Wednesday 2 October: Author Talk: This Is What a Feminist Looks Like. Authors Emily Maguire and Zoya Patel discuss Australia’s feminist history and where we stand today from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the National Library of Australia. Get your tickets before they’re gone.
Sunday 6 October: Kill Your Darlings – New Australian Fiction Book Launch. The inaugural short story anthology from Kill Your Darlings is here. Join editor Rebecca Starford to celebrate the launch of New Australian Fiction 2019. Featuring readings from contributing writers Julie Koh, Gretchen Shirm and Chloe Michele. 3:00pm at Better Read Than Dead – don’t miss out.
Wednesday 9 October – Thursday, 10 October: Drama and Writing School Holiday Workshop. One for students in grades 3-6, Parramatta Actors Centre and WestWords are hosting a 2-day holiday workshop on drama and writing, focusing on fantastical possibilities. From drafting to performing, students are encouraged to speculate and imagine new worlds.
Wednesday 9 October: The Society of Women Writers NSW Monthly Literary Luncheon. Cathy Perkins, author of upcoming The Shelf Life of Zora Cross, is this month’s keynote speaker. An editor at the State Library of NSW, Cathy came across her biography subject while working on an exhibition at the library. An Australian writer best-known for her 1917 poetry collection Songs of Love and Life, she has spent the past ten years researching the life of this fascinating Sydney and Blue Mountains–based writer. Cathy will speak about Zora Cross’s encounters with famous literary figures in her early writing career and her engaging interviews with women writers in the 1920s and 30s.
Saturday 12 October: State Library NSW Open Day. The new Children’s Library awaits at Australia’s oldest library. The opening ceremony begins at 9:45am in front of the Mitchell Building. Bring your family along for a day of exciting activities, tours and talks.
Tuesday 15 October – Sunday, 20 October: Story-Fest: Performing Writers Festival. The celebration of storytelling, poetry, spoken word, monologues and lyrics returns with a bang. The festival will be in full swing with workshops, talks and performances, including the highly anticipated Australian Poetry Slam – National Final at the Sydney Opera House on Friday 18 October.
Wednesday 16 October: The Big Anxiety at Art After Hours. The Art Gallery of NSW is hosting Australia’s biggest mental health festival. From 5:00pm, immerse yourself in performances and panels which are mostly free of charge; from Body Mapping to Rhymes and Virtual Reality, there is something for everyone.
Thursday 17 October: Launch into Library Research: Researching Your Bestseller. Whether you are looking to verify a detail or to just gather as much research as possible for your writing project, join the State Library of NSW’s research program which includes talks and workshops to help you get the information you need.
Monday 21 October: Arts, health and healing. What place does art have in healthcare? How can we use creativity to transform public health? Join internationally renowned researchers and artists at the University of Sydney in a discussion on creative practices and its implications on health professionals, consumers, artists and policymakers. Entry is free but registrations are essential.
Friday 25 – Sunday 27 October: Historical Novel Society Australasia Conference. Historical fiction readers and writers – this one’s for you. Jackie French and Paula Morris will be gracing the event as Guest of Honour and keynote speaker respectively. This year’s theme is History Repeats and the weekend kicks off with a craft and publishing program on 25 October, followed by panels from more than 60 speakers.
Saturday 26 October: Boundless Festival. The festival of Indigenous and culturally diverse writers, presented by Writing NSW and Bankstown Arts Centre in association with Sweatshop. Come along to hear amazing people speak like Alice Pung, Benjamin Law, Ferdous Bahar, Stephan Pham and Winnie Dunn, just to name a few. This event is free and provides a great chance to find new sources of inspiration, network with fellow writers and attend readings, workshops and panel discussions. RSVP here.
Tuesday 29 October – Saturday 2 November: Digital Writers’ Festival. From pre-recorded to real-time panels and workshops designed for mobile and other devices, the writers’ festival erasing traditional barriers to accessibility returns. Leveraging on technology in our digital age, connect and learn from participants regardless of where you are located.
Thursday 31 October – Tuesday 5 November: Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival. Rounding off the month is the newest literary festival in Tasmania. Held biennially, the TAF2019 program promises words, wine and mystery in the gorgeous Huon Valley.