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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260707T170000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261109T210000
DTSTAMP:20260714T015604Z
CREATED:20260408T002503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260714T015604Z
UID:10030711-1783443600-1794258000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Matter\, mind\, metaphor
DESCRIPTION:How can we develop conscious methods of translating experience into resonant storytelling? How might we examine everyday perceptions to generate and renew our approach to making language\, image and narrative? \nThis online writing course is structured over 20 weeks (5 months) and centred on methods of durational journalling. By slowing down the writing process\, we will model\, practice and evaluate approaches to finding motif\, symbol and metaphor; seeking voice and perspective; and moving between nonfiction and fiction modes.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/matter-mind-metaphor/
LOCATION:Google Meet
CATEGORIES:Education,Poetry,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260726T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260910T193000
DTSTAMP:20260610T031247Z
CREATED:20260610T031247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T031247Z
UID:10031091-1785088800-1789068600@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:From a Townsville Pub to Sydney’s Wentworth Hotel
DESCRIPTION:A popular and important Federation cookery book author\, Hannah Maclurcan was a highly successful Australian hotelier and businesswoman. The event will explore her often overlooked contributions to Federation cookery with several tastes from her popular cookery book\, Mrs Maclurcan’s Cookery Book: a Collection of Practical Recipes Specially Suitable for Australia\, which ran to a number of editions.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/from-a-townsville-pub-to-sydneys-wentworth-hotel/
LOCATION:Books for Cooks\, 115-121 Victoria St\, Queen Victoria Market\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Festivals,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260729T150000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260915T170000
DTSTAMP:20260611T011306Z
CREATED:20260611T011306Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T011306Z
UID:10031107-1785337200-1789491600@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Why It Matters
DESCRIPTION:Why does collecting books hold importance in a digital world? What meaning can paper\, ink and human traces offer that are lacking in our conversations with Grok or Claude?  When AI delivers the data you need in the blink of an eye\, do books matter at all? Expect a lively\, robust and moderated conversation\, then join us for drinks and conversation.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/why-it-matters/
LOCATION:Kelvin Club\, 14-30 Melbourne Place\, Melbourne\, VIC\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Festivals,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260816T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260816T130000
DTSTAMP:20260409T043408Z
CREATED:20260409T043408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T043408Z
UID:10030754-1786874400-1786885200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Plotting and Structure
DESCRIPTION:How do structure and pacing bring your work of fiction to life? \nThis workshop provides practical strategies for structuring your work of fiction or non-fiction through a combination of writing exercises\, discussion and examples from a range of literary works. Be inspired by lively group discussion and contemporary writing and consider creative ways to approach structure and pacing to reflect the themes and motivations at the heart of your own writing.  \nIf you are starting a new fiction or non-fiction project\, this workshop gives you the tools to start your first draft.  \nYou will learn:\n\nHow to consider the architecture of your fiction and non-fiction writing and brainstorm ways to approach structure at the macro level\nHow structure and pacing interact in strong writing\nHow to use structure and pacing in creative ways to reflect the themes of your work\, including linear and non-linear structures\, the work of memory in fiction and the impact of point of view on structure\n\nAbout the tutor:\nKatherine Brabon is the award-winning author of four novels\, including Body Friend\, shortlisted for the Stella Prize and the ALS Gold Medal\, and Cure\, published in 2025. She lives in Naarm/Melbourne.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/plotting-and-structure/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Education,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260817T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260817T131500
DTSTAMP:20260220T022125Z
CREATED:20260220T021531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260220T022125Z
UID:10029769-1786969800-1786972500@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Auslan Storytime
DESCRIPTION:If you love a story\, you’ve come to the right place! \nAuslan Storytime brings stories to life through visual language\, expression and movement – delivered entirely in Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Come along every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at State Library Victoria as we welcome Deaf storytellers from Expression Australia for Auslan Storytime. \nThis is an inclusive early years program designed to be engaging and accessible for Deaf\, hard-of-hearing and hearing children alike. Sessions are delivered directly in Auslan (not interpreted from spoken English)\, providing authentic language modelling and a rich introduction to Deaf culture. \nA qualified Auslan interpreter supports each session so hearing participants can follow along\, creating a shared and inclusive experience for all families. These interactive sessions may include signed storytelling\, movement\, repetition and informal interaction after the session. \nPerfect for kids aged 3-5 and their families. \nNo bookings required. Sessions run on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month\, excluding public holidays and Victorian school holidays. \n  \nPresented by State Library Victoria with Expression Australia\, as part of the Victorian Government’s Multicultural Storytime Program. This program is funded by the Victorian Department of Health under the Multicultural Storytime Grant Program (2023–2027). 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/auslan-storytime/2026-08-17/
