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 2025 this February!
1 February: Captive Prince Series Relaunch: C.S Pascat In Conversation (Sydney)
GALAXY once again launches Captive Prince with a fresh new look and bringing this exciting reading experience to a new generation of readers yet to discover this intense tale. For the relaunch C.S Pacat is joined in conversation by forthcoming Penguin author and former GALAXY bookseller Bronte-Marie Wesson to discuss this groundbreaking queer trilogy and the changing face of romantasy.
3 February – 20 June: Online Feedback: Creative Non-Fiction with Fiona Murphy (Online)
In this creative non-fiction writing course, Fiona Murphy will provide feedback on your essays and creative non-fiction, enabling you to hone your skills over five months. If you’re ready to challenge yourself and develop your skills through constructive critique and independent work, this course is for you.
3 February – 20 June: Online Feedback: Children’s Books with Aleesah Darlison (Online)
In this online writing course, author Aleesah Darlison will provide feedback on your writing for children, enabling you to hone your skills over five months. Once a month, you’ll submit either a picture book text or an early reader/chapter book or middle grade text.
3 February – 20 June: Online Feedback: Poetry with Ivy Ireland (Online)
In this course, poet Ivy Ireland will provide feedback on your poetry in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over five months. You’ll also give and receive peer feedback, and be able to consider the tutor’s feedback across all submissions.
4 February: An Evening with Nicola Moriarty (Castle Hill)
Join bestselling author Nicola Moriarty, as she discusses her new book Every Last Suspect. A riveting thriller, with a twisted tale of drama and suspense.
4 February – 11 March: Creativity for Writers with Hilary Bell (Sydney)
The premise of this course with Hilary Bell is that you only need to find an entry point, through which you can access the idea that’s inside you. By the end of the course, you’ll have the kernels of at least six new ideas.
5 February: Lisa Portolan – Ten Ways to Find Love (Sydney)
A media commentator, podcaster and academic, with a PhD in dating apps and intimacy, Dr Lisa Portolan has conducted hundreds of interviews over many years on the question of what love looks like in the digital age. Join her as she discusses her new book, Ten Ways to Find Love… and How to Keep It: A Guide to Romance in the Digital World.
6 February: Book Launch: Cold Truth – Ashley Kalagian Blunt in Conversation with James McKenzie Watson (Sydney)
Join Ashley Kalagian Blunt in conversation with James McKenzie Watson. Copies of Cold Truth will be available for purchase at the venue through Roaring Stories, with Blunt signing copies after the discussion.
7 February: Catherine Jinks in conversation with Michelle Rickerby (Leura)
Join Megalong Books in celebrating the release of Catherine Jinks’ new novel, Panic in conversation with Michelle Rickerby.
8 February: Josie McSkimming – Gutsy Girls (Sydney)
Join Josie McSkimming as she launches her new book, Gutsy Girls, an intimate story of sisterhood, finding creative power and blazing your own trail.
8 February: Screenwriting Fundamentals with Chris Phillips (Sydney)
This course will show you how make your story concept shine, develop fundamental screenwriting skills, and gain a unique insight into the world of film and television.
9 February: Eileen Chong – We Speak of Flowers (Sydney)
We Speak of Flowers, Eileen Chong’s sixth collection, is a wondrous extended elegy dedicated to her ancestors. Its 101 pieces are a spacious, meditative record of an attempt to make sense of grief in the face of great pain. Join Eileen Chong in conversation with Lachlan Brown at Gleebooks.
11 February: LNY: Chopsticks or Fork? with Jennifer Wong, Lin Jie Kong & Benjamin Law (Sydney)
Following their successful ABC series Jennifer Wong and Lin Jie Kong discuss their new book Chopsticks or Fork, which lovingly captures the stories of ten very different families who run Chinese restaurants, from Queensland’s Hervey Bay to Western Australia’s Dunsborough, and features more Chinese restaurant ‘takeaways’ than you can poke a (chop)stick at. Jennifer and Lin Jie will be joined in conversation by Benjamin Law.
11 February: Sheila Fitzpatrick – Lost Souls (Sydney)
Lost Souls is a vivid history of how Cold War politics helped solve one of the twentieth century’s biggest refugee crises. Lost Souls will be launched by Ruth Balint and Sheila Fitzpatrick at Gleebooks.
12 February: Nadia Mahjouri in-conversation with Winnie Dunn (Sydney)
A daughter searches for her father; a mother for her son. From isolated Tasmania to vibrant Morocco, two women seek the truth about what happened to the same man. Join Nadia Mahjouri in-conversation with Winnie Dunn as she discusses her new book, Half Truth.
