Overland relies on its subscribers for survival. For that reason, the editors prioritise submissions by subscribers. While all work will be read, we cannot guarantee response times to submissions by non-subscribers. You can support Overland and become a subscriber here.
Publishing features, fiction, poetry, reviews, comment, artwork and opinion pieces, Overland is committed to engaging with important literary, cultural and political issues in contemporary Australia. It has a tradition of publishing dissenting articles with a political and cultural focus.
With ‘culture that matters … since 1954’ as its motto, Overland is the only high-profile Australian literary magazine that sees the publication and advancement of new and marginal writers as part of its charter.
Produced quarterly, Overland was founded in 1954 under the editorship of Stephen Murray-Smith, with the motto ‘temper democratic, bias Australian’. At the time it incorporated The Realist Writer, the journal of the Melbourne Realist Writers’ Group.
Contributors over the years include Peter Carey, Patrick White, Garry Disher, Elizabeth Jolley, Stuart Macintyre, David Foster, Germaine Greer, Dorothy Hewett, Bob Ellis, Mark Davis, Sam Watson, David Williamson, Thomas Shapcott, Judith Wright, Rodney Hall, Gwen Harwood, Thea Astley, Alan Marshall, Xavier Herbert, Amanda Lohrey, Eric Beach, Bruce Dawe, Frank Moorhouse, Manning Clark, Humphrey McQueen, Christina Stead, Geoffrey Dutton, Max Harris, Chris Wallace-Crabbe, Nancy Cato, Frank Hardy, Lily Brett, Peter Porter, James McAuley, Geoffrey Serle, Graham Pitts, Desmond O’Grady, Robert Adamson, Ian Turner, Jack Hibberd, Dean Kiley, Christos Tsiolkas, Alex Buzo, Martin Flanagan, Marcia Langton, Fiona Capp, Margaret Simons, Linda Jaivin and many others.
Yet Overland also gives a voice to the experiences that are excluded from the mainstream media and publishing outlets. The magazine has been part of an ongoing attempt to document lesser-known stories and histories, dissect media hysteria and dishonesty, debunk the populist hype of politicians, give a voice to those whose stories are otherwise marginalised, misrepresented or ignored, and point public debate in alternative directions.
While Overland remains committed to the quarterly print journal, the journal’s project now also includes regular online publication.
Essays (subscribers only)
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for submissions of essays.Overland does not impose formal word limits but potential contributors should be aware that space limitations make longer pieces harder to accept.
We particularly encourage submissions from female writers, activists and academics. Scholarly articles are refereed.
Fiction (subscribers only)
Editor: Jane Gleeson-White.
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for submissions of stories.
Overland does not impose formal word limits but potential contributors should be aware that space limitations make longer pieces harder to accept.
Poetry (subscribers only)
Editor: Peter Minter.
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for submissions of poetry.
Essays (non-subscribers)
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you do not have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for submissions of stories. Though submissions by non-subscribers will be read, those by subscribers will be prioritised. You can support Overland and become a subscriber here.
Scholarly articles are refereed.
Fiction (non-subscribers)
Editor: Jane Gleeson-White.
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you do not have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for submissions of stories. Though submissions by non-subscribers will be read, those by subscribers will be prioritised. You can support Overland and become a subscriber here.
Poetry (non-subscribers)
Editor: Peter Minter.
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you do not have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for submissions of poetry. Though submissions by non-subscribers will be read, those by subscribers will be prioritised. You can support Overland and become a subscriber here.
Spoken word (non-subscribers)
Editor: Maxine Beneba Clarke
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you do not have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for audio submissions of spoken word poetry for a one-off online publication. Though submissions by non-subscribers will be read, those by subscribers will be prioritised. You can support Overland and become a subscriber here.
Note: because space is limited, please only submit previously unpublished material.
Spoken word (subscribers only)
Editor: Maxine Beneba Clarke
Overland would not exist without its subscribers. If you have a current subscription to Overland, use this form for audio submissions of spoken word poetry for a one-off online publication.
Note: because space is limited, please only submit previously unpublished material.