Australian Book Review seeks entries in the 10th Calibre Prize for an outstanding non-fiction essay. All essayists writing in English are eligible, regardless of where they live. Essays must be between 3000 and 7000 words and written in English. Deadline: January 18, 2016. First prize: $5000 and publication in ABR. See: australianbookreview.com.au/prizes/calibre-prize/calibre-online-entry

September 26: Canberra poets Hazel Hall, Moya Pacey and Sandra Renew are writing poems at Tilleys Cafe in Wattle Street, Lyneham from 8am until 3pm and taking donations to raise money and awareness for refugees. See canberrapoetathon.wordpress.com

September 27: The next Fellowship of Australian Writers meeting is on from 1pm to 4pm in the Brindabella Room, 4th Floor, National Library of Australia. All welcome.This month's topic is "School Days". Shared afternoon tea. Gold coin donation. Further inquiries Adrienne Johns on 62312470 or Chris Burt on 62311937.

September 27: The next Brush with Poetry will be held at 1.30 for 2pm at Binalong's Mechanics Institute, Wellington Street, Binalong. Please note the change of venue plus BYO refreshments and drinks. It's shared mike session with a mix of contemporary and traditional poets and performers from across the regions. Contacts: Robyn Sykes 62274377; Lizz Murphy 0428 005641.

September 29: In a Canberra Times/ANU Meet the Author event, journalist David Marr will be in conversation with Laura Tingle on Marr's new Quarterly Essay, Faction Man: Bill Shorten's Path to Power at 6.30pm at Manning Clark 2 ANU. Free event. Bookings: 6125 8415.

September 29: Journalist Bernard Keane's debut novel Surveillance is a thriller about the price we pay for our "security" and how companies and governments hide the truth. Keane will discuss it at Muse, Ground Floor, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston at 7.30pm. Admission $10 includes a drink. Bookings: musecanberra.com.au

October 1: Duncan Lay will be signing copies of his fantasy novel The Last Quarrel at Dymocks in the Canberra Centre at 11am and Dymocks in the Tuggeranong Hyperdome at 2pm.

October 2: Duncan Lay will be signing copies of his fantasy novel The Last Quarrel at Dymocks Belconnen at 10am.

October 2: Actor Magda Szubanski will be signing copies of her book Reckoning: A Memoir at noon at Harry Hartog Booksellers, Westfield Woden, in which she describes her journey of self-discovery, addresses her frailties and fears and asks big questions about life. Inquiries: 6232 5832.

October 2: Magda Szubanski will be in conversation with Amanda Whitley on Szubanski's memoir, Reckoning. The Hall, University House, ANU. $65. Two-course meal. 6.15 for 7pm. Bookings: 6125 4144.

October 6: Susan Johnson will discuss her novel The Landing, about life and love, at Muse, Ground Floor, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston at 7.30pm. Admission $10 includes a drink. Bookings: musecanberra.com.au

October 11: The Imaginarium Family Day at the National Library of Australia from 1pm to 4pm features interactive demonstrations, the grand final of the ACT Scrabble competition, paper planes with the Paper Pilots, exploring the realm of riddles with David Astle, children's author Pauline Deeves, Stephanie Owen Reeder and Tania McCartney, and more. Free, no bookings required. See: nla.gov.au/event/imaginarium-family-day

October 12: David Astle will talk about the world of riddles and his book Riddledom: 101 Riddles and Their Stories in an author talk at the National Library of Australia at 6pm. Conference Room, Foyer, Level 4. Cost: $10. See: nla.gov.au/event/author-talk-david-astle

October 13: Ramona Koval will discuss her memoir Bloodhound: Searching For My Father, about her search for the unsettling truths behind her parents' troubled past, at Muse, Ground Floor, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston at 7.30pm. Admission $10 includes a drink. Bookings: musecanberra.com.au

October 20: In Wendy Whiteley and the Secret Garden journalist Janet Hawley tells the story of how Whiteley transformed an overgrown wasteland into a beautiful sanctuary. Both women will be at Muse, Ground Floor, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston at 7.30pm. Admission $10 includes a drink. Bookings: musecanberra.com.au

October 25: Charlotte Wood will be in conversation at Muse, East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston at 3.30pm about her novel The Natural Way of Things, an exploration of contemporary misogyny and corporate control. Admission $10 includes a drink. Bookings: musecanberra.com.au

* Contributions to Litbits are welcome. Please email litbits@canberratimes.com.au by COB on the Monday prior to publication. Publication is not guaranteed.