Buy It
This year’s Visible Ink may not be launching until November, but there’s no need to wait to get your VI fix. We have a range of titles from our rich 24 year yesterday to offer you! Have a look around, have a read, and let us know if anything inspires.
All back issues are $5 each, or three for $10. Really, you can’t afford to not own them all.
Untitled, 1993
The oldest of our archived collection, this edition of visible ink was published in 1992. Highlights include an ode to Doris Day by Judy Horacek, the acclaimed cartoonist, artist and author of children’s books. This edition is notable for the complete absence of capital letters in the foreword and contents . . . a classic sign of the times and the start of a long lasting tradition!
The Front, 1994
In 1993, the editorial team acknowledged the support of Melbourne’s iconic comedy venue, the Prince Patrick Hotel in Collingwood. Highlights of the anthology include a piece by poet and musician Sean Whelan. This time a few capital letters had made their way to the start of each title, but contributors’ names remained defiantly lower-case.
Feel, 1997
Browsing the contents of this edition of visible ink, the name that stands out is award-winning author M.J. Hyland, who contributed a short story. On the committee, and also a contributor was Eric Dando, who has since published two books and Adam Carey, now a journalist with The Age. For the first (and perhaps last) time, author photos were included. Capital letters had begun to make their way back into the titles.
The Words Have Eyes, 1998
In a large square format, this edition of visible ink had a record 66 entries and comprised 200 pages. Custom illustrations accompanied many of the pieces. One of the many contributors was Myfanwy Jones who went on to publish the novel The Rainy Season and the best-selling Parlour Games for Modern Families. In 1997, the committee chose to spend time at The Lounge in Swanston St.
Launched, 1999
This edition of visible ink should be prescribed reading for all PWE students. On the committee were Zoë Dattner and Louise Swinn, who went on to found Sleepers Publishing. Both contribute stories and poems, and Dattner designed the cover. By this year, the committee had swapped its allegiance to The Empress in North Fitzroy.
Alchemy, 2000
For the first time, visible ink opened its doors to contributors outside the PWE course. 1999 also heralded the launch of VI’s first website and, in a year of firsts, the committee also held a writing competition. Highlights of this edition include stories by Louise Swinn of Sleepers Publishing, Carrie Tiffany, who went on to pick up a stack of awards for Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living and Jeff Sparrow, co-author of Radical Melbourne: A Secret History. This year the committee favoured Brunswick Street’s Perseverance Hotel.
Shift, 2001
To celebrate the new millennium, Visible Ink published its first film script in this sleek, matte black edition. Contributors include Rose Mulready, since published in several anthologies of Australian short stories, George Dunford who is now a freelance writer and producer working for the ABC and Lonely Planet, and Prudence Flint, an award-winning visual. As the title shows, those pesky capital letters were still unsure of their correct place. The committee were now drinking at Carlton’s Lincoln Hotel.
Contemporary Soul, 2005
Notable not only for the stunning yolk-yellow dustjacket, this volume of Visible Ink includes pieces by PWE lecturer Sian Prior and the Victorian Writers’ Centre’s Anna Kelsey-Sugg. The committee divided its custom between two Fitzroy bars, Laundry and Bar Open, and again misplaced all capital letters when it came to naming this volume.
Tattle Tales, 2006
Highlights of this edition of visible ink are the foreword by Kate Holden, and the piece about the sheer glee invoked by getting down and dirty and writing nasty tales and stories by award-winning writer Chris Womersley. But for PWE students, this is the must-read landmark volume that brought together Julia Carlomango, Rachael Howlett and Davina Bell, who went on to found Harvest. Upper case letters in story titles again remained elusive.
1908, 2008
In the unusually titled 1908, contributors include Jenny Sinclair, author of When We Think About Melbourne: The Imagination of a City and Jason Cotter, editor of Readings and Writings: Forty Years in Books. This year the committee made no mention in their acknowledgements of a favourite watering hole, but did thank suppliers of chocolate. How times change . . .
Lost and Found, 2009
A small, hardcore team of four produced visible ink in 2009. Committee member Anthony Noack went on to have two plays produced in the 2011 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. As well as featuring work by Melbourne poet Michael Crane, this edition includes beautifully reproduced colour artworks.
Untitled, 2010
The most recent edition of visible ink is still warm from the printing press. Featuring the best of Australia’s up and coming writers and poets, it is a great addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in getting a sneak preview of our future award winners and bestselling authors.
XXI Visible Inks, 2009
If you only buy one publication from the visible ink backlog, this should be it. Published in 2009 to celebrate 21 years of the Visible Ink anthologies, this volume includes the best writing from the entire series, along with a foreword by Steve Grimwade, director of the Melbourne Writers Festival.
All books are $5, or 3 for $10 (plus $2 postage). Amazing!
If you’d like to buy any of the above editions, simply send us an email using the contact form below and we’ll get back to you.
Payment methods:
Direct transfer:
Please put your full name in the transaction description.
Bank: Commonwealth Bank
Account name: Visible Ink Club RMIT
BSB: 063-262
Account No: 1057 4993
Cheque:
Make payable to Visible Ink Club RMIT, with your name and contact number on the back. Send to visible ink at:
c/o School of Media & Communication
GPO Box 2476V
Melbourne VIC 3001
