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 this February!
4 February: Kathy Lette: The Sisterhood Rules (Sydney)
Join Kathy Lette, author of the beloved Aussie classic Puberty Blues, to discuss her latest novel The Sisterhood Rules.
5 February: Tim Ayliffe in conversation with Sam Guthrie (Balmain)
Hear from Tim Ayliffe in conversation with Sam Guthrie on his newest release, Dark Desert Road.
5 February: Get Real: Lisa Teh, Kristina Karlsson, and Mia Klitsas in conversation (Newtown)
Join us with Lisa Teh to celebrate the release of Get Real! Lisa Teh will be joined by Kristina Karlsson and Mia Klitsas for a conversation about the unique challenges women face in the business world.
5 February: Book Launch: On the Edge by Kate Horan (Paddington)
Join bestselling authors Kate Horan and Pip Drysdale for a night of crime conversation to celebrate the launch of Kate’s upcoming second novel, On The Edge.
2 February – 18 November: Online: Year of the Novel with Amy Lovat (Online)
Make 2026 the year you finally write that book in this course from author Amy Lovat. Over three phases of eight weeks each, you’ll receive the tools, support and encouragement you need to plan, write and edit your novel.
2 February – 18 November: In-Person: Year of the Novel with Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Lilyfield)
In Year of the Novel, writer and tutor Ashley Kalagian Blunt will guide you through three phases that cover the stages of writing a novel from beginning to end.
5 February: Book Launch: Nightshade and Oak – an evening with Molly O’Neill (Sydney)
Molly O’Neill returns to celebrate her new book, Nightshade and Oak — a delightful historical fantasy of myth and magic in which an Iron Age goddess must grapple with becoming human. Molly will be in conversation with fellow author Annie McCann.
6 February: Geoff Parkes in conversation with Darcy Tindale (Newtown)
Hear from Geoff Parkes in conversation with Darcy Tindale on The First Law of the Bush, the scintillating new rural noir.
6 February: Book Launch: Iluka by Cassie Stroud (Paddington)
Join author Cassie Stroud and Laura Brading (Books Editor, Primer Magazine) for a night of conversation to celebrate the launch of Cassie’s first novel, Iluka.
6 February: Julie Goodwin Your Time Starts Now Tour (Wagga Wagga)
This two-hour live show is part cooking demonstration, part heart-to-heart chat, and 100% Julie. Co-hosted by her longtime friend and award-winning broadcaster, David Rabbetts (Rabbit). With their undeniable chemistry honed over years co-hosting breakfast radio together, the show promises laughs, tears, and a whole lot of heart.
6 February: Author Talk with Léonie Kelsall (Yass)
Join bestselling author Léonie Kelsall to celebrate the release of her new book The Ironbark Promise!
6 February: First Friday with Huyen Hac Helen Tran (Online)
This February, Writing NSW invites you to our online event with Huyen Hac Helen Tran, mentor for Writing NSW’s Cultivate Mentorship for Emerging Diverse Writers.
7 February: Book Launch: Bun by Hana Kinoshita Thomson (Sydney)
Hop along to the launch of Bun with author/illustrator Hana Kinoshita Thomson! This charming new picture book follows Bun, a sweet bunny who adores gardening, baking and visiting her friends.
7 February: Don’t Ask the Trees Collective in Conversation (Parramatta)
Arts & Cultural Exchange presents an afternoon conversation with the nine writers behind Don’t Ask the Trees for Their Names: Stories of Leaving and Becoming, a powerful new collection edited by Oula Ghannoum and Loubna Haikal.
7 February: An Evening with Steven Pinker (Sydney)
Steven Pinker, the acclaimed Harvard cognitive psychologist and author of The Better Angels of Our Nature and Enlightenment Now, is coming to Australia for the very first time for a three-city speaking tour.
10 February: Seminar: Everything You Need to Know Before Getting Published with Irma Gold (Online)
This seminar with award-winning author, podcaster and editor Irma Gold will give you the tools and the knowledge to navigate the publishing waters with confidence and a sense of direction.
11 February: A Brain that Breathes Launch: Jodi Wilson in conversation with Sarah Ayoub (Newtown)
Join Jodi Wilson to celebrate the release of A Brain That Breathes! Jodi will be in-conversation Sarah Ayoub.
11 February: Sunset Sessions: The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society (Watsons Bay)
Join Watsons Bay Library for their third instalment of the season’s Sunset Sessions and meet the two best friends and authors who write under their pen name Mette Menzies.
12 February: Tyree Barnette: Stolen Man on Stolen Land (Sydney)
Join Tyree Barnette, in conversation with Sweatshop’s Michael Mohammed Ahmad, to discuss his debut Stolen Man on Stolen Land.
12 February: Audrey Molloy in conversation with Judith Beveridge (Balmain)
Join Audrey Molloy in conversation with Judith Beveridge on her newest release, Fallen.
13 February: The Stronger Sex: Starre Vartan in conversation with Bianca Nogrady (Newtown)
Join Starre Vartan to celebrate the release of The Stronger Sex! Starre will be in conversation with Bianca Nogrady.
13 February: Author Talk: Susannah Fullerton (Windsor)
Susannah Fullerton’s Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them reveals the unique bonds between famous authors and their feline companions.
12 February: Welcome Home Launch: Bee Lim in conversation with Christine Wan (Newtown)
Join Dr. Bee Lim to celebrate the release of Welcome Home! Bee will be in-conversation with Christine Wan.
