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 wonderful writing events taking place this June!
31 May – 5 June: Words on the Waves
Words on the Waves Writers Festival takes place on the scenic Central Coast, where some of Australia’s most celebrated writers will consider the festival theme: the mind swims. On Saturday 3 June, join Writing Up Stream, a Day of Professional Development in partnership with Faber Academy and Writing NSW, including the Inside Publishing Panel moderated by our CEO Jane McCredie.
1 June: Chelsea Watego in Conversation
At Marrickville Library, Chelsea Watego discusses with Kaiya Aboagye her collection of deeply insightful and powerful essays, examining the ongoing and daily racism faced by First Nations peoples.
1 June: A Literary Lunch with J.P. Pomare
Join The Friends of Wollongong City Library for a literary lunch with bestselling author J.P. Pomare, and hear him speak about his books, experiences, and writing process.
1 June: Online Book Club: Dress Rehearsals by Madison Godfrey
Find a comfy spot in the house with a cuppa or a vino and join the Secret Book Club in chatting about Dress Rehearsals by Madison Godfrey.
2 June: Free Webinar on Inclusive Leadership
In this free webinar presented by ArtsHub and Creative Victoria; Katrina and Dewi will discuss current best practices in leadership that are collaborative, inclusive and diverse, while also exploring pathways for developing future leaders.
3 June: Inner West Play Reading Club
Embrace your inner thespian and connect with fellow theatre enthusiasts at a monthly meet up at Leichhardt Library. In June, the group will be reading After Dinner by Andrew Bovell
4 June: NT Writers Festival Hybrid Event
The NT Writers Festival is a four-day festival in Alice Springs that emphasises Australia’s cultural and linguistic diversity, bringing people together to share story, language and culture. On 4 June, they will be having a hybrid event with writer and academic from the Driftpile Cree Nation, Billy-Ray Belcourt who will discuss his brilliant debut novel, A Minor Chorus.
5 June: Early Bird Tickets for Romance Writers Conference
Early bird tickets close on 5 June for the Romance Writers of Australia annual conference, which will be held in Sydney during 11 – 13 August. Under the theme of ‘All That Glitters’, the program aims to cater to writers at all stages of their careers, from those just starting out to established authors.
7 June: Fruitful Queer Book Club
Join the very first Fruitful Queer Book Club where they talk all things LGBTQ+ reads, at Harry Hartog in Bondi Junction. Meeting on the first Wednesday of each month, their first book of choice is Permafrost by SJ Norman.
8 June: Kris Kneen In-Conversation
Join Better Read Than Dead with Kris Kneen to celebrate the release of Fat Girl Dancing: a frank, beautiful and triumphant ode to self-respect from one of Australia’s most original and acclaimed writers. Kris will be in conversation with Benjamin Law.
8 + 15 + 22 + 29 June: Winter Ekphrasis
Writers of all genres and levels of experience are invited to write live, in response to live improvised music, and listen to a short q&a with musicians about how they balance control and openness as they compose on the fly. 7.30-9pm at Tempe Jets, entry $10. The musicians on 8 June will be Jim Denley and Nick Ashwood.
9 – 11 June: Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival
Held annually on the NSW June long weekend, the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival has welcomed some of the most respected and innovative writers, public figures, politicians and performers to the Mid North Coast.
10 June: Songwriting Workshop for Youth and Intergen
Flex your lyric-writing skills in this intergenerational workshop with singer-songwriter Gemma Navarrete. You will explore writing techniques on setting the scene, adding emotional colours, and coming up with a catchy hook.
12 June: Write Off! Workshop and Open Mic
Write Off! is an informal workshop/open mic for practicing writers and the supportive public. Our local community is brimming with writers at all stages of development across the whole range of forms and genres. Come, share your work-in-progress (poems, songs, etc.) and get constructive peer feedback at the Garden Lounge Creative Space in Newtown.
