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! 

1 July: Writing for TV Masterclass (Newcastle)

Have you ever wanted to step inside a television writers room? Are you bursting with story ideas that belong on the screen? The Newcastle Writers Room is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. A weekly masterclass led by AACTA-nominated writer and producer Tristram Baumber (Mother & Son, The PM’s Daughter), TNWR is designed to give you hands-on experience in a TV writers room and help you gain the skills to jumpstart your writing career.

1 July: Book Launch: The Last Trace by Petronella McGovern (Northern Beaches)

Join Harry Hartog Warringah at the Ivanhoe Hotel in Manly to celebrate the launch of The Last Trace by Petronella McGovern. Petronella will be in conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of Dark Mode, and they will be discussing the themes and inspiration behind her new thriller. Books will be available for purchase on the night, and Petronella will be signing books afterwards.

2 July: Bondi Literary Salon July Book Club: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (Sydney)

Join the Bondi Literary Salon for their July book club, hosted by Dave Francis, where they will be discussing Paul Murray’s 2023 Booker Prize shortlisted book, The Bee Sting.

2 – 5 July: Australian Literary Convention ‘Chaos and Order’ (Western Sydney)

This triennial event brings together major associations for the study of literature in Australia and welcomes scholars and postgraduate students working on any aspect or field of literary studies. The theme of the convention is ‘Chaos and Order’. Literary scholarship and literary practice can both be understood as ordering processes. They both respond to chaos with order and make use of chaos to create new works.

3 July: Books in Bars with Lizzy Dent (Sydney)

Lizzy Dents latest novel, Just One Taste, is your next favourite enemies-to-lovers rom com. Join Books in Bars for an intimate and exciting evening in Darlinghurst with author Lizzy Dent, followed by a signing after the event.

Starts 3 July: Introduction to Writing from Life (Online)

In this course with award-winning author, editor and teacher Amra Pajalić, learn about the features and expectations of writing from life, finding ideas through research, how to identify the theme of your memoir, and how to develop their purpose in life writing. As well as covering the possible obstacles of writing from life, you will consider how to submit stand-alone chapters and extracts to develop your publication portfolio.

6 July: Short Stories: Being a Reader and a Writer (Inner West Sydney)

In this course with prize-winning short story writer Michelle Cahill, learn how to appreciate and hone the craft of writing short fiction. How does the story move through the visual and the narrative realms of storytelling to making us consider deeper things? It might be relationships, gender or control or power or loss, or trauma, or it might be storytelling itself. Focus on how reading short fiction makes us better writers and members of an interpretive community.

10 July: Korean Book Club (Sydney)

Discuss Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum with moderator Michaela Kalowski and Australian-Korean comedian Harry Jun.

12 July: Stories Behind the Storyteller (Illawarra)

Historical fiction author Siobhan O’Brien offers a two-hour workshop on the art of novel writing that explores classic storytelling, novel structure and Greek archetypes. This workshop takes you through the counterintuitive art of breaking the novel into parts: turning points, character arcs, central dramatic questions, setting and micro versus macro viewpoint.

13 – 14 July: South Coast Readers and Writers Festival (Illawarra)

With a festival line-up featuring more than 40 stellar award-winning authors, talented new voices, acclaimed poets, broadcasters and thinkers, in over 22 sessions to choose from, the South Coast Readers and Writers Festival promises a weekend filled with captivating stories, thought-provoking discussions, and inspiring conversations.

Starts 15 July: Poetry Feedback Course (Online)

In this course, poet Ivy Ireland will provide feedback on participants’ poetry in an online classroom environment, enabling them to hone their skills over five months, as well as giving and receiving peer feedback. Tutor feedback will vary depending on each submission, but may focus on areas such as structure, rhythm, tone and imagery, as well as helpful tips for fine-tuning.

Starts 15 July: Children’s Books Feedback Course (Online)

In this online writing course, author Belinda Murrell will provide feedback on participants’ writing for children, enabling you to hone their skills over five months. Feedback will vary depending on each submission, but it may focus on areas such as storytelling, plot, structure, characterisation, theme or voice.

Starts 15 July: Creative Non-Fiction Feedback Course (Online)

In this creative non-fiction writing course, Zoya Patel will provide feedback on essays and creative non-fiction over five months. Feedback will vary depending on each piece but may focus on areas such as voice and tone, structure and pacing, or incorporating research and other materials into written work.

