Eye of the Storm
Alice Springs Writers' Festival
1 - 4 May 2009
A four-day festival of poetry slams, workshops, children’s activities, panels, readings and other special events in and around Alice Springs.Full details here.

Biographical Writing Course
4 May 2009
A course designed to help you develop your own biography project. Course runs over five weeks, with one-week residential retreat at Olvar Wood, QLD. Details here.

Google Settlement Seminars
11 & 12 May 2009
ASA Director Dr Jeremy Fisher will be presenting a series of seminars to explore the implications of the Google Book Settlement offer. Seminars are free, but RSVP is essential. RSVP to Jill Dimond, or call 02 9318 0877.
Adelaide: 11 May 2009, State Library of SA. Time TBC.
Perth: 12 May 2009, State Library of WA. Time TBC.

CAL Seminars
5-13 May 2009 (locations below)
Copyright Agency Limited (CAL)  is running free information sessions around the country. There wil be two sessions per seminar.
Session 1: Introduction to CAL for members and copyright users.
Session 2: Copyright and technology: making the most of your online works
Brisbane: 5 May, Auditorium 2, State Library of QLD
Sydney: 6 May, Metcalfe Auditorium, State Library of NSW
Melbourne: 7 May, Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria
Adelaide: 12 May, Hetzel Lecture Theatre, State Library of SA
Perth: 13 May, Great Southern Room, State Library of WA
RSVP for all sessions via email or call 02 9394 7600. More details at the CAL website.

Australian Copyright Council 2009 Training Program: Melbourne
12-15 May 2009
The ACC training program covers a wide range of copyright issues, including: Copyright primer; Permissions & clearances; Websites & online publishing; User-generated content /  Web 2.0; Recent legislative and policy developments; Recent cases ;  Educators Copyright overview; Educators using text & images (including from internet); Educators using AV material (including podcasts); New education technologies; Compliance procedures & policies; Libraries. 
Full details and booking information from the ACC website.

Society of Women Writers NSW Inc
13 May 2009
Literary Lunch in the State Library Dixson Room (12 for 12.30)
Workshop: 10am - 12pm Karel Segers “Story to Script”
Member Talk: Geraldine Fennell:  Dandelions in the Wind
Guest Speaker: Libby Hathorn: Georgiani: Woman of Flowers
Cost:  Members $25  Non-members $30
Bookings essential before 10am on Monday before the meeting:
Phone Margo Ruckert 9153 0621 or email; or Prim Moss 9326 1518

BlakWrite Symposium
14 - 15 May 2009
A two day symposium supporting creative and critical writing by Indigenous writers. Presented by Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, University of Wollongong and the South Coast Writers Centre. To register, contact South Coast Writers Centre on email or 02 4228 0151.

Sydney Writers Festival
18-24 May 2009
One of Australia's biggest literary festivals. Program details here.

ASA Professional Development Seminars
Legal Matters
Sydney, 22 May 2009
A typical day at the ASA brings questions about contracts. There are queries about terms, rights, digital contracts, and of course the legal jargon. A different publisher will present a different contact, and you need to clearly understand your obligations and entitlements. Be informed before you sign. Details here.

Playing with the Past
Sydney Writers Festival
May 24 2009
1.30 - 2.30
Sydney Philharmonia Choir Studio, Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay.
ASA mentorship participants Susan Coleridge, Robert Engwerda, Lisa Lang and Mary Lightfoot read from their work, with questions and discussion to follow. Chaired by the ASA’s executive director Jeremy Fisher. Sponsored by
the ASA/CAL Mentorship Program. More details here.

Olvar Wood Fellowship Award
29 May 2009
Submissions of up to 50,000 words are invited in any genre for the fellowship. Four manuscripts will be selected. Each winning entrant will receive a full MS appraisal; a week-long intensive retreat at Olvar Wood; 3-monthly feedback sessions; membership of Friends of Olvar. Details here.

ASA Professional Development Seminars
Legal Matters
Ballarat, 29 May 2009
A typical day at the ASA brings questions about contracts. There are queries about terms, rights, digital contracts, and of course the legal jargon. A different publisher will present a different contact, and you need to clearly understand your obligations and entitlements. Be informed before you sign. Details here.