12 June: Synaesthetic Poetry Workshop with Sean West
Sensory details are integral to crafting great poetry. In this online workshop, participants will be encouraged to explore the concept of ‘synaesthetic poetry’ with multi-award-winning poet Sean West.
13 June: Ellen van Neerven on Personal Score
In the State Library of NSW’s ‘Nights at the Library’ program, award-winning author Ellen van Neerven discusses their highly anticipated new book, Personal Score, with ABC’s Sam Lewis in a free evening event.
13 June: The Dangers Of Female Provocation in conversation with Zoe Coyle
Join The Listening Station in Brookvale to see the Zoe Coyle, author of The Dangers Of Female Provocation, talk about the book.
14 June: West Side Poetry Hybrid Slam
West Side Poetry Slam is a monthly hybrid open mic night where you can sign up on the night and perform an original piece of writing to open minds, hearts, and arms. Audience members score with a fun line of feedback and you could win a support feature slot at the next slam. The June slam will feature Adara Enthaler, with support feature Helen Latukefu.
14 June: Tax Time for Creatives
Tax Time for Creatives is a free workshop at Ryde Library that covers the basics of tax, the key creative tax rulings you need to know, working out hobby vs business, simple tips for deductions and recording keeping, cloud accounting, and where to get more help.
14 – 24 June: Emerging Writers Festival
The Emerging Writers Festival invites you to discover new stories, new voices, and new worlds. Over eleven days, dive into performances, panels, professional development opportunities, and online projects. With more than 50 in-person and digital events, and featuring over 150 artists, EWF has something for everyone.
15 June: Centennial Supper Club with Pip Williams
Pip Williams, author of The Bookbinder of Jericho and The Dictionary of Lost Words will be in conversation with Karen Viggers at Centennial Vineyards Restaurant in Bowral. Tickets include dinner and a glass of wine, and Pip will sign copies of her books on the night.
15 – 18 June: StoryFest
StoryFest is a celebration of storytelling in all its forms – oral, written, prose, poetry, song or film – in the Milton Ulladulla Mollymook area of NSW.
17 June: Jugiong Writers’ Festival
The Jugiong Writers’ Festival is a boutique festival that celebrates reading, writing & really good fun. Held biennially in the picturesque village of Jugiong, the program is planned for 2023 under the theme ‘Moments on the Murrumbidgee’.
18 June: Poetry Discussion Group
Head down to the Garden Lounge Creative Space, which hosts a new poetry discussion group every Sunday afternoon. The discussion group is unprepared, so no one knows which new Australian poetry book will be explored until they get there, and everyone is on a level playing field.
24 June: Where the Fairy Tales Go Book Launch
Writers often embark on a lifelong journey in search of perfect storytelling; a journey that takes them beyond where the fairy tales go. ‘where the fairy tales go’ is an anthology of short stories and poems by members of the Hunter Writers Centre, at Sugar Valley Library Museum.
26 June: Script in Hand
Each month at Script in Hand, writers have their scripts assigned to capable directors who cast experienced actors to rehearse scripts, then present on stage with props, costumes, sound and lights in front of an audience, each half followed by a Q&A. You can submit your scripts to the programmers to get involved and see your play on the stage.
30 June: South Coast Writers Festival Launch
The program of the 2023 SCWF will be announced at Wollongong Art Gallery by the festival’s curators including Caro Baum, Sue Turnbull, Helena Fox, David Stavanger and Festival Director Sarah Nicholson. The free launch will also include poetry readings and screenings of music by Fourplay string quartet in collaboration with novelist Neil Gaiman, as well as the announcement of the 2023 SCWC Poetry Award shortlist.
Throughout June: The War of the Worlds in Real Time
The War of the Worlds in Real Time is a fictionalised docudrama by Michael Cnudde, Andrew J. Harvey, Leonie Rogers, Ken Vickery, and H.G. Wells – based on the documents and diaries of those involved in the Martian War. Follow along online through daily posts online, retelling the story.
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.