LOCATION:State Library Victoria
CATEGORIES:Children's Literature,Libraries
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260817T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260817T201500
DTSTAMP:20251128T012023Z
CREATED:20251128T012023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251128T012023Z
UID:10029514-1786993200-1786997700@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:An Evening with Sir Salman Rushdie
DESCRIPTION:Celebrated author Salman Rushdie returns to Melbourne for one night only to discuss the transformative power of literature and his commitment to the written word. \nOne of the world’s most acclaimed contemporary authors and an unwavering champion for freedom of expression\, Salman Rushdie reflects on a life in literature. \nIn this special event\, the master storyteller explores his extraordinary body of work – from landmark novels such as The Satanic Verses and Quichotte to his powerful 2024 memoir\, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder\, in which he recounts the harrowing attempt on his life and its aftermath. He also introduces his latest work\, The Eleventh Hour\, a poignant quintet of stories meditating on life and death and the moments that define us.  \nJoin Rushdie in conversation with host Sisonke Msimang as he reflects on the power of stories\, the enduring fight for artistic freedom and the role of the writer in today’s world.    \nSalman Rushdie’s Australian appearances are presented with Festival of Dangerous Ideas.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/an-evening-with-sir-salman-rushdie-2/
LOCATION:Melbourne Town Hall\, 90-120 Swanston Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260818T113000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260818T123000
DTSTAMP:20260702T003723Z
CREATED:20260702T003723Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T003723Z
UID:10031627-1787052600-1787056200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:SPECIAL STORYTIME: Sunny Gets to Work with Zanni Louise
DESCRIPTION:Our regular Tuesday session is EXTRA SPECIAL storytime and craft time with Zanni Louise reading from her new book\, Sunny Gets to Work! Illustrated by Susie Oh. \n  \nPre-order your copy HERE. \n  \nAbout the book: \nSunny’s home has always been chaotic\, but recently it’s gotten OUT OF HAND! \nWhen Mama tries to order pizza using the remote and Dad falls asleep in the baby’s bed\, Sunny decides it’s time to step in. After all\, even grown-ups need help sometimes. \nBut as Sunny takes over running the household\, he learns that it’s A LOT HARDER than he thought. \nPerfect for busy families\, this heartwarming and humorous picture book shows that no matter how messy life gets\, it’s okay to make mistakes\, as long as you stick together. \n  \nAbout the Author: \nZanni Louise has been writing stories since she was little\, growing up in country NSW. Six-year-old Zanni used to get in trouble for staring at people and making up stories about having a donkey. Grown-up Zanni has turned her love for people and fairytales into a writing career. Author of over twenty kids’ books\, including bestselling picture book series like HumanKind and Errol\, Zanni writes and draws every day and hopes she will keep going until she’s too old to hold a pen! 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/special-storytime-sunny-gets-to-work-with-zanni-louise/
LOCATION:The Little Bookroom\, 8 Village Ave\, BRUNSWICK EAST\, VIC\, 3057\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Children's Literature
ORGANIZER;CN="The Little Bookroom":MAILTO:orders@littlebookroom.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260818T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260818T190000
DTSTAMP:20260617T071528Z
CREATED:20260617T071528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T071528Z
UID:10031544-1787076000-1787079600@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Elvis and Me by Gillian Wills
DESCRIPTION:We are delighted to host the launch of Gillian Wills’s Elvis and Me.\n\nElvis is underweight\, emotionally damaged\, saddle-phobic – and\, despite being sold as “perfect for beginners\,” is anything but. With the guidance of a gifted ‘horse whisperer’\, she learns to care for Elvis’s wounded body and spirit. Slowly\, unexpectedly\, Elvis leads her toward a new understanding of self-worth\, creativity\, and what it means to truly connect – with an animal\, and with herself.\n\nGuitarists\, Tristan and Aidan Wood will perform a prelude for the launch.\n\nFree\, but bookings are essential.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/elvis-and-me-by-gillian-wills/
LOCATION:Readings Hawthorn\, 687 Glenferrie Rd\,\, Hawthorn\, 3122\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260818T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260818T203000
DTSTAMP:20260630T211755Z
CREATED:20260630T211755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T211755Z
UID:10031613-1787079600-1787085000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Accessible Online Open Mic
