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 May!
1 May: First Friday with Beth Cox (Online)
Join Writing NSW in conversation with Beth Cox discussing common legal issues in the books and publishing world, red flags in author contracts, and writers need to know about their legal rights. Find out how to protect yourself and your intellectual property, and legal risks to keep in mind as you write and publish.
2 May: Author Talk: Helen Pitt with Luna Park (Double Bay)
Join author Helen Pitt and uncover the fascinating story and untold history behind Sydney’s iconic Luna Park.
2 May: Smart Self-Publishing with Anna Featherstone (Lilyfield)
Whether you’re working on your first book, or thinking of buying back the rights to one of your previously trad-published series, this workshop with Anna Featherstone will be packed with information to help you move forward.
2 May: May Write-In (Lilyfield)
Dedicate time to your writing practice this May with Writing NSW’s Write-In. Join likeminded writers for quiet, timed writing sprints at Writing NSW in Callan Park to smash your word-count goals!
3 May: Dymocks and The Literary Gals in conversation with Lily Crozier (Sydney)
Dymocks and The Literary Gals welcome Lily Crozier as she introduces her haunting new novel, Vow of Eternal Night.
4 May: Online Feedback: Romance with Anne Gracie (Online)
In this online course, author Anne Gracie will provide feedback on your manuscript (up to 7200 words) plus a synopsis in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over three months.
5 May:Debra Adelaide in conversation with Susan Wyndham (Haberfield)
Join author Debra Adelaide and journalist Susan Wyndham as they explore friendship with the late Gabrielle Carey.
5 May: An evening with Natasha Lester (Castle Hill)
Join New York Times bestselling author Natasha Lester in conversation as she discusses her new novel The Chateau on Sunset.
6 – 24 May: Sydney Writers Festival (Sydney)
Explore fantastical places, unpack politics and hear a world of stories, real and imagined, at Carriageworks, Sydney Town Hall and venues across the city at Sydney Writers’ Festival.
6 May: Author Talk: Ellen Savage and the Heroes of AHS Centaur (Sydney)
Join author Grantlee Kieza as he talks about true story of courage under fire and survival during one of the deadliest wartime attacks.
6 May: An Evening with Grantlee Kieza (Bankstown)
Join award-winning journalist Grantlee Kieza OAM as he shares the extraordinary true story of heroism, resilience, and hope that inspired a nation, from the tragedy of the sinking to the ship’s discovery decades later.
7 May: Samantha W L Lee in conversation with Zohra Aly (Ashfield)
Join author Samantha W L Lee in conversation with Zohra Aly as they discuss the stories of three generations of women trying to escape the legacy of their past.
7 May: Book Launch with Rachel Fox McLeod (Newtown)
Join the launch of debut novel Disgraceful by Rachel Fox McLeod. Rachel will be in conversation with Pip Drysdale (Pip Knight), author of new Aussie Fic release Aubrey Wants To Die.
7 May: Women Controlling Crime (Sydney)
Three of Australia’s best writers speak to the power behind women’s voices in crime fiction, and how that voice changes the violence and challenges the failure of law. Join an enthralling talk, and stay for a drink and nibbles with the speakers following their discussion.
7 May: Dianne Yarwood at The Baytree (Greenwich)
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Dianne Yarwood at The Baytree by Ardency and hear her discuss her new book Margaret, Are You Leaving?
7 May: Steve Toltz in conversation with Julian Morrow (Balmain)
Join Steve Toltz in conversation with Julian Morrow about his new novel where a audacious comic laments for a world that no longer knows itself.
9 May: Lunch and Lit: Mercedes Mercier and Georgia Harper (Merrylands)
Enjoy a delicious 2-course meal as Mercedes Mercier sits down in conversation with Georgia Harper. Dive into the dark twists, gripping tension and edge-of-your-seat storytelling that define their crime and thriller writing.
11 May: Online: Year of the Novel (Phase Two) with Amy Lovat (Online)
Missed out on enrolling in our flagship Year of the Novel program, or ready to dive deeper into your work-in-progress? You can now join Phase 2 – Online with Amy Lovat as a stand-alone course. Over eight weeks, you’ll focus on developing the heart of your novel, exploring structure, character, voice and narrative drive, while connecting with a cohort of writers working to turn their ideas into fully realised books.
13 May: Author Judi Morison in conversation with Julie Keys (Wollongong)
Discover why Judi Morison’s debut novel Secrets is one of The Guardian’s Top 25 Australian Books of 2025.
13 May: Patrick Mullins in conversation with Julianne Schultz (Balmain)
Join Patrick Mullins in conversation with Julianne Schultz discussing The Stained Man.
13 May: H is for Hawk – Virtual Q&A with author Helen Macdonald (Randwick)
Join us for a special preview of this soaring, heartfelt British drama adapted from the best-selling memoir by Helen Macdonald, followed by a live-streamed Q&A with the author.
13 May: Year of the Novel (Phase Two) with Ashley Kalagian Blunt (Lilyfield)
Missed out on enrolling in our flagship Year of the Novel program, or ready to dive deeper into your work-in-progress? Over eight weeks at Writing NSW, you’ll focus on developing the heart of your novel, exploring structure, character, voice and narrative drive, while connecting with a cohort of writers working to turn their ideas into fully realised books.
14 May: Author Talk: Start at the End by Emma Grey (Wallsend)
Award-winning author and crowd favourite Emma Grey is back to talk about her latest novel Start at the End.
