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 first writing events and programs in 2024 this March!
1 March: Gyan Yankovich Author Talk (Bathurst)
Just Friends is a celebration of friendships, shining a light on the many different forms they can take and the comfort they provide, whether they exist within the workplace, emerge in motherhood, are uncovered inside our neighbourhoods or become our chosen family. See author Gyan Yankovich talk about the book in a free event at Bathurst Library.
1 March: Book Launch: Square Me, Round World (Ballina)
Attend the launch of Square Me, Round World by local author Chelsea Luker. Square Me, Round World is an illuminating collection of short stories that delve into the distinctive experiences of those who navigate life feeling like square pegs in a world of round holes. Chelsea is the founder of Connect Us Psychology in Ballina and has a special interest in working with neurodivergent individuals. Square Me, Round World is her first book and draws on her many years of experience working in this field. Mark your calendars and join for a night of celebration, drinks and nibbles.
2 March: Multicultural Author’s Workshop (Western Sydney)
Meet other multicultural authors in Blacktown and learn about how you can share each other’s experience and cultures while living in Australia.
2-23 March: Narrative Structure for Fiction Writers with Timothy Daly (Inner West Sydney)
What makes stories work effectively? Why do some stories move you while others fail? Story and narrative structure is much more important in the overall success of a work than many writers realise. This four-week course will teach you many of the narrative structures and story patterns that lie beneath the surface of successful stories.
4 March: Dervla McTiernan in Conversation with Michaela Kalowski (Sydney)
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan propulsively captures the day-to-day, minute-to-minute psychological and emotional impact of perhaps the most painful scenario imaginable: the unexplained disappearance of a child. And — in mirror image — the fear and horror of having a child accused of a terrible crime. At the State Library of NSW Auditorium, join Dervla McTiernan in conversation with Michaela Kalowski.
4 March: Karen Viggers Author Talk (Queanbeyan)
Join Queanbeyan-Palerang Libraries for an inspiring evening with author Karen Viggers as she discusses her latest novel Sidelines, which delves into the ongoing conversation about socially acceptable behaviour from parents on the sidelines of the sporting field. Dissecting both family and team politics, it exposes the familiar rhetoric of craving success and doing anything to get it.
Starts 4 March: Online Feedback: Short Stories with Ryan O’Neill (Online)
In this online feedback course, author Ryan O’Neill will provide feedback on your short fiction in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over three months. You’ll also give and receive peer feedback, and be able to consider the tutor’s feedback across all submissions.
Starts 4 March: Online Feedback: Manuscript Development with Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Online)
Do you have a draft manuscript of adult fiction or memoir? Are you looking for feedback and tips to improve your work? In this online course, author Ashley Kalagian Blunt will provide feedback on your manuscript in an online classroom environment.
5 March: Lawson Literary Lot (Blue Mountains)
Join a monthly gathering and conversation about literature organised by Belong Blue Mountains.
6 March: Perumal Murugan: Resurrected Through Writing (Sydney)
Journey with author Perumal Murugan, once a target of right-wing book burnings and now longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023. Perumal Murugan, a Tamil speaker, and Roanna Gonsalves, an English speaker, will be in conversation in their respective languages. A live interpreter will provide consecutive interpretation throughout the event.
8 March: Book Launch, Conversation and Dinner with Sophie Hansen (Southern Highlands)
Join the launch of Sophie Hansen’s new cookbook What Can I Bring? where she will share the inspiration behind her latest creation followed by a hearty dinner at Moonacres School in Robertson.
9 March: Write-In (Inner West Sydney)
Struggling to find the time and space to write? Join a supportive community of writers sharing space at our upcoming Write-In. Whether you’re close to a deadline or just need to be held accountable, a Write-In is the perfect place to make progress. Writing NSW will provide the space, some light snacks and all the tea and coffee you need to make that word count climb. And it’s free to participate for all!
9 March: Scone Literary Festival Community Day (Upper Hunter)
In their off year, the biennual festival is hosting a free community day with a roving book club, community book swap, a thought-provoking panel entitled ‘After Lidell’ featuring Dr Patrice Newell, Catherine Hickson and Dr Penny Dunstan. Enjoy coffee and a light lunch with friends old and new; bring a picnic of purchase a light lunch and coffee, all in the shade of the hub at Scone Arts and Crafts.