DESCRIPTION:A crowd favourite\, our open mic night for disabled creatives is back as part of Poetry Month! Join us on Zoom to click\, stomp and cheer in celebration of disabled poets and poetry. \nEnjoy special feature sets by neurodivergent author of Wiradjuri heritage Beau Windon and writer\, editor\, poet\, collage artist\, and average kook Alex Creece\, and share your own poetry. Come along and read a poem\, or turn up and show support. \nYou can read your poetry aloud\, or share it in the chat. This free online event will be a fun relaxed night\, and also an opportunity to socialise with other writers in the disability community. \nPlus\, join us at the Dis-Poetics Workshop with queercrip doctor of history\, writer\, teacher\, and multidisciplinary artist Robin Eames on Wednesday 29 July to pen some new poems for sharing. \nNote: Sign-up for the open mic is during the Zoom only; the event hosts will try and accommodate as many poets as is possible until all slots are filled (maximum 3 mins per poet). Auto-live captioning can be enabled in Zoom and text-based poems via chat are welcomed on the night too. Please feel free to contact us if you have any accessibility queries for this event via access@redroompoetry.org
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/accessible-online-open-mic/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Poetry
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T070000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T080000
DTSTAMP:20260710T040245Z
CREATED:20260226T222852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260710T040245Z
UID:10029838-1787122800-1787126400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Writing Momentum writing workshops
DESCRIPTION:Join creativity coach and writer Meg Dunley for a weekly online writing session designed to help you build and keep a consistent writing practice. It’s a little like a guided shut-up and write with accountability. \nEach Wednesday morning session runs for one hour and includes a poetry-based prompt to spark your thinking\, 40 minutes of silent focused writing time\, and a brief accountability check-in to start and close the session. Whether you’re working on a novel\, memoir\, poetry or any other form of writing\, you’re welcome here. \nWriting Momentum runs throughout the year. The session is recorded and sent to all members on Friday afternoon\, along with the prompt\, poem and questions. \nSessions are open to Momentum\, Focus\, Elevate and Creative Empowerment Coaching Program members. New members can join with a 7-day free trial. \nWhen: Every Wednesday\, 7:00–8:00am Melbourne time \nWhere: Online via Zoom \nMore information and to join
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/writing-momentum-wednesdays/2026-08-19/
LOCATION:Online via Zoom\, Melbourne\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Education,Writers
ORGANIZER;CN="Meg Dunley%2C Creativity Coach":MAILTO:meg@megdunley.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T131500
DTSTAMP:20260220T022125Z
CREATED:20260220T021531Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260220T022125Z
UID:10029770-1787142600-1787145300@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Auslan Storytime
DESCRIPTION:If you love a story\, you’ve come to the right place! \nAuslan Storytime brings stories to life through visual language\, expression and movement – delivered entirely in Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Come along every 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at State Library Victoria as we welcome Deaf storytellers from Expression Australia for Auslan Storytime. \nThis is an inclusive early years program designed to be engaging and accessible for Deaf\, hard-of-hearing and hearing children alike. Sessions are delivered directly in Auslan (not interpreted from spoken English)\, providing authentic language modelling and a rich introduction to Deaf culture. \nA qualified Auslan interpreter supports each session so hearing participants can follow along\, creating a shared and inclusive experience for all families. These interactive sessions may include signed storytelling\, movement\, repetition and informal interaction after the session. \nPerfect for kids aged 3-5 and their families. \nNo bookings required. Sessions run on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month\, excluding public holidays and Victorian school holidays. \n  \nPresented by State Library Victoria with Expression Australia\, as part of the Victorian Government’s Multicultural Storytime Program. This program is funded by the Victorian Department of Health under the Multicultural Storytime Grant Program (2023–2027). 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/auslan-storytime/2026-08-19/
LOCATION:State Library Victoria
CATEGORIES:Children's Literature,Libraries
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T123000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T133000
DTSTAMP:20260728T023530Z
CREATED:20260728T011754Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T023530Z
UID:10033486-1787142600-1787146200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Writers on Campus: Writing About Art
DESCRIPTION:Translating the visual and emotional experience of art into words is not easy.  So why write about art? How can writing about art be part of the creative process for artists? What role does language play in opening art up to new audiences? \nOn this panel of three La Trobe writers\, art historian Dr Caroline Wallace is joined by artist Dr George Criddle and curator Amelia Wallin to discuss the critical role that writing plays in their work.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/writers-on-campus-writing-about-art/
LOCATION:Seminar room 1.34\, La Trobe University Library – Bundoora Campus\, La Trobe University Library\, Bundoora\, VIC\, 3083\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Writers
ORGANIZER;CN="La Trobe University Library":MAILTO:library@latrobe.edu.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T190000
DTSTAMP:20260617T071632Z
CREATED:20260617T071632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T071632Z
UID:10031545-1787162400-1787166000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Andrew Upton in conversation