13 February: Ann Dombroski – After the Great Storm (Sydney)
After the Great Storm is a novel imbued with both darkness and light, sadness and joy; its characters refuse to give up on love regardless of the cost. Join Gleebooks and Helen Vatsikopoulos at the launch of Ann Dombroski’s After the Great Storm.
12 February: Reading Between the Lines: Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming (Sydney)
This monthly event is a chance to hear an expert speak about a book they have chosen and offer a greater depth and understanding of the book. You can take part in the discussion or simply sit back and learn. This month, the featured book for discussion is Baron Wenckheim’s Homecoming. The guest presenter is Gabriel Curtin.
12 – 14 February: Whodunit! Crime Across the World (Katoomba)
If you love a good crime story but also want to travel the world, the 18th Literary Festival in the historic Carrington Hotel at Katoomba is on international crime stories. Be ready for suspense, dark twists, complex international dynamics and even some humour as our speakers tease you with crime stories from across the world.
15 February: Writing Group Information Day: Find Your People (Sydney)
On Saturday February 15 from 12 to 2pm, join Writing NSW for an interactive session of activities and information for everyone interested in starting or joining a new writing group. You will be able to participate in a writing group meeting simulation, get advice from experienced convenors, and start your own group on the spot. The Writing NSW team will help you find your people!
19 February: Bronwyn Rivers – The Reunion (Sydney)
Join Bronwyn Rivers as she discusses her new book, The Reunion. The Hunting Party meets The Dry in this tense, atmospheric thriller set in the deadly heat of the Australian bush.
20 February: Speaker Series: Saltwater Cure with Ali Gripper & Elizabeth Fortescue (Sydney)
Journalist Ali Gripper discusses her new book, a collection of essays from prominent Australians who share their unique perspectives on the transformative power of the ocean, and the importance of preserving its beauty for future generations to enjoy. Ali will be joined in conversation by arts writer Elizabeth Fortescue.
20 February: Author Talk: Cold Truth – Ashley Kalagian Blunt – Newcastle Library (Newcastle)
Newcastle Library is excited to partner with Hunter Writers’ Centre to host the launch of number one bestselling author and podcast host Ashley Kalagian Blunt’s gripping new thriller, Cold Truth.
20 February: An Evening with Sophie Clark of Cruel is the Light (Sydney)
Join Penguin Random House for an exciting evening with Sophie Clark as she discusses her new romantic fantasy book, Cruel is the Light, with Lily Crozier from Penguin Random House.
22 February: Poetics of Place with Jazz Money (Sydney)
In this poetry workshop, Jazz Money will lead poets through a wide range of prompts to create new poetry based in place and memory. With the structure of the workshop based around reading, listening and looking, Jazz will teach you that poems inhabit our memories and we all have the ability to coax them out.
22 February: First Seed to First Draft: Turning Ideas into Stories with Anna Downes (Sydney)
In this one-day workshop with internationally bestselling author Anna Downes, you’ll look at the difference between a story and a situation. We’ll chart a rough course from beginning to end to identify how much mileage the idea really has. And by the end of the course, we’ll have a structurally solid starting point from which we can confidently take that idea from first seed to first draft.
24 February – 4 April: Online: Short Stories with Nick Earls (Online)
The writer’s craft and the choices the writer has made. In this course, author Nick Earls focuses on key aspects of short-fiction craft, and how to approach making the kinds of choices that deliver compelling short stories.
26 February: In This Moment: Nardi Simpson (Sydney)
Join Yuwaalaraay storyteller Nardi Simpson and curator of In This Moment, Anne-Marie Te Whiu, for an interactive conversation about poetry and the way it intersects with our daily lives.
26 February – 3 December: Year of the Novel with Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Sydney)
Make 2025 the year you finally write that book in this course from bestselling author Ashley Kalagian Blunt. Over three phases of eight weeks each, you’ll receive the tools, support and encouragement you need to plan, write and edit your novel.
27 February – 8 March: Trent Dalton’s Love Stories (Wollongong)
The latest smash-hit stage adaptation of Trent Dalton’s best-selling book Love Stories sold out Brisbane Festival in 2024, playing to more than 20,000 ecstatic audience members. Now it starts its national tour here in Wollongong for a strictly limited two-week season. Inspired by a personal moment of profound love and generosity, bestselling author Trent Dalton spent two months in 2021 gathering stories. Speaking to Australians from all walks of life, he asked them one simple thing: ‘Can you please tell me a love story?’
Writing NSW publishes these free listings in good faith but does not endorse or warrant the accuracy of any information.
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