16 July: The Illuminated Ink (Western Sydney)

WestWords presents a writing intensive program designed to hone and develop the craft of a cohort of LGBTQ Writers in Western Sydney. Participants will meet fortnightly to work on their selected projects under the facilitation of Orlando Silver, plus four masterclasses with guest writers. This program will conclude with a showcase displaying and celebrating the participants work.

19 – 20 July: Kiama Readers’ Festival (South Coast)

The Kiama Readers’ Festival is back with a fantastic line-up – Fred Smith, Jane Caro, Hugh Mackay, Joanna Nell, Karen Viggers, David Hardaker, Chris Hammer, Michael Brissenden, Sue Turnbull, Sue Williams, Andra Putnis, Kirsten Bradley, Craig Castree and Fiona Weir.

23 July: Jessie Tu in-conversation with Kavita Bedford (Sydney)

Join Better Read Than Dead in Newtown with Jessie Tu to celebrate the release of The Honeyeater. Jessie Tu is a book critic at The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and a journalist for Women’s Agenda. Her debut novel, A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing, won the ABIA for 2020 Literary Fiction Book of the Year. The Honeyeater is her second novel. Kavita Bedford is an Australian-Indian writer with a background in journalism, anthropology and literature.

23 July: First Nations Peace Poetics Workshop (Canberra)

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are invited to participate in a poetry workshop facilitated by First Nations poets Elfie Shiosaki, Ellen van Neerven, Kirli Saunders, and Natalie Harkin. Learn about the collective power of First Nations poetry to imagine Indigenous futures of peace and hope, with a series of writing experiments to draft poems. The workshop aims to support the development of poetry writing skills and to build connections within the local writing community. Lunch will be provided. The workshop will be followed by a seminar about First Nations Peace Poetics with Elfie Shiosaki, Ellen van Neerven, Kirli Saunders and Natalie Harkin.

25 July: Books and Conversation with James Bradley (Inner West Sydney)

Celebrating books and readers, this is a monthly series of in-depth and relaxed conversations with authors about their latest work, and their body of work, their writing process and the ideas that inspire them. Hosted by Michaela Kalowski at Petersham Bowling Club.

25 July: Bread & Butter Poetry Slam (Sydney)

A poetry slam is an open mic for poetry where the points matter. Judges are randomly selected from the audience to determine our slam champion for each month. Secret prize for 1st place! Sign up to perform an original poem on the night, or just be part of the audience.

26 July: Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival (Southern Highlands)

Experience the cool climate of the Southern Highlands for one of the most popular and much-loved events on the Highlands’ calendar. The festival will take place at the iconic Empire Cinemas in Bowral, only a 90-minute drive from Sydney and Canberra.

26 July: Aarti Betigeri in-conversation with Jeremy Fernandez (Sydney)

Join Better Read Than Dead in Newtown with Aarti Betigeri to celebrate the release of Growing Up Indian in Australia. Aarti will be joined by Jeremy Fernandez, followed by readings from contributors of the book.

27 July: Voice and Point of View for Fiction Writers (Inner West Sydney)

What is voice? Much like good art, or great love, we tend to know it when we see or feel it. In this workshop, work through the ways investing thought in point of view and leaning into character can help you find a unique and compelling voice. Internationally best-selling author Hayley Scrivenor will guide participants through voice and point of view with readings, practical exercises and space for reflection.

30 July: Danny McCubbin in-conversation with Nadine Bush (Sydney)

After twenty years of volunteering and working in food-focused social enterprises, Danny McCubbin launched a community kitchen in a remote town in Sicily called Mussomeli. In The Good Kitchen, Danny shares the pivotal moments of his journey, the life lessons, the human connections, and the food and recipes behind it all since. Join the launch at Better Read Than Dead in Newsbite.

31 July: Courtney Collins in Conversation (Newcastle)

Join MacLean’s Booksellers to hear Courtney Collins in conversation with Newcastle Writer’s Festival Director, Rosemarie Milsom. For fans of Margaret Atwood and Holly Ringland, Collins’ new book Bird is an unforgettable novel about hope and resilience from one of Australia’s most exciting emerging writers.

31 July: Michael Robotham Author Talk (Inner West Sydney)

Join Better Read at Five Dock Library for an author talk with award winning crime writer Michael Robotham about his new thriller Storm Child: ‘The most painful of Evie Cormac’s memories have been locked away, ever since she was held prisoner as a child. But today, on a British beach, seventeen bodies wash up in front of them, and Evie’s nightmares come roaring back . . . Whatever happened all those years ago lies at the core of this new tragedy.’

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.