DESCRIPTION:We are excited to have Andrew Upton\, Australian playwright\, screenwriter\, producer and director\, join us to talk about his debut novel\, Krank Fuss.\n\nSet during the 1930s in Germany\, just as fascism is taking hold\, Krank Fuss\, tells the story of one of a brood of chickens recently acquired by a WWI veteran from a neighbouring farm. Part allegory in the spirit of Animal Farm\, part Art Brut parable\, Krank Fuss unfolds against the background of an impending social catastrophe\, unsettlingly echoing the world today. It is the story of the innocent discovering the cruelty of the natural world\, seeking for another way that might allow the delicate Wonder of Life to peak above the nastiness\, brutishness and brevity of her apparent Fate.\n\nFree\, but bookings are essential.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/andrew-upton-in-conversation/
LOCATION:Readings Carlton
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T193000
DTSTAMP:20260716T075129Z
CREATED:20260716T075129Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260716T075129Z
UID:10031644-1787162400-1787167800@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Memoir writing workshop with Edita Mujkic @ Malvern
DESCRIPTION:Do you have a personal story you want to share but don’t know how to tell it? \nJoin award-winning memoirist Edita Mujkić for a memoir writing workshop. \nLearn how to start writing your memoir\, hear about techniques to dig out forgotten details\, discover how to enrich your story and enliven it for readers and explore the main editing steps and publishing options. \nABOUT THE TUTOR \nEdita Mujkić is an award-winning author and a National Ambassador for the Refugee Council of Australia. Originally from Sarajevo\, Bosnia and Herzegovina\, she has lived in Melbourne\, Australia since 1994. Her first book\, Between Before and After\, was shortlisted for the international 2024 Memoir Prize from Memoir Magazine\, it was the runner-up in the Hunter Davies Lakeland Book of the Year 2023 (UK)\, and was awarded the Bookends Prize for People & Business (UK). In Australia\, while writing her memoir\, Mujkić won several awards and was shortlisted for others. \nCost: $10\, bookings required.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/memoir-writing-workshop-with-edita-mujkic-malvern/
LOCATION:Malvern Library\, 1255 High Street\, Malvern\, Vic\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Libraries
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T193000
DTSTAMP:20260625T045418Z
CREATED:20260625T044817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T045418Z
UID:10031604-1787164200-1787167800@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Wrapped or Warped?  The State of Music Criticism
DESCRIPTION:Three music journalists explore how criticism\, authority and taste are being reshaped in an era where anyone can speak\, and nothing stays still for long.\nAs music listening and discovery have shifted online\, so too has the question of who gets to decide what is worthy. Social media has opened up criticism to anyone with an opinion\, while traditional publications that once acted as gatekeepers have all but collapsed. \nIn this rapidly changing landscape\, three music journalists come together to unpack what it means to write music criticism today. What new opportunities are emerging? How is the role and value of criticism shifting? And what is at stake when writing that interrogates\, contextualises and challenges begins to fade from view? \nBroadcaster Sosephina Fuamoli\, music and pop culture reporter Al Newstead and writer and critic Sarah Smith join moderator Simon Winkler for a conversation about the past\, present and future of music criticism.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/wrapped-or-warped-the-state-of-music-criticism/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T203000
DTSTAMP:20260609T042630Z
CREATED:20260609T042022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T042630Z
UID:10031074-1787164200-1787171400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Books\, Dinner & Conversation in Melbourne's Literary Heart
DESCRIPTION:An Intimate Literary Evening\n\nA cosy winter evening of wine\, shared dining and bookish conversation\, beginning at Readings State Library with an in-conversation featuring author Anne Freeman before continuing to The Moat for dinner. \nCreated as a slower\, more intimate literary experience\, the evening brings readers together over shared dining\, wine and thoughtful conversation in the heart of Melbourne’s literary scene. The evening will be thoughtfully hosted by Bound & Co from start to finish\, with solo guests especially encouraged to attend. \nWhether you’re coming to discover Anne’s work\, meet fellow readers or simply enjoy an evening surrounded by people who love books as much as you do\, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of opportunities for connection. \n\n\n\nWhat’s Included\n\n\nEntry to Bound & Co’s intimate Melbourne reader event\nIn-conversation & book signing with author Anne Freeman at Readings State Library\nReservation at The Moat with a shared gnocchi dining experience\nA glass of wine\nThoughtfully hosted discussions throughout the evening\n\n  \n\n\nABOUT THE GUEST AUTHOR:\n\n\n\n  \n\nAnne Freeman writes contemporary fiction about women who are stuck in life and the extraordinary ways they shake themselves loose. Her stories are always engaging\, and sometimes funny\, with thrilling adventures\, sexy escapades and friendships that uplift. Anne’s novels and short stories have been recognised in many literary competitions including the Boroondara Open Short Story Competition (First Place)\, Romance Writers of Australia Valerie Parv Award\, the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize\, the Grindstone Literary International Novel Prize\, the Queensland Writers’ Centre Adaptable Program\, the CYA Writers & Illustrators Competition\, and the Somerset Book Awards for Literary & Contemporary Fiction. \n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nABOUT THE BOOK: \n\n\nThe Time After Now \nEvery Picture Tells. \nIf Olivia hadn’t done what she did\, would Drew still be alive? Twenty years after the love affair Olivia never got over\, Drew dies suddenly on a shoot in Iceland\, taking with him the promise to guard their intimate photos. \nWhen the images resurface with an anonymous threat of exposure\, Olivia’s picture-perfect suburban life is thrown into jeopardy. How can she keep playing the flawless barrister’s wife if her past of avant-garde art\, warehouse raves\, drugs\, and debauchery comes to light? \nDesperate for counsel\, she prepares to confide in her best friend but Miriam needs support with her own challenges\, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Can Olivia outrun her past to protect her future\, or will she be forced to reconcile the vibrant oil painting she once was with the fading watercolour she’s become? \nAn Own Voices portrayal of disability examining the ripple effects of decisions made in our youth. \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n2 / 2