15 – 17 May: Write Here Festival (Lake Macquarie)
Step into a world of words at Lake Macquarie’s Write Here Festival – a dynamic three-day celebration of storytelling, creativity, and connection. From bestselling authors to bold new voices, the festival features an inspiring lineup of author talks and special events designed to spark your imagination and fuel your writing journey.
15 & 16 May: Kygole Readers’ and Writers’ Festival (Kyogle)
Join Mike Burge, Melissa Lucashenko, Lesley Head, Nancy Cushing, Mirandi Riwoe, Maria Van Neevan and more at the Kyogle Memorial Hall for fascinating panels, engaging in-conversations, nationally renowned authors, all over two jam packed days at a mini-fest in Kyogle.
16 May: Booked for Lunch (Barangaroo)
Spend the day immersed in storytelling with celebrated authors Pip Drysdale, Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Hayley Scrivenor, and Rachael Johns.
16 May: Ghostly Adventures! Meet Jacqueline Harvey at Stanton Library! (North Sydney)
Go behind the scenes with a real-life author. Join us for an entertaining session with award-winning children’s author, Jacqueline Harvey.
16 May: Addi Road Writers’ Festival (Marrickville)
Addi Road Writers Festival 2026 explores the theme ‘Truth Beauty’. The event features ten panels and talks across three venues, an art exhibition, a series of live music and spoken word performances, theatre, and more!
16 May: Crafting Crime Fiction with Dinuka McKenzie (Lilyfield)
Are you an aspiring or emerging writer working on a crime fiction manuscript? This one-day workshop perfect for beginner and emerging crime writers wanting to delve deeper into the crime genre and how to write a compelling crime manuscript that will keep readers hooked.
17 May: Lunch and Lit: Rachael Johns (Merrylands)
Enjoy a delicious 2-course meal while bestselling author Rachael Johns is interviewed by the wonderful Amy Hutton. Be inspired by behind-the-scenes insights, engaging discussion, and plenty of laughs — plus there’ll be an audience Q&A, book signings, and The Book Attic will be onsite so you can grab your next great read and have it signed on the spot!
19 – 24 May: Bathurst Writers’ and Readers’ Festival (Bathurst)
This much-loved Festival will feature six days of author talks, live-streamed sessions from the Sydney Writers’ Festival (SWF), and exciting local events at Bathurst Library and the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC).
21 May: Wholesome YA Readers Night with Zoe Gaetjens (North Sydney)
Unplug at our wholesome as heck event with YA author Zoe Gaetjens and Paw Pets Therapy doggos for a night of feel-good readers fun!
22 May: A Puppies and Books Event ft Served with Rice Podcast and Author Dr Bee Lim (Surry Hills)
Puppies, books & conversation! Join Served With Rice Podcast & Dr Bee Lim for a feel-good night with puppy play, prizes, and goodie bags.
25 May – 3 July: Online: Writing Mind, Body, Spirit with Maggie Hamilton (Online)
In this lively, hands-on course for writers of all stages, discover how best to describe inspirational experiences and approaches, and how to build on these insights to keep busy readers focused and engaged. Learn what to leave in, and what to edit out. Find out how best to arrive at your own voice, and to weave in the voices of others.
27 May – 1 June: Words on the Waves Writers’ Festival (Umina Beach)
Words on the Waves 2026 invites you to take the time. Take the time to pause, and hear a hard-won life story. Hear from clever authors and journalists, listen to incredible personal tales, welcome literary heavyweights, and more. Hear from the cutting edge of society, culture and politics, set sail aboard their Literary Cruise, and be awed by the power of a good yarn.
28 May: In Conversation with Cynthia Banham and Jane Messer (Lane Cove)
Join Cynthia Banham and Jane Messer discussing their two memoirs interweaving memory and history, exploring the nature of the authors maternal relationships and child abandonment.
29 May: A Western Sydney Book Club May: The Hair of the Pigeon by Mohammed M Morsi (Parramatta)
Join Yumna Kassab in a conversation around The Hair of the Pigeon by Mohammed M Morsi.
29 May: The Bookshop of Buried Pasts Book Launch (Newtown)
Join a magical evening of books, wine and snacks with Sarah Clutton in conversation with Emma Babbington to celebrate the launch of The Bookshop of Buried Pasts.
29 May: Sarah Wilson: I Eat the Stars (Newcastle)
From New York Times bestselling author and journalist Sarah Wilson comes I Eat the Stars, a deeply moving, wise guide to finding beauty and meaning in a collapsing world.
30 & 31 May: Get Your Work Published: A Short Story Workshop with Claire Corbett (Lilyfield)
What does it take to get your short story over the line for publication? In this in-person, two-day workshop, author and Fiction Editor at Overland literary magazine, Claire Corbett, will take you through the steps of what makes a short story stand out, and how you can increase your chances of publication.
30 May: Historical Fiction: Transforming Research into Story with Elisabeth Storrs (Lilyfield)
In this workshop with author Elisabeth Storrs, you’ll learn how to locate, categorise, and analyse resources to enable you to identify potential inspiration points and bring immediacy to your writing to avoid ‘history showing through.’
31 May: Book Launch with Camille Booker (Newtown)
Join us for the launch of Camille Booker’s brand-new novel Code Name Funnel Web. Camille will be in conversation with Lauren Keegan while you sip away on our yummy wine and nibble on delicious snacks provided by Parliament on King.
Writing NSW publishes these free listings in good faith but does not endorse or warrant the accuracy of any information.
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 prizes & opportunities, as well as writing groups across NSW, and sign up to our weekly newsletter for writing events, opportunities and giveaways.