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 September (and the last few days of August)!
29 August: Inner West Writers in Residence (Balmain, Sydney)
Join outgoing Inner West Writers in Residence, Eda Gunaydin and Eleanor Kirk, as they discuss residency programs, how they support emerging writers and influence practice. Eda and Eleanor will be joined in conversation by Felicity Castagna.
31 August: Contains Strong Language Poetry Showcase (Sydney)
This special Contains Strong Language showcase features Sydney-based poets exploring new directions of engagement and performance in celebration of Red Room’s Poetry Month. The event is presented as part of BBC’s Contains Strong Language and Poetry Month, in partnership with Red Room Poetry.
4 September: Culture Club: Poets Society Poetry Reading (Maitland)
Join the Culture Club’s Poets Society to see local poets share poems. If you are a poetry lover feel welcome to share your own, make connections and be inspired by creativity. Bring your poem and a pillow to relax into the evening.
4 – 8 September: In A Nutshell: The Poetry Of Violence (Walsh Bay)
Join Artistic Director Peter Evans and a crack team of actors as they jump from scene to scene and play to play, exploring the poetry of violence with relish and delight.
6 – 8 September: Dubbo Writers Festival by Outback Writers’ Centre (Dubbo)
Dubbo Writers’ Festival is back for 10th year in 2024. Join writing workshops, book conversations with publishing experts or come to our free events about writing and writers.
6 September: First Friday with Angelo Loukakis (Sydney)
First Friday, our monthly conversation with an industry professional, is a chance for our community to learn more about the writing and publishing industry. This September, we invite you to our online event with Angelo Loukakis, publisher, editor, author and founding Chair of Writing NSW. Angelo will join us to share insights and stories about writing and publishing from his unique perspective, having worked across the industry.
7 September: The Everyday Epic: A Poetry Workshop (Sydney)
This poetry workshop with Rico Craig will be held at Writing NSW in Sydney. In this poetry workshop, Rico Craig will guide you to sift through the seemingly mundane, searching for the experiences you can expand to epic significance. You will bring your poetic vision to bear on the ordinary and look at the way your own inclination toward the poetic can be used to expand a reader’s perception of the worlds we share in our poetry.
7 September: September Write-in (Sydney)
Spring ushers in new creativity. Harness that new burst of growth alongside like minded writers at our monthly Write-in session! The Write-in offers you the chance to create and connect as you delve into your writing projects. Keep warm with a coffee or tea, and let the last of the cold weather inspire you to meet that deadline or start that new project you’ve been thinking about for weeks.
9 September – 22 November: Online Feedback: Short Stories (Sydney)
In this online feedback course, author Eugen Bacon will provide feedback on your short fiction, enabling you to hone your skills over three months. You’ll also give and receive peer feedback, and be able to consider the tutor’s feedback across all submissions. The tutor’s feedback will vary depending on each short story but may focus on structure, characterisation, language, plot and other helpful tips for fine tuning.
9 September – 22 November: Online Feedback: Manuscript Development (Sydney)
Join this online manuscript development course to give and receive feedback on your writing. In this online course, editor Anna Spargo-Ryan 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.
10 – 14 September: Sivvy Plath’s Birthday Present (Sydney)
Riveting play on the dramatic, courageous, moving life of Sylvia Plath to show her impact on feminism, postmodernism and understanding of mental illness.
11 – 14 September: BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival (Sydney)
At this year’s BAD Sydney find out more about bush justice, crimes of religion, bearing witness for Indigenous people, what it feels like to flee for your life. Hear stories of true crime, crooked cops, find out what makes juries tick and exactly what happens when a dead body is discovered. Held at the State Library of NSW.
11 – 15 September: Write Around The Murray Festival (Albury)
Write Around the Murray (WAM) is a five day writers’ festival in Albury. We present high quality, affordable literary programs to audiences on the border of regional NSW and Victoria.
13 September: Dymocks Luncheon with Belinda Alexandra (Sydney)
Join us at Dymocks Sydney on September 13th for an exclusive opportunity to meet bestselling author Belinda Alexandra! Don’t miss this chance to engage with her and explore her latest literary work.