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/books-dinner-conversation-in-melbournes-literary-heart/
LOCATION:Readings State Library\, 285-321 Russell St\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Bookshops
ORGANIZER;CN="Bound &amp%3B Co":MAILTO:annabel@boundandco.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T210000
DTSTAMP:20260630T212242Z
CREATED:20260630T212242Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T212242Z
UID:10031616-1787167800-1787173200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Workshop: Persona with Pádraig Ó Tuama
DESCRIPTION:Working in the space between the speaker and the poet\, explore the role of persona in poetry with theologian\, writer\, conflict transformation practitioner and host of the Poetry Unbound podcast Pádraig Ó Tuama.\n\n\n\n\n\nWhether drawing from mythology\, popular culture or your own imagination\, this generative workshop will create space for you to stretch the possibilities of poetry on the page. Join us for an engaging and inspiring invitation to practice poetry alongside one of its masters\, using wide-ranging examples from classic and contemporary poets to demystify the craft. \nTogether\, we will examine the intersection of personal truth and collective memory\, sharing practical tools to help you nurture your voice\, expand your poetic range\, and give yourself permission to experiment and fabricate within your work.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/workshop-persona-with-padraig-o-tuama/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Education,Poetry
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T193000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260819T220000
DTSTAMP:20260428T044519Z
CREATED:20260428T044519Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T044519Z
UID:10030921-1787167800-1787176800@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Motley Openhaus
DESCRIPTION:Welcome to the Motley Openhaus!  \nA space to let your heart bleed and words run. An inclusive\, encouraging space for writers of all experiences to come up and read whatever they’ve been working on. Long form\, short stories\, haikus\, spoken word\, if you wanna say it\, we wanna hear it! Every Wednesday evening\, 7:30 start. Free entry
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/motley-openhaus/2026-08-19/
LOCATION:The Motley Bauhaus\, 118 Elgin Street\, Carlton\, VIC\, 3053\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Spoken Word
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T190000
DTSTAMP:20260617T071858Z
CREATED:20260617T071858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T071858Z
UID:10031546-1787248800-1787252400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Jane R. Miles in conversation
DESCRIPTION:We are delighted to have Jane R. Miles join us to discuss her new psychological thriller\, Stay Buried.\n\nAs Cyclone Tracy tears through Darwin\, four girls disappear into the heart of the outback. No tracks. No bodies. No answers.\n\nDecades later\, one returns. She claims to be one of the missing. But is she?\n\nA hidden bunker … a ghost … scratches on a concrete wall … pictures inside a View-Master … and the little girl who understood the darkness better than anyone.\n\nInspired by true events\, Stay Buried is the darkly thrilling tale of secrets unearthed\, the will to survive and a legend that refuses to die.\n\nFree\, but bookings are essential.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/jane-r-miles-in-conversation/
LOCATION:Readings Emporium\, Emporium Melbourne\, Shop 1-016/287 Lonsdale St\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T190000
DTSTAMP:20260617T072009Z
CREATED:20260617T072009Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T072009Z
UID:10031547-1787248800-1787252400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Amy de la Force in conversation
DESCRIPTION:We are so excited to have Amy de la Force join us to talk about her action-packed romantasy\, A Kiss of Hammer and Flame.\n\nWhen young blacksmith Cahra is commissioned to forge a sword\, she uses her imagination to design its crest. But this symbol unwittingly invokes an age-old prophecy and awakens Hael – an immortal with the power to shape or shatter worlds – sealed away for hundreds of years in a chamber deep in Hael’stromia\, the lost capital at the heart of a civil war between three kingdoms.\n\nNow hunted for the sword\, Cahra must flee with the very stranger who commissioned it. But can she trust the handsome and charming noble\, Terryl? On the run through the darkly magical Wilds\, she is drawn ever closer to Hael\, who visits and beguiles her in dreams. With tyrant kings vying to capture and wield him as a weapon\, she alone stands between Hael and their deadly ambitions.\n\nFree\, but bookings are essential.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/amy-de-la-force-in-conversation/
LOCATION:Readings Emporium\, Emporium Melbourne\, Shop 1-016/287 Lonsdale St\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T190000
DTSTAMP:20260617T072211Z
CREATED:20260617T072211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T072211Z