9 March: The Archive of Remembering and Forgetting with Sara Saleh (Inner West Sydney)
In this workshop with poet and author Sara Saleh, we’ll look at contexts of intergenerational trauma and healing as inheritance, and the way in which both pain and survivorship can sharpen our senses and open/close us to certain detail. In this workshop we will explore the stark and different ways poets move through the surreal and mundane to explore memory and loss.
10 March: Women’s Day Writers Event (Western Sydney)
Hosted by WestWords as part of NSW Women’s Week, this is a full day of free activities. Begin with poets ali whitelock, Willo Dummond and Paris Rosemont in conversation with Zohra Aly in a vibrant panel that engages with and dissects the idea of female poetic form. Then choose between a Poetry & Writing Workshop with ali whitelock and counsellor Julia Ellis, or a Performing Your Work workshop with Brittany Searle. Lunch is provided, then the afternoon contains an author panel with Hayley Scrivenor and Amal Awad, and an open mic featuring Sarah Carroll.
12 March: Bondi Literary Salon March Book Club: Prophet Song (Sydney)
Join the Bondi Literary Salon for their first March book club, hosted by Dave Francis, where they will be discussing the 2023 Booker Prize Winner Prophet Song by Paul Lynch at Gertrude & Alice Cafe Bookstore. Tickets include a drink on arrival and nibbles during the evening.
12 March: Meet Joanna Nell – Author and Positive Ageing Advocate (Lake Macquarie)
Join Swansea Library for morning tea and to celebrate NSW Seniors Festival. Meet the internationally published, bestselling author of five novels, Joanna Nell. Joanna is also a doctor and an advocate for positive ageing, and her latest novel is Mrs Winterbottom takes a Gap Year, a witty and touching tale about mismatched expectations and living life in the moment.
13 March: Donna Cameron Author Talk (Port Macquarie)
Donna M Cameron is a playwright and AWGIE nominated radio dramatist who also writes novels, including her newest The Rewilding, an electrifying cat-and-mouse-chase and odd couple love story that captures the essence of what it means to be alive today in this cusp of change pulsing with possibilities.
13-19 March: Writing for the Education Market with Louise Park (Online)
Many well-known children’s authors began their careers writing for the education market and continue to do so alongside successful trade careers. Education publishing offers wonderful diversity and scope; it is also one of the best training grounds for emerging writers. But what exactly is it? This online course with author and educator Louise Park provides you with the knowledge and tools you need to write for the education market.
14-16 March: Manly Writers’ Festival (Northern Sydney)
This inaugural two-and-a-bit day festival for readers, writers, and thinkers will bring together ideas and writing, and explore issues at a time of significant change in the world, as well as simply enjoy great stories. The Manly Writers’ Festival will feed your heart and mind, and aims to leave you energised, informed, and inspired.
14-17 March: Blak & Bright Festival (Livestreamed)
Blak & Bright First Nations Literary Festival is based in Naarm (Melbourne). Established in 2016, the four day showcase celebrates the diverse expressions of First Nations writers and covers all genres from oral stories to epic novels and plays to poetry. You can register to watch the festival online here.
14-17 March: Lifeline Big Book Fair (Illawarra)
Lifeline’s Big Book Fair is back, with over 90,000 pre-loved books on sale over three days at the Illawarra Sports Stadium, Berkeley. Each event is a chance to spread the love of reading far and wide, save books from landfill and raise vital funds for Lifeline to deliver essential crisis support and suicide prevention services within the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South Coast.
15 March: Manly Literary Salon (Northern Sydney)
Head to the Manly Spirits Distillery for a book launch and poetry reading as well as a complimentary themed cocktail and antipasto share plates. The book being launched is High Heels and Low Blows by Jill Valentine, and the poetry salon features Cocoa Deep-Amek, Luke Fischer, Zeina Issa and Michele Seminara, with MC Michael Cain and music by Jazz with Kate.
15 March: Brenda Matthews Author Talk (Campbelltown)
Brenda Matthews is a proud Wiradjuri woman whose journey from being part of the stolen generation to becoming an author, speaker, film director and Indigenous Director of Learning Circle Australia is an inspiring testament to the power of healing and reconciliation. Be captivated by her incredible storytelling and gain insight into her latest book and documentary. This in-person event offers a unique opportunity to meet Brenda and ask her questions about her writing process and inspirations.
15 March: Walking Book Club (Hunter Region)
Join a walking book-lovers group at Maitland Library that takes a gentle stroll along the river and discusses books they’ve been reading and loving, and books they think others really need to know about.
