We all hope you have had a happy Pride month! It’s been cold here in Canberra but the creative fires that burn deep within us have kept us figuratively warm while we literally rugged up to combat the Winter that so many stories seem to warn us is coming. Kind of a given considering that is how seasons work, but we do appreciate a good metaphor. June was a ramp up for some fun to be had this Winter. From an incredible general meeting about the economics of sci-fi/fantasy in stories, to some great local performances from members at a local event. We’ve got so much more coming up this month! So let’s dig into that speculative nit and grit!

President’s Update

Greetings, my fellow WERDS! (Short for Writing Nerds. For context, a group of writing nerds coming together is called WERDS on a Page, tell your friends)

I’m a big fan of Winter, mostly because I don’t have to explain why I’m constantly in a hoodie, but I have other reasons. I love the idea of cozing up to a warm fireplace in front of my computer while I look out a bay window at the white, snowy trees in a pristine forest. Sadly, I have none of those things (other than the computer), so I’ll make due sitting at my local cafe as I watch people coming out of the gym, remembering that it’s cold outside and that they should’ve layered up. I like to hold up my warm cup and give them a nod that exemplifies every sense of the phrase, “Cold enough, for ya?”

It’s the little things that matter.

June’s general meeting taught me more about economics than I have ever learned in my entire life, which probably says a lot about me. So if you see me around town tossing a coin at a Witcher, you can blame our own A.D. Ellicott for that. CSFG Movie Night was a little different this month as we decided to watch two episodes of the exceptional series, The Boroughs. Former CSFG guest, Jose Molina was a writer/producer on the show that is currently streaming on Netflix. Despite the fact that Netflix has sadly decided to cancel the series, I implore all of you to check it out, it’s such a great show. This June, we also announced our Flash Fiction mascot naming competition! Due to popular demand we are extending the deadline for the competition, more information on that below!

This coming July, we’ve got Book Club, Short Story Critique, Novel Critique, our Scribbles and Nibbles meet ups, our movie night, not to mention we are going to be at GeekExpo here in Canberra! Make sure to follow us on our socials for all the details!

May your ink and inspiration ever flow.

  •     Americo Alvarenga (El Presidente)

June Meeting and Workshop Recap: with Special Guest Speaker A.D. Ellicott

This month’s meeting had us decoding economics for worldbuilding with our own A.D. Ellicott. 

Addie is an economist who has worked across tax policy, international policy, and macroeconomic forecasting. She ran us through a workshop that dealt with: what your currency says about your society, how to leverage economics to drive conflict, and magic systems as metaphors for economic inequality.

We want to thank her for coming to talk to us. Her knowledge and experience really let us explore the concept of economics in speculative fiction and we hope to have her back for a deeper dive!

July’s Meeting Announcement: Q&A with Saurabh Bhatia

We are very happy to have Saurabh Bhatia, the founder of Comix.One come have a conversation with us this July. Saurabh is going to talk to us about how he went from creating his own indie comics to creating a platform for indie comic creators and small publishers to showcase their work! Their goal is to become an end-to-end ecosystem for indie comics, where creators can connect with their fans, build relationships, crowdfund new projects, and sell their full body of work.

Our general meeting will be 7pm on Wednesday 15 July at the Burns Club in Kambah. Link to the online meeting will be posted on csfg.groups.io and our Discord server before the meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!

CSFG Flash Fiction Name our Mascot Competition

As most of you may know, we have a mascot! Our chimera is part gang gang cockatoo, part koala, part shingleback, and all-around awesome! But like all interesting entities, our mascot needs an origin story and a name. That’s where you come in!

CSFG will be holding a flash fiction competition to name our mascot!

ACTIVE members can submit an up-to 500 word flash fiction using our CSFG mascot as a prompt for your story that includes a name reveal. The top 3 stories will be put in the flash fiction section of our Discord where members will have the chance to vote on which of the finalists will name our mascot. The winner will receive bragging rights and eternal glory (eternal glory is not guaranteed)!

This is all in good fun, so in that spirit, here’s how to enter:

Eligibility & Submission Requirements

  • Open to all ACTIVE Members (please make sure your membership is active); no restrictions on theme or style, but we will not take any gratuitous violence or sexual content.
  • Submit original works in English (max 500 words).
  • This competition is for the naming of our mascot. Please make sure that you include that name in the story itself. CSFG reserves the right to veto a story if we find the name unsuitable (i.e. Birdy McBirdface or anything vulgar will not be eligible)
  • No Multiple entries permitted.
  • The use of Generative AI is not permitted for entries to the competition.

Formatting Guidelines (To avoid disqualification, these guidelines must be adhered to)

  • File type: PDF or Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx).
  • Font: Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 or double-spaced.
  • No cover/title pages: Do not add cover/title pages to the document
  • Title: The title of the story is to be placed at the top of the first page. 
  • Word Count: Include word count on the top right of the first page.
  • Anonymity: Do not include your name in the document, file name, or body of the story.

Judging 

  • Judged anonymously on literary merit, originality, and readability. If you would like to be a judge for the stories please email us at [email protected] to let us know. Final decisions will be made by the CSFG Committee. We will then put up the top 3 stories on our Discord so that members can vote for their favorite one. The winner will be announced on our socials.
  • The author retains copyright, but CSFG reserves the right to use the winning story for award publicity.

How to Enter

  • Please email entries to [email protected] with the Subject line CSFG MASCOT COMPETITION.
  • Stories cannot be altered or substituted once they have been entered.
  • WE HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE: Entrants have until 12 July to submit.
  • CSFG reserves the right to amend competition schedules.