14 February: Nicole Alexander at Tamworth Library (Tamworth)
Come and meet Australian bestselling author Nicole Alexander, author of The Limestone Road, at the Tamworth library!
14 February – 7 March: Narrative Structure for Fiction Writers with Timothy Daly (Lilyfield)
This four-week course with Timothy Daly will teach you many of the narrative structures and story patterns that lie beneath the surface of successful stories.
14 February: Writing Romance: Tropes, Chemistry, and Craft with Saman Shad (Lilyfield)
In this workshop with Saman Shad, participants will learn about the most common tropes in romance, while also considering how to refresh or subvert them.
15 February: Literature and Love Soirée (Manly)
Who said romantic love is the only love that needs celebration? Join a weekend of love to celebrate the love of literature, community and being human. Let us come together and dive into the words of Bell Hooks in her book: All About Love.
16 February – 3 July: Online Feedback: Fiction with Emma Darragh (Online)
Do you have a draft manuscript of adult or young adult fiction? Are you looking for feedback and tips to improve your work? Join this online feedback course to give and receive feedback on your writing.
16 February – 3 July: Online Feedback: Non-Fiction with Sarah Malik (Online)
In this creative non-fiction writing program, writer, and editor Sarah Malik will provide feedback on your essays and creative non-fiction work, enabling you to hone your skills over five months.
16 February – 3 July: Online Feedback: Children’s Books with Jemima Shafei-Ongu (Online)
In this online writing course, author Jemima Shafei-Ongu will provide feedback on your writing for children, enabling you to hone your skills over five months.
16 February – 3 July: Online Feedback: Poetry with Bronwyn Lea (Online)
In this course, poet Bronwyn Lea will provide feedback on your poetry in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over five months.
17 February: Alison Booth Author Talk (Goulburn)
Come along and hear about Alison Booth’s deeply evocative historical whodunnit.
18 February: Author Talk: Josie McSkimming presents Gutsy Girls (Randwick)
Spend the evening with author Josie McSkimming as she discusses her latest release, Gutsy Girls.
18 February: Author Talk with Tea Cooper (Parramatta)
Join award-winning Australian author Tea Cooper as she discusses her new novel The Tangled Web.
19 February: Authors in Conversation – Catherine Jinks and Alexa Moses (Springwood)
Meet the authors of Dream Wives: a brand new collaboration from two great Aussie writers.
19 February: An Afternoon with Tara Moss (Sydney)
Join BAD Sydney as we host Tara Moss across three separate events in one jam-packed afternoon. Beginning first with a crime walk In the Footsteps of Postwar Noir, followed by an in-conversation talk to a meet-and-greet, and more.
19 February: Speaker Series – The Mushroom Murders with Greg Haddrick (Leichhardt)
Join writer Greg Haddrick as he reveals the gripping true story behind one of Australia’s most shocking murder trials. Greg will be joined in conversation with Amber Schultz.
20 February: A Weekend with Emma Pei Yin (Turvey Park)
Meet Emma at an intimate author talk where she will discuss her WWII novel about three Chinese women navigating war-torn Hong Kong and the power of love, family and literary connection.
21 February: Writing Compelling True Stories with Sian Prior (Lilyfield)
This workshop with author and educator Dr Sian Prior will introduce you to some of the essential skills required to write publishable works of creative non-fiction.
24 February: The Library That Made Me (Sydney)
To celebrate the launch of the State Library of NSW’s 200th Anniversary book The Library That Made Me, an illustrious line-up of contributors to the book reflect on the libraries that shaped them as readers and writers.
24 February: Author Talk: Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson on Conspiracy Nation (Bondi Junction)
Join authors Ariel Bogle and Cam Wilson for a gripping discussion of their new book Conspiracy Nation: Exposing the dangerous world of Australian conspiracy theories.
24 February: The Best of Bill Bryson (Newcastle)
Join Bill Bryson as he shares the major advances of science uncovered in his complete rewrite of the biggest-selling popular science book of the 21st century explaining the Earth, the universe, everything in-between, A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0.
24 February – 31 March: The Art of Poetry with Judith Beveridge (Lilyfield)
This six-week course with Judith Beveridge is open to all students interested in the craft of poetry. The main focus of the course is on developing the writing and critical skills of each student.
25 February – 10 March: Online: Writing for Middle Grade and YA with Will Kostakis (Online)
This online workshop with Will Kostakis will guide you through the crafting process, from generating an idea that captivates a young reader to building scenes that feel authentic, with a series of practical exercises designed to elevate your writing.
26 February: Rebecca Armitage: The Heir Apparent (Bondi Beach)
Join author, Rebecca Armitage, as she talks about her novel, The Heir Apparent, which was a recent Reese’s Bookclub pick.
26 February: Najwan Darwish: No One Will Know You Tomorrow (Sydney)
One of the foremost poets of the Arab world brings his urgent and powerful poems to Australia, testifying to the brutal and intimate traumas of war.
28 February: Author Talk: The Duke by Sue Williams (Sydney)
Sue Williams talks about her new book based on her own family’s legend that she is descended from Mary Ann and the Duke of Wellington.
28 February: Voice in Contemporary Playwriting with Michelle Law (Lilyfield)
In this interactive course, award-winning playwright and author Michelle Law will guide you through contemporary theatre works with practical exercises in text analysis and dialogue, helping you find and develop your own unique voice as a playwright.
Writing NSW publishes these free listings in good faith but does not endorse or warrant the accuracy of any information.
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