SHORT STORY COMPETITION
The Geoff Dean Short Story Competition will run biennially and is open to all Australian writers of short fiction between 3000 and 10,000 words. It closes on July 13. The winner, who will be awarded $2000, will be announced on September 13 . More information: tasmanianwriters.org/geoff-dean-short-story-competition.

WRITING FELLOWSHIP
The Copyright Agency has announced it will award a $40,000 fellowship to a mid- to late-career author for the development and creation of a new work. Applications close on July 3. More information: copyright.com.au.

ACU POETRY PRIZE
Entries are now open for the Australian Catholic University Prize for Poetry, with a total prize pool of $10,000. The theme is Peace, Tolerance and Understanding. Entries close on June 16. For more information visit acu.edu.au.

June 6: Australian authors Graeme Simsion, Julie Janson and Gabrielle Lord are among the presenters for the 2015 Batemans Bay Writers Festival, to be held at the Coachhouse Marina Resort. Website: batemansbaywritersfestival.com.

June 9: Julie Janson will launch her debut novel, The Crocodile Hotel, about a young Aboriginal single mother's awakening of identity in a remote Northern Territory community in 1976, at 6.30pm at Harry Hartog, Westfield Woden. RSVP: 62325832.

June 9: The next Poetry at the Gods reading features Sydney poet and Macquarie University lecturer Toby Davidson and Melbourne poet and playwright Jennifer Compton. It's on at the Gods Cafe, ANU Arts Centre, dinner at 6, readings at 7.30pm. Bookings: 62485538.

June 9: Join Marjory Harper, Professor of History at the University of Aberdeen, to explore the history of the Scots in Australia. It's free and on at 5.30pm in the Conference Room at the National Library of Australia. Bookings: nla.gov.au.

June 10: Ken Stone's Aurora Borealis to Botany Bay, about Sir Edward Parry, will be launched by Dr Jonathan King at 5.30 for 6pm at Manning Clark House, 11 Tasmania Circle, ACT. RSVP: 6295 1808.

June 14: At 2pm the National Library's WINTER TALES series will kick off with author and political activist Biff Ward who will speak of many things, including her memoir, In My Mother's Hands. Bookings include afternoon tea: nla.gov.au.

June 16: Join author and documentary filmmaker Anna Broinowski for an evening of food, film and fun as she provides insights into North Korea. Her book The Director is the Commander centres around the bizarre shoot she had there for her latest documentary, Aim High in Creation! It's on at 5.45pm at the Australian Centre on China in the World, Fellows Lane, ANU. Cost $37.50 includes canapes, drinks and film screening. Bookings: 61258451.

June 20: The seminar Writing the Great War examines the breadth if Australian writing on World War I. It's on at the National Library of Australia Theatre from 9.30am to 5pm. Price $30 includes morning tea. Bookings: nla.gov.au.

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