Who currently runs The Western?
The Western is run by our new Editor in Chief, Nicole Cadelina, who has contributed to the platform since 2019. You can learn more about her work on her website.
Our previous Editors in Chief were Laura Legaspi, née Ranola (2018-2023), and Michael Furcciniti (2023-2024).
Nicole will also be on the lookout for a team of editors to assist with ongoing coverage of all-things Western Sydney. Please keep an eye out on our socials and newsletter for further announcements!
Why did you change The Western? I liked the old one better :^(
We, too, have missed the ‘old’ Western, and our history as a journalist platform will not be forgotten! However, we’ve made the decision to transform The Western into a writing-focused online magazine to develop new creative and critical avenues for emerging writers (especially for those living in Western Sydney).
Our decision was fueled by a desire to fill in potential gaps in literary opportunities within Sydney, while also platforming bold, incisive writing to our existing readers. In pursuit of this new direction, this meant evolving The Western from its media journalist origins, and operating in a similar fashion to a literary journal.
We understand that this trajectory will not be for everyone. However, in keeping the spirit of The Western alive, we hope to continue our coverage of hotly anticipated releases in Western Sydney in 2026 (be it in art, music, film, or small businesses), and maintain a strong connection to our community across our platforms.
Is your ‘old’ content still around?
Yes! We value our contributors’ hard work over the years, which is why we chose not to start from scratch and delete everything before our relaunch. We made sure to archive all previous writings into our back logs during our content migration stages.
The only content we’ve rescinded from publication are a selection of event promotion articles. If you’ve written for us in the past, and believe there’s a piece that might be missing on our website, hit us up at the.wstrn(at)gmail(dot)com.
What are your influences for the ‘new’ Western?
We thought you’d never ask <3 Our creative direction and operations are inspired by a number of literary journals, art magazines, and independent platforms – we encourage you to check them out in your own time.
Our influences include Kill Your Darlings, Cleveland Review of Books, Rough Cut, Byline, Sydney Review of Books, Are.na Editorial, and Hot Literati.
Will you be accepting new works for publication?
Yes! Our first round of pitches will open on Friday, 24 October. Keep an eye out on our socials and newsletter for when we finally drop our submissions page!
Writing & submissions
Do you pay your writers?
As a volunteer-run online magazine, we do not have the funds to pay our writers. We organise The Western purely out of our own passion for writing, and aim to offer as much moral and editorial support in every step of the process.
To guarantee the longevity of this publication and affirm our status as an independent platform, we will continue operating on a volunteer basis. Any paid opportunities will be advertised on our socials and newsletter.
What is your criteria for selection at The Western?
The Western publishes writing that is deeply rooted in Western Sydney. More specifically, we accept pieces that follow at least one of the following criteria:
- The piece is about a Western Sydney platform, work, or personality
- The writer is living/based in Western Sydney
- The piece reflects topics or narratives related to Western Sydney
Regarding Point #2: Being from Western Sydney gives you the advantage to write about any topic or work of your own choosing, regardless of its connection to Western Sydney.
Regarding Point #3: These topics or narratives can include (but are not limited to):
- Migrant and diasporic identity and roots
- The culture shock of travelling outside ‘the Area’
- Grassroots/underground/independent communities
- Working-class experiences/backgrounds
- The gentrification and transformation of suburbia
- Emerging subcultures, trends and movements
The most successful submissions will:
- Show originality and incisive commentary on a topic or theme
- Reflect a connection to Western Sydney*
- Express bold, confident ideas in their writing
*a connection to Western Sydney can include the writer’s status as a Western Sydney-based writer.
Who do you publish on The Western?
We are open to all writers of experience. Emerging and/or unpublished writers will be taken into higher consideration, and are strongly encouraged to pitch.
Although we prioritise Western Sydney writers, all pitches will be considered regardless of a writer’s area of residence. If you’re interested in writing for us and live outside Western Sydney, please refer to the next question for more information.
We also encourage Western Sydney creatives to submit pitches, including: musicians, artists, filmmakers, designers, authors, journalists, and many more. We are especially interested in writing that provide insight into their creative practice, offer thought-provoking commentary in their field, and/or reveal deeper meanings behind their work.
Can I still pitch to The Western if I’m not from Western Sydney?
Yes you can! Provided that your pitch is relevant to Western Sydney, we will happily consider your pitch. As part of our relaunch, one of our goals is to publish new perspectives on Western Sydney — we’re especially interested in hearing how outsiders celebrate and connect with the art, community and culture of ‘the Area.’
If you are still unsure about whether your pitch is right for us, feel free to chat with us at the.wstrn(at)gmail(dot)com.
I’ve never written a pitch before – where do I start?
We’ve released a Pitch Guide for everyone interested in pitching to us. This guide will include a breakdown of what goes into a good pitch, alongside examples of works that we’re interested in publishing on The Western.
Do you accept unsolicited pitches outside your pitch rounds?
At this time, we will not consider unsolicited pitches or submissions outside our pitching rounds. However, our guidelines may change in the future, depending on our capacity to coordinate works within quick turnarounds.