UID:10031548-1787248800-1787252400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Sunny Gets to Work by Zanni Louise
DESCRIPTION:We are delighted to host the launch of Zanni Louise’s picture book\, Sunny Gets to Work.\n\nFrom inside-out shirts to overflowing baths\, 4-year-old Sunny’s house is always a bit chaotic. When mama tries to order pizza using the remote and dad falls asleep in the baby’s cot\, Sunny knows he needs to step up and help. But he soon discovers that running a household isn’t as easy as he thought. In the end\, Sunny learns an important lesson- no matter how messy things get\, family love is what matters most.\n\nPerfect for children ages 3-6\, this family book for kids embraces the messiness of family life with two working parents\, offering valuable lessons and a refreshing perspective. With its positive message\, it reassures families that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you stick together.\n\nFree\, but bookings are essential.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/sunny-gets-to-work-by-zanni-louise/
LOCATION:Readings Kids
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Children's Literature
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260820T220000
DTSTAMP:20260712T090749Z
CREATED:20260712T090749Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260712T090749Z
UID:10031635-1787252400-1787263200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Radio Laria Poetry with Phu-Linh Tran and Elaine Fell
DESCRIPTION:Radio Laria Poetry is dedicated to encouraging women to tell their stories\, and this August we will do just that with Phu-Linh Tran and Elaine Fell. The mysterious Phi-Linh is a hilarious and witty poet who creates compelling scenarios that feel so vivid. Elaine is a moving short story writer who is going to pay tribute to her late friend Karen Walters. We will also have ten open mic spots where you can share in front of the magical\, shining bookshelves at Library Portal (opposite no.11 Hawthorn Rd\, Northcote). Tickets are $10 (full)\, $5 (concession) or you choose a generous ticket if you would like to help us support the poets and our venue Library Portal. \nhttps://events.humanitix.com/radio-laria-poetry-phu-linh-tran-elaine-fell \nEveryone is welcome to share on the open mic\, there’s a five-minute limit\, sign up on the night and arriving early is recommended for sign up. The audience is very supportive\, and we welcome new readers. Men are welcome to share on the open mic\, but please be mindful that this is a night to promote women and women-identifying poets\, and we ask that you behave respectfully. If you have another form of art\, writing or storytelling that could be shared in five minutes\, then we’d love to hear it! \nLibrary Portal is a grassroots community centre run by volunteers for passionate readers and art groups. You can help yourselves to free tea\, but there is no licensed bar. We are allowed to BYO drink/food as long as we are mindful that it is not a party space. This space is also right next to an apartment block\, so we need to please leave quietly at the end of the night. \nLocation: Library Portal is opposite no. 11 Hawthorn Road at the back of a large\, brick orthodox church. It is easiest to find from Hawthorn Road rather than approaching the church from the front. If you approach from opposite no. 11\, there is a gateway in the fence (which is a little hard to see in the dark until you are right opposite no. 11). Once you have entered this fence gap\, you will walk up a driveway with apartments on your left and then cross a green lawn. You will then see some hills host washing lines to your right and the doorway to Library Portal is to the left of those up a ramp. \nAccessibility: Front entrance and performance space are wheelchair accessible.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/radio-laria-poetry-with-phu-linh-tran-and-elaine-fell/
LOCATION:Library Portal\, Hawthorn Road (opposite no. 11)\, Northcote\, VIC\, 3070\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Poetry,Spoken Word
ORGANIZER;CN="Radio Laria Poetry":MAILTO:radiolariapoetry@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260821
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260824
DTSTAMP:20260727T052427Z
CREATED:20260727T052427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260727T052427Z
UID:10033484-1787270400-1787529599@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Save the date! Phillip Island Festival of Stories
DESCRIPTION:We will be celebrating storytelling in all its forms again \n21 – 23 August 2026 \nat Berninneit\, Cowes Cultural Centre \nImmerse yourself in a weekend of storytelling\, featuring renowned authors\, filmmakers\, and journalists.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/save-the-date-phillip-island-festival-of-stories/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:Festivals
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260821T110000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260821T123000
DTSTAMP:20260728T011709Z
CREATED:20260728T011709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T011709Z
UID:10033485-1787310000-1787315400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Author talk - Susan Francis
DESCRIPTION:Join us to hear from author Susan Francis to talk about her memoir The Love That Remains (2020\, Allen & Unwin) and her recent novel Revelation Beach (2025\, Wild Dingo Press.) \nBoth books are a search for truth. Her memoir tells of her search to discover the truth about her parents. Although happily adopted\, her unknown roots left her with insecurities. Susan’s need to search for the truth about the past doesn’t stop with her birth parents. She discovers another shocking secret which needs verification\, and to be understood and accepted. \nHer novel Revelation Beach exposes one of Australia’s most shameful cover-ups\, where lives were sacrificed for oil\, gas and political expediency. At once a literary page-turner and a powerful reckoning\, this novel asks the question: How far would you go to uncover the truth?