16 March: Words at Wagstaffe (Central Coast)
Words at Wagstaffe, a one-day literary event held in partnership between Words on the Waves Writers Festival and The Bouddi Society, will return to Wagstaffe Hall for its fourth year with the theme Truly Criminal. See crime author Michael Robotham, Walkley Award-winning journalist Dan Box, crime author Sarah Barrie, and small-town mystery author Susan Duncan.
18 March: Seniors Festival Memoir Writing Workshop (Western Sydney)
Writer Keith Whelan hosts a free workshop on writing your own personal memoir, with topics including how to choose a subject, plan, focus, and begin your story. Keith will lead participants through multiple writing exercises in recalling people, places, and events, discussion of the tension between emotional and factual truth, one-on-one sharing and critique, and advice on publishing.
19 March: Redfern Community Indigenous Writers Worskhop (Sydney)
Library For All is creating a collection of 500 mirror books for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children called Our Yarning, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are invited to add to this unique collection with stories that encourage children to love reading. The workshop will be led by Jessica Wimbus, a Gubbi Gubbi woman from Queensland Australia with extensive experience in Aboriginal education. Participants do not need any creative writing skills or experience, and authors will receive a copy of their published book.
19 March: Books in Bars with Tate James (Sydney)
Tate James is a USA Today bestselling author of fantasy, paranormal romance, urban fantasy and romantic suspense. Join an unforgettable evening in Darlinghurst discussing the heart-pounding Madison Kate series: Hate, Lair, Fake, and Kate, all of which will be available for purchase on the night, and Tate will be signing copies.
20 March: Independent Publishing Workshop (Broken Hill)
Join a workshop with researchers from the Community Publishing in Regional Australia research group, and learn from publishing professionals Beth Driscoll and Alexandra Dane about editing, designing, marketing and distributing print, ebooks and audiobooks, at 12pm to 2pm at the Aged Persons Rest Centre on Blende St, Broken Hill. There will also be a drop-in session with Beth and Alexandra the following day on 21 March, 4pm to 5pm at the same venue. Attendance is free, no registration required.
20 March: Bad Women Book Club (Sydney)
Female characters are often labelled “unlikable” or “problematic,” purely for being three-dimensional. At Better Read Than Dead bookshop’s monthly Bad Women Book Club, they dissect books with female characters deemed difficult at their centre.
20-26 March: Preparing for Publication with Tiffany Tsao (Inner West Sydney)
When you’re in the throes of writing your first book, you’re not necessarily thinking about what happens when you’re done. But that day will come. You’ll write the last sentence of your final chapter. You’ll lean back in your chair, stunned. And you’ll ask yourself, Now what? This online course with Tiffany Tsao will help you prepare for the next stage in your writing journey: finding a suitable publisher or literary agent and getting them interested in your work.
21 March: World Poetry Day Open Mic Night (Western Sydney)
Join Fairfield Poetry Slam at the Whitlam Library for World Poetry Day! Whether you’re new to poetry, a seasoned veteran, or simply looking to spend an evening with local creatives, this open mic night is the perfect opportunity to listen to, connect with, and be inspired by local artists.
23 March: Pamela Cook and Penelope Janu In Conversation (Goulburn)
Join Pamela and Penelope as they talk about their books, respective paths to publication, writing processes, and writing careers in this in-conversation between two experienced and entertaining authors. They are friends, writing buddies, and members of The Inkwell writing group at Writing NSW, and love nothing better than talking about books and writing to like-minded readers and fellow writers. They have recently co-published novellas in an anthology of rural stories: A Country Vet Christmas.
Starts 25 March: Writing Trauma with Meera Atkinson (Online)
The prospect of writing trauma can be both daunting and compelling. Award-winning author Meera Atkinson invites those writing or looking to write trauma in any genre to explore this terrain through this online writing workshop.
28 March: Book Club for Seniors (Katoomba)
Share your love of reading and stimulating dialogue with other senior readers, in this monthly group for book lovers at Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre.
30 March: Pace, Tension, Action! with Alan Baxter (Illawarra)
Good pace and tension are essential for engaging storytelling, especially during the highest stakes scenes. If we want people to stay engaged, the tension has to be pulled taut and held there during action scenes, giving the reader excitement and danger while maintaining the suspension of disbelief. In this workshop with Alan Baxter, look at what makes a good action scene, why they’re powerful, where to put them in a story, and how to craft a scene for maximum impact.
30 March: Easter Book Fair (Central Coast)
The Pearl Beach Progress Association’s 47th Easter Book Fair returns, with secondhand books as well as handmade and baked goods.
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.