GENERAL GUIDELINES

The best way to understand what Trunk books are all about is to view our first volumes, Hair and Blood. You will see that we embrace the beautiful, ugly, original, strange and eclectic; we are open to including anything of merit so feel free to be adventurous.

VISUAL ART SUBMISSIONS

Keep in mind that Trunk is a print/paper/web medium. Generally, photos of installations and sculptures do not translate well so we only consider them if they are of exceptional quality (see for example Julie Rrap’s work in Hair). At submission stage please send us low-res images only (72dpi fine)—if we accept your submission we will ask you for high-res versions later. Include an artists’ statement or explanation of the work only if you think it will be helpful (please, no more than 200 words).

You must include all information in the form.

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

Non-fiction or fiction

1,500 words maximum, shorter pieces and poems are most welcome. The style should be accessible and interesting.

Experimental styles are welcome. Avoid scholarly jargon at all costs. Our audience is sophisticated and artistic but not necessarily academic.

Keep referencing to a minimum and try to build quotes into the text rather than using footnotes or endnotes (although they can be used if integral to the work—see for example Catherine Cole’s piece in Hair).

There is no need for reference page numbers.

Bibliography

We do not include bibliographies for individual pieces. However, you may like to send a list of books consulted—we might include them in a general reference section at the end of the book—set out as: Author, date, Name of Book, Place: Publisher.

Layout

12 pt, times new roman, double line spaces (poetry formats excepted).

Spelling

Australian spellings (Macquarie Dictionary preferred): s not z, centre not center etc

  • cooperative
  • coordinate
  • email
  • no-one

Numbers

Spell out unless they are used in a measurement; eg 90 per cent; 15 kilometres.

  • forty-one years old
  • nineteenth century
  • 120 thousand (too complicated to completely spell out)
  • five hundred people
  • half past ten
  • four o’clock
  • 1960s
  • fifties

Dates

  • 10 August 2001; Friday, 10 August 2001
  • 1996–97 (en rule)
  • 1970s or seventies, not 1970’s

Quotes

Use single quote marks (‘ ’) throughout text

Use double quotes (‘‘ ’’) for quotes within quotes

Foreign words

Italicise, except those commonly used, such as cliché, naïve and vis-à-vis

Tell us, with details, if the piece has been published previously.