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/author-talk-susan-francis/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Writers
ORGANIZER;CN="Society of Women Writers Victoria":MAILTO:soc.womenwriters.vic@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260822T090000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261028T233000
DTSTAMP:20260415T045240Z
CREATED:20260409T043953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T045240Z
UID:10030755-1787389200-1793230200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Online Feedback Clinic: Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Join this writing course and work on your poetry under the guidance of Tim Loveday. \nThis online feedback clinic is an opportunity to work on your poetry collection or on poems you are keen to send to competitions or journals. It gives you time to reflect on and edit your work over a sustained period. \nOver three months\, you’ll submit a poem of up to 60 lines and receive personalised feedback from Loveday and your peers. The feedback will develop your work-in-progress and give you tools to advance your practice. \nThe feedback will vary depending on each submission\, but it may focus on rhythm\, structure\, voice and more. \nBetween submission rounds\, Loveday will also share insightful readings or comments to inform and guide your practice. \nThis program is asynchronous and takes place on a website designed to make it simple to share your writing\, receive feedback and interact with your peers. \nPlease note that this is a feedback-based course. \nStudent submission before 11:59pm on Saturday 22 August\, Monday 14 September and Monday 19 October \nTutor feedback before 11:59 on Monday 31 August\, Wednesday 23 September and Wednesday 28 October \nAbout the tutor:\nTim Loveday is a poet\, writer and academic living on Wurundjeri country. He won the 2022 and 2024 Dorothy Porter Poetry Awards\, the 2025 Calanthe Poetry Prize and the 2023 Venie Holmgren Environmental Poetry Award. He was a finalist in the 2025 DHA\, 2024 Montreal Poetry Prize\, 2024 Big Australian Yarn and 2023 David Harold Tribe Prize. Tim’s work has been widely published. He is the poetry editor at Island Magazine.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/online-feedback-clinic-poetry/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Education,Poetry,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260822T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260822T150000
DTSTAMP:20260702T004007Z
CREATED:20260702T004007Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T004007Z
UID:10031628-1787407200-1787410800@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:BOOK LAUNCH: Gibbon Glenda: Pickleball Contender! by Kelly Brodie-Brown and Inge Daniels
DESCRIPTION:The Little Bookroom is excited to be hosting the launch of Gibbon Glenda: Pickleball Contender! by Kelly Brodie-Brown and Inge Daniels. \n  \nPre-order your copy HERE. \n  \nAbout the Book: \nGlenda was a gibbon with a solid claim to fame; when it came to playing pickleball\, she’d never lost a game. Winning felt so wonderful\, it became her sole ambition. She was obsessed with being best\, she had to win every competition. But what happens when Glenda meets a new pickleball contender? \n  \nAbout the Author: \nKelly Brodie-Brown is a picture book author who grew up in the UK and moved to Melbourne after meeting her Australian wife. They now live in the western suburbs with their four-year-old daughter and malodorous dog. She has always enjoyed writing in rhyme and has a long history of making up novelty songs for people’s birthdays\, usually unsolicited. Prior to moving to Australia\, Kelly worked in marketing and PR for a London-based film studio writing press releases and promotional material. She also completed a course in screenwriting at the London College of Communication\, with a focus on writing for TV.  \n  \nAbout the Illustrator: \nHi there\, I’m Inge Daniels\, a graphic designer turned illustrator with a passion for picture books. I grew up in a small village in the Netherlands\, and my creative path has taken me through the UK and all the way to Australia. That’s where I met my now-wife and our cat. These days\, the three of us split our time between Australia and the Netherlands. Fuelled by tea and inspired by nature\, I can find endless creativity (and occasional distraction) in the world around me.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/book-launch-gibbon-glenda-pickleball-contender-by-kelly-brodie-brown-and-inge-daniels/
LOCATION:The Little Bookroom\, 8 Village Ave\, BRUNSWICK EAST\, VIC\, 3057\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Children's Literature
ORGANIZER;CN="The Little Bookroom":MAILTO:orders@littlebookroom.com.au
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260825T180000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260825T190000
DTSTAMP:20260617T072355Z
CREATED:20260617T072355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260617T072355Z
UID:10031549-1787680800-1787684400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:More Fool Me by Richard Denniss
DESCRIPTION:We are delighted to invite you to hear Richard Denniss talk about his essay\, More Fool Me\, with Emma Shortis.\n\nThe global gas industry has pulled off the greatest con in Australia’s history\, and we’re living with the consequences. Australia is one of the richest countries in the world\, but we have been made to feel so poor that we no longer even expect the high quality\, freely available public schools and hospitals we used to have. But while we are told we can’t afford to have good services\, Australian governments give away billions of dollars worth of gas\, for free\, to multinational companies every year.\n\nIn this essay Richard Denniss pulls back the curtain to show how the gas companies performed a long con in Australia and spells out the simple steps we need to take to fix it.\n\nTickets are $20 per person\, includes a copy of More Fool Me.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/more-fool-me-by-richard-denniss/
