian in attendance to perform at The Front and that the time limit will be 2 minutes, not 3 as in usual Traverse Poetry slams. Be sure to read the rest of the rules:

1. Maximum of 20 entrants per heat.
2. Enter at the venue on the night of the heat 30 minutes before the heat commences.
3. Contestants must reside in the state/territory in which they are competing. In some cases, if your nearest heat is interstate, an exception can be made. In such cases, if you compete interstate and are one of the two winners, you will progress to the final as one of that state/territory’s winners. e.g. If you live in Queanbeyan (such as a certain previous APS winner) and you win the ACT final, you will go to the national final carrying the magnificent title of “Glorious Grand Champion of the Canberras”.
4. Random draw for performance order.
5. ABSOLUTE two minute limit. Time starts at your first word or when the timekeeper feels the performance has begun (no additional time allowed for introductions). Points will be deducted from the final score for exceeding the time limit — one point for every 30 seconds over time. For example: At 2:01 minutes you will lose a point. At 2:31 minutes you will lose another point…
6. Five judges chosen by the MC at random from the audience.
7. Judges hold up score cards using a 1 – 10 scale, with 10 being the highest. Of the five scores for each poet, only the middle three scores are counted. The decision of the judges is final.
8. Poem must be the original work of the performer written within the last 12 months. No plagiarism folks. One or two recognisable pop culture references are okay.
9. Performers must be prepared to perform two different poems in the heat.
10. In the case of a tie a “slam off” will be used at the discretion of the slam organisers.
11. No musical accompaniment. No props. No costumes. (ie; clothing related to the content of your poem)
12. Two performers with the highest scores in each State Heats will proceed to the national final.
13. Employees of libraries or venues that are hosting heats may not compete.
14. Random draw for performance order.
15. Contestants must sign a copy of the rules prior to performing.

Read the full terms and conditions (PDF).