For our monthly Writing On Our Calendar feature, we bring you a round-up of literary events happening in Sydney and around NSW. Check out some of the writing events and programs in 2024 this June!
29 May – 3 June: Words on the Waves Festival (Central Coast)
Words on the Waves Writers Festival is a celebration of words and ideas. With author talks and panels, as well as evening conversation events, writing workshops, local book launches, a literary cruise, family fun day, schools program and more, the festival offers a diverse range of high quality literary events for both the Central Coast community and visitors to the area.
1 June: ‘One Day Wonder’ Storytelling Conference (North Sydney)
A conference for adults focusing on storytelling skills and stories for different audience groups. Choice of workshops in morning & afternoon sessions followed by a Storytelling Concert.
4 June: Meet the Winners of the Mona Brand Award 2024 (Sydney)
Join the State Library of NSW to celebrate and hear from the newly announced winners of the 2024 Mona Brand Award for women stage and screenwriters, Belinda Chayko and Hannah Carroll Chapman, in a special celebration of Australian women’s screenwriting. Described by the judges as ‘the hidden gem; of Australian screenwriting, Belinda Chayko has earned the country’s coveted (and only) prize for women stage and screen writers, the Mona Brand Award worth $30,000.
5 June: The Craft of Crime: in conversation with Sulari Gentill & Chris Hammer (Canberra)
The Friends of the National Library present two of Australia’s preeminent crime writers in conversation with crime fiction reviewer Anna Steele. Join them for an intriguing discussion followed by a Q&A session and book-signing.
6 June: Lane Cove Literary Awards and Anthology Book Launch (North Sydney)
Lane Cove Council invites you to celebrate the book launch of the Lane Cove Literary Awards 2023: An Anthology. This anthology showcases prize winning and shortlisted entries from the 2023 Awards. It is an engaging compilation of short stories, theatre scripts, and poetry which reflect the creativity, thoughts and imagination of Australian writers. Join them to launch the publication and congratulate the winners and shortlisted writers.
7 June: First Friday with Myoung Jae Yi (Online)
First Friday, our monthly conversation with an industry professional, is a chance for our community to learn more about the writing and publishing industry. This June, we invite you to our online event with Myoung Jae Yi, Creative Director of the Headland Writers Festival and owner of Candelo Books in Bega. Myoung will join us to share insights about directing a literary festival, the state of the arts in regional NSW, and how his vibrant community came together after the 2018 fires.
7 – 9 June: Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival (Mid North Coast)
Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival (BRWF) welcomes their new Festival Patron, Bryan Brown, an icon of Australian entertainment. The festival will once again bring the most thought-provoking and entertaining Aussie authors to the Mid North Coast, including Chris Hammer, Tony Birch, Kate Grenville and Bruce Pascoe.
12 June: Writers at Stanton with Shankari Chandran (North Sydney)
Hear the Miles Franklin award-winning author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens talk in this special evening event about her new book, Safe Haven, a novel about displacement and seeking refuge—but ultimately a story about finding home—and the lengths you’ll go to find safety and love. Shankari will be touring her book throughout June, with more events in Blacktown, Brookvale,
14 June: Queeries at Vivid (Sydney)
Featuring journalists, pop stars, poets and more, Queeries is a literary night turned on its head, where performers explore and prod what it means to be human through a queer lens, inspired by Vivid Sydney 2024’s theme. This year’s lineup includes: podcaster and TV presenter Agharad ‘Rad’ Yeo, the poignant prose of Sydney Morning Herald’s Best Young Novelist Dr George Haddad; the dazzling spectacle of Kween Kong’s drag artistry; the rich poetry and storytelling of Omar Sakr; incisive commentary from writer and critic Madeleine Gray; and the brilliant storytelling of writer and artist Dylin Hardcastle. All these artists, along with the brains and brawn of Queeries, host and journalist Jared Richards, will navigate the theme of humanity with humour and heart.