18 September: Malcolm Knox – The First Friend (Glebe)
Malcolm Knox introduces us to his chilling new black comedy – The First Friend imagines a gangster mob in charge of a global superpower.
18 – 24 September: Online: Nature Writing (Sydney)
Join this online nature writing course with Inga Simpson. This online nature writing course is ideal for fiction and non-fiction writers at all levels with a passion for the natural world. You’ll focus on techniques for bringing landscapes, flora and fauna to life for your audience, including: evocative description, effective use of emotion, and the importance of story. You’ll also consider issues such as anthropomorphism, culture versus nature, and the challenges faced when writing with an environmental message.
19 – 26 September: Australian Poetry Slam Heats (NSW)
Want to try out your skills or watch local poets on the mic? Check out APS’ Heat, including Blacktown/Mount Druitt and Camperdown.
21 September: Speculative Fiction with J.S. Breukelaar (Sydney)
This writing course, Speculative Fiction with J.S. Breukelaar, takes place at Writing NSW in Sydney. In this course you will use exercises designed specifically for writing speculative fiction, e.g. how to extrapolate science into futuristic technology, conjure new forms of magic, imagine beauty amid the ruins of fantastic urban terrains, and bring nightmares to life. You will look at techniques focusing on world-building, character creation, plotting, dialogue, viewpoints, and avoiding cliché. There will be discussion around genre conventions, current publishing trends, podcasts, comic books, trilogies and more.
21 September: Unleash your Creativity (Sydney)
This writing course, Unleash your Creativity with Melaina Faranda, takes place at Writing NSW in Sydney. Join author Melaina Faranda for a workshop that will leave you feeling energised and ready to take on your next creative writing project.
22 September: Sunday Sessions Book Club (Glebe)
Gleebooks is proud to present the Sunday Sessions Book Club – a monthly gathering for book-lovers! To kick off the Sunday Sessions ‘Spring Season’ we will be reading A Language of Limbs by Dylin Hardcastle for our September meeting – with a special visit from the author!
23 September: Dully Up Late (Dulwich Hill)
Join us for an up-late event at Gleebooks Dulwich Hill to celebrate the highly anticipated Australian release of Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo.
24 September: Bankstown Poetry Slam (Bankstown)
Bankstown Poetry Slam (BPS) is a not-for-profit charity that was co-founded by Sara Mansour in February 2013. With venue support from Outloud at the Bankstown Arts Centre, our monthly slams usually take place on the last Tuesday of every month.
24 September: Books in Bars with Amy Barry (Darlinghurst)
Meet award-winning author Amy T. Matthews (also known as Amy Barry) at Dymocks Sydney on September 24th! Discover her latest novel Best, First and Last and enjoy a book signing session. Doors open at 6:00pm for the 6:30pm event
25 September: Don Watson – Blue Mountains Event (Katoomba)
Acclaimed author, Don Watson, offers a report from America that captures the madness and the politics of an election like no other. His latest Quarterly Essay is a historically informed, characteristically mordant account of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and a divided country.
26 September: Rock Flight Launch: Hasib Hourani in-conversation with Andrew Brooks (Newtown)
Released in September by Giramondo, rock flight is a book-length poem that, over five chapters, follows a personal and historical narrative to compose an understated yet powerful allegory of Palestine’s occupation. Join Hasib Hourani and Andrew Brooks for a poetry reading, in-conversation and book signing to celebrate its launch.
27 – 29 September: Northern Beaches Readers Festival (Avalon)
The Northern Beaches Readers’ Festival Inc is an event focused on connecting readers with popular Australian fiction authors, that will feature some of Australia’s leading storytellers in panel discussions and more intimate ‘in conversation’ events.
30 September – 8 November: Online: Creative Non-Fiction (Sydney)
This six-week online course with Ashley Kalagian Blunt is an opportunity for you to delve into the world of creative non-fiction, try new techniques to stretch your writing muscles, and receive feedback in a supportive and encouraging setting. Each lesson includes writing exercises designed to help you practise a wide range of skills, and weekly deadlines for short assignments will provide motivation. You can work toward the completion of a short-form piece for submission at the end of the course, or develop your skills for a longer project.
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.