Rising Voices Workshop: Self Publishing for Poets + make a poetry zine

As part of the Rising Voices Fellowship, Mother Tongue Poetry is presenting a series of public workshops to upskill and equip local writers beyond our core fellowship group. The workshop themes will be set by the journey the Fellows decide to take and will be designed to support their progress whilst also allowing the wider community to engage with the program.

The Rising Voices Fellowship is made possible through a Banyule Arts and Culture Project Grant.

WORKSHOP: Self Publishing for Poets + make a poetry zine
Have you ever considered publishing your poetry, but don't know what the options are?
In this session local poet and performer Fleassy Malay will de-mistify the self-publishing experience and provide multiple pathways to self-publishing. The second part of the session will be a creative and hands-on opportunity to make a poetry zine from one of your own poems.
Leave this session understanding what's possible for you with self-publishing and a small self-published zine ready for reproduction and distribution. 

This session is 50% information and 50% practical play. The second part of the session involves using fine motor skills with scissors, paper folding, and glue. Support workers are welcome if required. 

Please Bring: One of your own short poems (200 words max) printed or handwritten (this will be cut up, so please do not bring the only copy of it you have). If you need a copy printed please email your poem to Mothertonguelove@gmail.com with "poem for workshop" as the subject up to 24 hours before the workshop, and we will print it for you. We will provide scissors but they will be shared. If you like you can bring your own pair if you prefer.

LOCATION:
Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub - Wilim Ngarrgu Community Meeting Room 1
Fully Wheelchair Accessible

FACILITOR BIO:
Two times TEDx speaker and award winning poet, Fleassy Malay, is an internationally renowned, evocative and powerful spoken word artist, speaker and educator. They are a global advocate for Women’s and LGBTQI+ rights and a fierce voice for the power of authenticity and courage as a social change tool. Fleassy is the founder of Melbourne’s acclaimed NFP organisation and Women's Spoken Word event, Mother Tongue Poetry. Winner of the Reciter of the year 2022 National Folk Festival Prize and represented Melbourne at Slamovision in Dublin Unesco City of Literature in 2025. Fleassy was also on the first slam team to represent Australia in the National Poetry Slam USA in 2017, and was a state finalist at the Australian Poetry Slam 2023.

Mother Tongue Poetry is a local organisation committed to equipping and amplifying the voices of women and gender diverse people who align with the experiences of womanhood. 

For more from Mother Tongue Poetry join our mailing list, follow us on instagram, or become a Patron.