CSFG to sponsor Conflux Short Story Competition

CSFG are proud to sponsor the Conflux 20 Short Story Competition!

“This year’s theme, Beyond the Abyss, seems entirely appropriate in a time when all our assumptions about how the world worked no longer hold true, a time when the future seems less certain and less promising. And yet, speculative fiction at its best, holds out the promise for a better, saner world – a world Beyond the Abyss.”

CSFG is currently seeking slush readers, if you’re interested please email us at [email protected] with the subject line Conflux 20 Short Story Slush Reader

The short story competition is open to all Australian residents.

Entry to the short story competition is free!

Prizes

First prize is $200 and an award.

Second prize is $50 and an award.

Third prize is $25 and an award.
Guidelines

We invite you to submit a story of 4000 words or less, in any speculative fiction genre, on this year’s theme, which is “Beyond The Abyss”.

Stories should be written in English, suitable for a general audience (i.e., no gratuitous violence or erotica), and your own original, unpublished work. No AI-authored works, please; we only accept authors made of meat. Finally, no multiple submissions — only one story entry per author.

Please submit them in the following format: RTF or DOCX, with the story title in the top right header.

Please include your name, contact details and story title in the email submission. Your name must not appear on any of the pages.

Entries can be sent to [email protected] with the Subject line Conflux 20 Short Story SUBMISSION – author name – story title

Submissions close at midnight Saturday August 1, 2026.

CSFG at GeekExpo Canberra 18-19 July: Volunteers  Needed!

We are heading back to GeekExpo! If you want to help us out at our table and/or if you’re a member that has books to sell, we have the forms below for volunteers and market sellers agreement.

If you’re into comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming, or cosplay, this is your playground—a place to feel out of this world and completely at home, surrounded by a community that shares your passion. Find your geekdom family at GEEK EXPO Canberra.

Formerly Geek Markets, GEEK EXPO returns for two massive days at EPIC, delivering the city’s biggest pop culture event. Enjoy an expanded line-up of artists, exhibitors, immersive attractions, and special guest appearances.

With something for all ages, GEEK EXPO is a family-friendly celebration of creativity, fandom, and community

July GeekExpo 2026 Volunteer Roster

Market Sellers Agreement

Member News

 

Emma Gerts and Esme Stevenson

CSFG Members Esme and Emma were interviewed on Storylines on YassFm last week, talking about writing, music, Revelation, the podcast and more – you can listen back at https://omny.fm/shows/storylines/emma-gerts-esme-stevenson-pen-name-alexis-roberts and check out some of Karen’s other bookish chats with other local writers and book people!

Happy Birthday Lost Souls!

Happy Birthday Lost Souls! It was a most excellent time with exceptional performances. Congrats to Ben O’Mara, Fionn MacPherson, and the rest of the Lost Souls team, here’s to many more celebrations!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willoughby Literary Festival

WLF 2026 Willoughby City Library is proud to present the Willoughby Literary Festival, a vibrant celebration of books, ideas and imagination. Check out the website for more info.

Remembering Friends

We have lost someone dear to us in our community. Russell was beloved by all who were fortunate enough to know him and his story lives on through those who celebrate his life. Cat Sparks was kind enough to share some words about Russell.

New Zealand fantasy author, mapmaker, geography lecturer and photographer Russell Kirkpatrick died in Canberra Hospital of aggressive melanoma on June 26, aged 65. His novels include the “Fire of Heaven” trilogy (Across the Face of the World, In the Earth Abides the Flame and The Right Hand of God), the “Husk/Broken Man” trilogy (Path of Revenge, Dark Heart and Beyond the Wall of Time), and Silent Sorrow, intended as the first volume in the “The Book of Remezov” which, tragically, will never be completed.

Russell performed MC duties at Conflux 15: What Lies Beneath, which was held at Gungahlin Library in 2019. He was sharply intelligent, with a boundless love of Lego, waterfalls, prog rock, electronica, golf, cricket and cartography, of course. His terrible culinary taste was widely known and mercilessly mocked. He did not drink, had never smoked, wouldn’t touch tea or coffee but loved ice cream, rocky road, Coke Zero and roast lamb. 

Russell is survived by his partner Kylie Seluka, sons Iain and Alex, grandson William and far too many utterly shattered colleagues, friends and family to ever list. The world is a far darker place without him in it.

Cat Sparks

Farrer, June 30, 2026

CSFGers Do you have something to promote or an upcoming event?

We want to promote our members! If you have member news, you can send it through to the CSFG inbox at [email protected] or reach out to a committee members on Discord!

Book Club

The book we are reading for the July/August cycle is Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the book as you read at the Buddy Read here.

We will discuss Annihilation via hybrid session at 7:00 PM, Tuesday 21 July (the third Tuesday of every odd month) at the ACT Library/on Google Meet.

 

 

Upcoming events

Saturday 4th July – Scribbles and Nibbles: 10am, National Library of Australia, Parkes (in person)

Wednesday 8th July – Novel Critique Group: 7pm (online)

Wednesday 15th July – Monthly Meeting: 7pm, Burns Club, Kambah (hybrid)

Saturday 18th July – Scribbles and Nibbles: 10am, National Library of Australia, Parkes (in person)

Saturday 18th-19th July – GeekExpo

Wednesday 22nd July – Short Story Critique Group: 7pm (online) (stories due the Sunday before)

Friday 31st July – Movie Night: 8pm (online) Tron

 

For information about any of these events or activities, reach out to us at [email protected] or message a committee member on Discord.

Note: links to join hybrid meetings online are shared through csfg.groups.io and the CSFG Discord server.

 

This month’s feature image was brought to you from CSFG, artist James Houl.