DrStefanie Markidis

Dr Stefanie Markidis is a writer and researcher in the expanded field of nonfiction writing. She is a Lecturer in Creative Writing and Literary Studies at Deakin University in Melbourne and her research practice spans creative nonfiction, life writing, archives and creative-critical arts practice. Stefanie has a longstanding editorial career – her writing has appeared in major Australian magazines, journals and on stage. She has edited nonfiction books in travel and culture, was the founding creative writing editor at Ramona Magazine and is the Nonfiction Editor at Westerly. 

Stefanie was awarded her PhD in Creative Writing from RMIT University in 2020 and has been lecturing and teaching writing since 2015. Stefanie is interested in life stories, how they are communicated and the capacity of this communication to make positive change in the world. Stefanie has considerable experience supporting HDR candidates and developing creative-practice research training. 

Through her research, teaching and writing, she seeks to understand links between ontology and creative form, with conceptual and material interventions that explore creativity in critical thought. Stefanie is passionate about creative-critical writing and activations of philosophy/theory in literary practice.

Stefanie's research interests include:

• Creative nonfiction and life writing, including forms of creative-critical writing, auto/biography, literary and creative journalism
• Applied philosophy and literary theory in writing, with focus on creativity in writing/language, writing difference and creativity, philosophy in literature and poetics
• Community writing: writing diaspora and memory, collective biography
• Embodied writing and creative practice

Stefanie’s research, writing and engagement work is community-aligned, with community-driven writing/research projects. Recent engagement projects include a Digital Storytelling workshop series with SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) and the Present Tense creative writing lecture series. In 2023, Stefanie was a judge for the Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Writing Prize.