Emerging Writers Festival
22-31 May 2009
The preeminent festival for emerging writers of all ages, bringing together writers, editors, publishers and performers. Full details at the website.

Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2009
Call for Nominations
1 May 2009
A total of $195,000 will be awarded to established and emerging writers across eleven categories in one of Australia's richest and most diverse writing prizes. Prizes offered:
The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction
The Nettie Palmer Prize for Non-fiction        
The CJ Dennis Prize for Poetry
The Louis Esson Prize for Drama
The Prize for Young Adult Fiction
The Alfred Deakin Prize for an Essay Advancing Public Debate
The Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript by an Emerging Victorian Writer*
The Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize for Writing about Italians in Australia
The John Curtin Prize for Journalism
The Prize for Best Music Theatre Script
The Prize for Science Writing*
(for books published between 1 May 2007 and 30 April 2009)
With the exceptions noted (*), the Awards are open to all Australians with works first published or performed between 1 May 2008 and 30 April 2009. Full details here.

Commonwealth Short Story Competition
11 May 2009
Competition open to citizens of Commonwealth countries. First prize £2,000, with £500 regional prizes. Word limit 600 words. Maximum of 3 entries per person. Full details here.

2009 Kit Denton Fellowship
15 May 2009
The $25, 000 Fellowship was created in 2007 to honour the work and memory of Kit Denton, a respected and admired member of the writing community. The father of media personality Andrew Denton, Kit was a lifetime member of the Australian Writers’ Guild, a scriptwriter, author, poet and lyricist. Full details and entry forms here.

KSP Speculative Fiction Awards
29 May 2009
Two categories: open and young writers (20 and under). Free entry for young writers; open entrants $7.50. Prize pool of $400. Details and entry forms here.

PressPress Chapbook Award
30 May 2009
$500 and publication of a chapbook through PressPress. Submit 20-40 pages of original poetry for consideration. Entry fee $15. Full details and entry  form here.

Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards 2009
Call for Nominations
25 May 2009
A total of $225,000 will be awarded to emerging and established writers across 14 categories. Prizes offered:
Fiction Book Award $25,000
Emerging Queensland Author - Manuscript Award $20,000
Unpublished Indigenous Writer - Arts Queensland David Unaipon Award $15,000
Non-Fiction Book Award $15,000
History Book - Faculty of Arts University of Queensland Award $15,000
Children's Book - Mary Ryan's Award $15,000
Young Adult Book Award $15,000
Science Writer Award  $15,000
Poetry Collection - Arts Queensland Judith Wright Calanthe Award $15,000
Australian Short Story Collection - Arts Queensland Steele Rudd Award $15,000
Literary or Media Work Advancing Public Debate - The Harry Williams Award $15,000
Film Script - Pacific Film and Television Commission Award $15,000
Drama Script (Stage) Award $15,000
Television Script - QUT Creative Industries Award $15,000
Full details here.

The 2009 New Zealand Poetry Society Competition
31 May 2009
Poetry competition open to international entries in four categories: open, junior, haiku, haiku junior. Entry fee NZ$2; prize pool NZ$1400. Full details here.

The Australian Vogel Literary Award
31 May 2009
Australia’s premier fiction award for young writers. Entrants must be below 35 years of age as at 31 May 2009. Manuscripts up to 100,000 words. Entry fee $25. First prize is $20,000 plus royalties from sales. Details and entry forms here.

CAL Cultural Fund
22 May 2009
The Fund supports a wide variety of research, education and cultural development projects that enhance the economic and creative climate for Australian creators. This year, the Fund will give priority to projects which support innovation in the Australian creative industries and develop local and foreign markets for Australian works. Australian creators who have appropriate projects commencing after 1 July 2009 are encouraged to apply for grants. Details and application forms from the CAL website, or contact CAL’s Cultural Fund Manager, Zoe Rodriguez on 02 9394 7600, or email.

International Poetry Tour
29 May 20909
The Australian Poetry Centre (APC) is looking for two leading Australian poets to represent Australian poetry on an international reading circuit of leading festivals and venues in the UK and Ireland for a one-month tour. The successful poets will each receive international airfares, reading fees and per diems, and accommodation in the UK and Ireland. Applicants need to have at least two books published. Full details from the APC website.