New writing

Fiction and prose by established and emerging authors. Send your poetry or fiction to New Writing at skryfwerk@litnet.co.za to be considered for publication on LitNet.

Please note that work previously published in print or on any online media platform will not be considered for selection.

 

1 April 2025: Gekkedag-uitnodiging

LitNet Menings 2025-04-01

Die LitNet-redaksie nooi mense uit om vir ons te skryf oor dinge in die lewe wat gek is. Dit kan oor enigiets gaan: hoe absurd die prys van brood is, of hoe snaaks dit lyk as sekere mans snorre kweek, of watter regerings aan bewind is, of hoe vergesog dit is wat in verskillende wêrelddele aan die gang is – of net eenvoudig iets snaaks, ’n onverwagse of humoristiese staaltjie wat jy met die res van ons lesers wil deel. 

Goodnight, sun

Carla Botha New writing 2025-03-06

"Goodnight, the boy whispers to the sun,
not understanding farewell."

The lost city

Carla Botha New writing 2025-02-27

"When cartographers come to study us,
they’ll find no clear borders, no legend
to decode the ways, we have merged."

Phone

Carla Botha New writing 2025-02-20

"Inside this device
Numbers of people and lies"

Dance of bloodied feet

JMT Labuschagne New writing 2025-02-13

"bred barefoot
to stagger over the shards
of yesteryear’s looking glass,"

Resurrection

Joseph Koetsier New writing 2025-02-06

"The year of the Master’s Resurrection and Ascension.
His call, as the Thunderous Sounds of the Apocalypse."

Gossiping trees

Heidi Henning New writing 2025-01-23

"An uninterrupted meeting of the minds,
Discussing thoughts, anecdotes 
From the mother branches"

The show must go on

Mark Seal New writing 2024-09-12

"The makeshift stage is artfully suited to both the tricks of high office and the gambols of farce, often indistinguishably."

A sailing song

Carla Chait New writing 2024-08-29

"So simple in its stream:
straight forward."

Soldiers on the streets

Zama Madinana New writing 2024-08-22

"your liberators
are singing the same song
as their oppressors'"

From a murmur to a shout

Martli Slabber New writing 2024-08-22

"The village erupted in surprised praise. Somehow, the imagery of the entire police team, from the station commander to the most junior constable, picking up sand and wielding brooms, became a beacon of hope."

Pink suitcase

Karin Walker New writing 2024-08-07

"when I walk out of the door
my pink suitcase rattling behind
on broken wheels I thought you would fix"

Forsaken place

Julian Roup New writing 2024-05-30

"Nothing grows here now except silence and birdsong by day and the call of the jackal by night."

The lost diaries of Tiyo Soga

Mphuthumi Ntabeni New writing 2024-02-09

"It is not easy, waiting for fair sailing weather, permanently watching for the winds to turn."

Protection needed

Ena de Kock New writing 2024-01-17

"Somewhere a mother lifts
a hand to shade her eyes to look and
look again

down the long dusty street
for a son that will never
arrive again."

Wishes beyond glory

Joseph Koetsier New writing 2023-08-24

"I wish you the open heart that brings the truth and love to all mankind,
beyond any political blocks and false leagues.
Only the free flow of borderless wisdom!"

De-ossifying love

Desmond Gird New writing 2023-07-27

"before our love ossifies
withering unrequited unfulfilled
I will steal your heart truly
once more
committing like never before"

Baberton Daisy

Lucas Zulu Poësie 2023-02-09

"Let my words caress you,
my gentle hands are thornless,
here to charm you, not to harm you"

A story written by AI: "The fox astronaut"

ChatGPT New writing 2022-12-13

"Kora was a curious little fox who had always dreamed of exploring the vastness of space. She spent her days reading books about the stars and planets, and imagining what it would be like to visit them."

AI writes a poem about sitting in the morning traffic

ChatGPT New writing 2022-12-13

"So here’s to sitting in traffic on this morning drive,
May it be a reminder to slow down and enjoy the ride."

Top