15 June: Pathways to Publishing: Perfect Your Submission (Inner West Sydney)
You’ve put your heart and soul into crafting your manuscript. But how do you ensure it will stand out from the thousands of others vying to get onto bookshop shelves and into readers’ hands? This one-day workshop with bestselling author Ashley Kalagian Blunt will give you the inside knowledge and tools you need to grab the attention of your desired agent or publisher.
15 June: SCWC Poetry Award and Anthology Launch (Wollongong)
Join the announcement of the 2024 South Coast Writers Centre Poetry Award and the launch of the 2024 SCWC Anthology, Chroma. The event will include readings by shortlisted poets: Sharon Rockman, Lili Pâquet, Denise O’Hagan, Eden Crain, Willo Drummond, Bríd Morahan, Rosa O’Kane, Alisha Brown, Greg McLaren and Jen Saunders, along with poetry judge Judith Beveridge and Chroma editor Peter Frankis.
Starts 17 June: Editing for Writers Course (Online)
In this online editing course for writers, Pamela Hewitt walks you through the next part of the journey. We analyse structural, stylistic and presentational problems, exploring strategies to improve them. We go behind the scenes, demystifying the editing process and providing practical techniques for taking your text to the next stage of writing quality. We investigate the levels of editing, and how to identify and deal with common issues in unpublished manuscripts. We also take a realistic look at trends in editing for digital publishing. You will return to your manuscript with new eyes and fresh ideas. Editing for Writers includes content on cultural diversity and sensitivity, the latest on developments in artificial intelligence, and trends in contemporary fiction.
Starts 19 June: Writing Romance Course (Online)
Join this online romance writing workshop with author Anne Gracie prepared to write and read, and improve your writing skills with practical writing exercises. Share your writing to get reader and tutor feedback—a great preparation for publication. Even if you’re not writing a romance, including a touch of romance in a different kind of novel can enlarge and enrich readers’ experience and widen your potential reading audience.
Starts 19 June: How to Run a Writing (or Reading) Group (Wollongong)
These free workshops are designed to increase your skill to establish, manage and lead on-going reading and writing groups in your community. Community connection creates an environment where readers and writers can provide support and feedback to each other, find inspiration, and take advantage of collaboration opportunities. These workshops will be run by Monica Davidson, an award-winning expert on the creative industries.
22 June: Writing Historical Fiction (Inner West Sydney)
In this workshop, Mirandi Riwoe will discuss research methods and the writing processes involved in writing a historical novel. Through authorial insights and discussion, you will further develop your own research and writing process. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to further your own historical fiction, writing activities will help with techniques for incorporating your research into a work of fiction. Learn how to find resources, blend research with fiction and narrative technique (without lumping everything you uncover into your narrative!), and how to choose between ‘accuracy’ and ‘authenticity’.
24 June: The Complexity of Kin: Writing Family into Fiction (Online)
Are you working on a multi-character family narrative? Are you struggling to balance your story alongside the development of each character? Perhaps you’re unsure of which angle to take? Join Maame Blue as she takes you through guided readings from brilliant novelists writing about family, alongside useful writing exercises and feedback points to help you develop your own approach to writing about family.
27 June: Nadia Wheatley on The End of the Morning by Charmain Clift (Inner West Sydney)
The End of the Morning is the final and unfinished autobiographical novel by Charmian Clift. It is published alongside a new selection of Clift’s essays and an afterword from her biographer Nadia Wheatley, who will be talking about the book at Five Dock Library.
30 June: Queer Writing Workshop with Dr. Inga Simpson (Far South Coast)
Dive into a half-day of immersive writing exploration, tailored for queer writers. This intimate workshop, limited to 12 participants, promises a blend of tuition, practical writing exercises, and inspiring examples of queer literature. Navigate the complexities of crafting authentic queer characters within today’s publishing landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or just starting your literary journey, this workshop welcomes writers of all levels and genres, spanning both fiction and non-fiction.
More from Writing NSW
Check out our full range of writing courses in Sydney, our online writing courses and our feedback programs to see how we can help you on your creative writing journey. Find out about our grants and prizes, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, opportunities and giveaways.