LOCATION:Cinema Nova\, 380 Lygon St\, Carlton\, Victoria\, 3053\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Bookshops,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260825T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260825T200000
DTSTAMP:20260625T050459Z
CREATED:20260625T045528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T050459Z
UID:10031607-1787684400-1787688000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Cory Doctorow: Enshittification
DESCRIPTION:This is not a glitch. This is the creeping decay of the platforms we rely on and what it might take to reclaim our digital future.\nYou’re not imagining it: the experience of being online is getting worse. Services degrade\, platforms shift and what once felt open and useful becomes harder to recognise. What was once good is now… shit. This is not a glitch. In fact\, it’s by design. ‘Enshittification’\, a term coined by tech critic Cory Doctorow\, names what is already happening. \nIn this talk\, Doctorow outlines how major platforms like Facebook\, Amazon and X are structured to follow this trajectory. First\, users are drawn in with convenience and connection. Then\, advertisers are invited into the system. Finally\, the experience itself is stripped back in the pursuit of profit. \nJoin Doctorow as he maps the collapse of the utopic early internet promise\, the systems that sustain it and what it might still take to reclaim a more open digital future. With host Professor Lisa M. Given\, Director\, Centre for Human-AI Information Environments at RMIT University
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/cory-doctorow-enshittification/
LOCATION:The Capitol\, 113 Swanston Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260826
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260831
DTSTAMP:20260626T052740Z
CREATED:20260626T052740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260626T052740Z
UID:10031608-1787702400-1788134399@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Words in Winter
DESCRIPTION:Words in Winter is an annual literary festival held each August on Djaara country and across the twin towns of Daylesford and Hepburn. The volunteer-led festival brings together writers\, readers and storytellers from across the region and beyond to celebrate words in all their forms – from page to stage. Across five days of conversations\, readings\, workshops and performances\, local creators and visiting artists will share ideas\, craft and imagination with audiences of all ages. \n\nThis August\, Words in Winter returns to Daylesford and Hepburn for five days of curiosity\, words and belonging.\nOur 2026 theme\, Curiouser and Curiouser\, is an invitation to lean in: to stories you haven’t heard\, writers you haven’t discovered\, and conversations that only happen when a community gathers around literature and creativity. \n\n“Curiosity is what brings people together around stories. It invites us to listen more deeply\, imagine differently and explore the world through other perspectives.”\n\n\n—Devon Taylor\, Festival Producer \n\nThe festival happens at winter’s edge — acacias in bloom\, bees returning\, days quietly lengthening. And with them\, us: emerging\, curious\, ready. Ready for the stories that pull us out of ourselves. Ready for the warmth of a full room and the particular magic of words shared out loud. \nProgramming this year runs across three pillars: \nThe Curious Craft for writers and makers\, Curious Histories & Untold Truths for storytellers and memory-keepers and Community Curiosities for everyone who calls this region home \nFrom author panels at the Town Hall to workshops at Radius Art\, every venue has a purpose and every event asks you to look a little closer.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/words-in-winter/
LOCATION:VIC
CATEGORIES:Festivals
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260826T070000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20260826T080000
DTSTAMP:20260710T040245Z
CREATED:20260226T222852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260710T040245Z
UID:10029839-1787727600-1787731200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Writing Momentum writing workshops
DESCRIPTION:Join creativity coach and writer Meg Dunley for a weekly online writing session designed to help you build and keep a consistent writing practice. It’s a little like a guided shut-up and write with accountability. \nEach Wednesday morning session runs for one hour and includes a poetry-based prompt to spark your thinking\, 40 minutes of silent focused writing time\, and a brief accountability check-in to start and close the session. Whether you’re working on a novel\, memoir\, poetry or any other form of writing\, you’re welcome here. \nWriting Momentum runs throughout the year. The session is recorded and sent to all members on Friday afternoon\, along with the prompt\, poem and questions. \nSessions are open to Momentum\, Focus\, Elevate and Creative Empowerment Coaching Program members. New members can join with a 7-day free trial. \nWhen: Every Wednesday\, 7:00–8:00am Melbourne time \nWhere: Online via Zoom \nMore information and to join
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/writing-momentum-wednesdays/2026-08-26/
LOCATION:Online via Zoom\, Melbourne\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Education,Writers
ORGANIZER;CN="Meg Dunley%2C Creativity Coach":MAILTO:meg@megdunley.com
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR