Author Archives for IWC_admin

How to Make Mistakes and Miraculously Still get Published by Sue Divin

August 22, 2019 4:28 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

  Sue Divin, IWC Novel Fair 2019 Finalist. I made every mistake possible writing my novel – but it worked. If you already have a Masters in Creative Writing and the money to pay for expensive literary consultancy manuscript reviews then please stop reading now. If you’re scared to admit you’re a writer, wonder what possessed you to start writing a novel in the first place and still haven’t a clue what ‘literary fiction’ is, then this is for you. And yes. You should consider entering the IWC Novel Fair 2020. I’m an agented writer and Guard Your Heart, my YA début will be published in Spring 2021. There’s a sentence I never imagined writing. One night in summer 2016, I got an idea for a story, switched off the TV and started to write. I work full-time. Apply none... Read Moreread more.


Neil Sharpson on his Novel Fair Experience

August 18, 2019 8:09 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

This year, I was fortunate enough to finally get signed by a literary agent, the redoubtable Jennie Goloboy of the Donald Maas Literary Agency for my novel The Caspian Sea, (a Cold War spy thriller set two hundred years in the future, think what John Le Carré might write after a night doing absinthe with Philip K. Dick). And earlier this year I had the absolute privilege of being one of 12 novelists chosen for Novel Fair. So it’s been a good year. And given that, I thought it might be a good idea to sit down and write a step by step guide detailing how I finally was able to land an agent for the benefit of other aspiring writers beginning their journey. Right about the point I got to “Step #736, send submission letter to 150 agents, get... Read Moreread more.


Marianne Lee: A Novel Fair 2019 Winner

NOVEL FAIR NEWS

August 14, 2019 2:00 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

“I love my rejection slips. They show me I try.” – wrote Sylvia Plath. How many aspiring writers have sent off their manuscript with a heart full of hope only to face rejection once again? Indeed our own Maeve Binchy once wrote that before she became successful, she could paper her living room walls with all of the rejection letters she had received. Imagine then if budding novelists had a unique opportunity to bypass the dreaded manuscript slush pile, to pitch their ideas and place their synopsis and sample chapters directly into the hands of venerated publishers and agents? This is precisely what happens at the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair! Described by The Irish Times as a ‘Dragon’s Den for writers’, this year’s Novel Fair is open for submissions until Friday 27 of September.  We’ve had superb feedback from the twelve winners of Novel Fair... Read Moreread more.


Introducing our Marian Keyes Young Writer Award Summer 2019 winners

July 24, 2019 10:28 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Say hello to Mia Colleran and Rose Keating, who have been awarded the Marian Keyes Young Writer Award Summer 2019! The award, kindly sponsored by IWC Ambassador Marian Keyes, encourages and supports young writers in the development of their artistic practice.   Mia has fulfilled her childhood dream to work in a bookshop and can be found pottering around the Poetry section in Dubray. When she’s not working, she is reviewing books for The Irish Times or trying to – kindly – force people to read books that she believes are wonderful. She writes non-fiction and prose poetry. Rose is a undergraduate studying at UCC on a Quercus creative writingscholarship. She has been published in Banshee journal, Southword journaland Hot Press magazine. She works as a columnist for the Waterford News andStar.read more.


Announcing our Florence Writer-in-Residence 2019

July 17, 2019 2:46 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre is happy to announce that Eamonn Lynskey has been selected for the residency at St Mark’s, Florence. Eamonn will travel to Italy this autumn to work on his (Florence-themed) poetry. Eamonn Lynskey is a poet and essayist whose work has been published in leading magazines and journals and on-line. He holds an M. Phil. in creative writing from Trinity College, Dublin and a Diploma in Italian Language and Culture from The Italian Cultural Institute, Dublin. His third collection, ‘It’s Time’, was published by Salmon Poetry in 2017. www.eamonnlynskey.comread more.


Introducing the selected writer for the Irish-Norwegian Writers’ Exchange 2019

July 17, 2019 2:45 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The IWC team is delighted to introduce Jane Robinson, who will travel to Bergen, Norway in the last fortnight of September 2019. A Norwegian writer will travel to Anam Cara Artists’ and Writers’ Retreat and River Mill Writers’ Retreat in October.   Jane Robinson is a professional member of the Irish Writers Centre who lives in Dublin. She has a PhD in Biology from the California Institute of Technology. Her poems have won several awards, including the Strokestown International Poetry Prize and the Red Line Book Festival Poetry Award. Her recent book ‘Journey to the Sleeping Whale’ (Salmon, 2018) won the Shine-Strong Award for the best début poetry collection of the year. In addition to authoring papers and speaking on topics such as: In Search of Madge Herron and Of Poetry and Science, Jane is currently writing a cross-genre work of literature to include utopian fictions, postcards and reflections on species extinction.... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the Cill Rialaig writers

July 3, 2019 10:36 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are very happy to announce the seven writers who will go to Cill Rialaig from 4 – 14 October, 2019: Marie Breen-SmythSheila ArmstrongJune CaldwellCharleen HurtubiseKatherine MezzacappaOlivia FitzsimonsEmily S Cooper   Marie Breen-Smyth grew up in rural county Derry and has returned to live in Meenaclady Co Donegal and Clady near Portglenone having worked overseas since 2005. She is working on a memoir which includes encounters with relatives she has never met. Sheila Armstrong is a writer and editor from Sligo. She is working on her first collection of fiction. June Caldwell’s short story collection Room Little Darker was published in 2017 by New Island Books and in 2018 by Head of Zeus. Her novel Little Town Moone is forthcoming from John Murray. In 2019 she wrote the introduction for an anthology of short stories: Still Worlds Turning, published by... Read Moreread more.


Our new IWC Online Writer-in-Residence with HeadStuff

June 26, 2019 10:05 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The team here at the IWC is very happy to introduce Shirley-Anne McMillan as our new Online Writer-in-Residence in partnership with Headstuff! Shirley will be attending literary events and festivals, and report on the literary scene in Ireland. Her work will be published on Headstuff. Shirley-Anne McMillan is an author of contemporary Young Adult fiction. She lives in Co Down with her family where she writes, tutors, and works in the local Integrated school as an Alternative Chaplain. Shirley-Anne’s third novel, Every Sparrow Falling, will be published by Atom in 2019.  read more.


Introducing Hilary Copeland as the IWC Acting Director

June 12, 2019 3:36 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are very pleased to welcome Hilary Copeland to our team! Hilary will act as our new Acting Director, in Valerie Bistany‘s stead during her partial sabbatical year. Hilary Copeland has worked in arts management for over ten years, for festivals, arts and theatre companies and nonprofits in Edinburgh and Belfast. She has worked across business management, strategic planning, creative programming and event delivery. Hilary started her career in literature at the Stanza Poetry Festival and The Byre Theatre before joining the Programming Team at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. She has worked for clients including NI Science Festival, Kabosh, Culture Northern Ireland, Whittrick Press, Belfast Book Festival and Young at Art. Hilary led long-standing arts and cultural institution The John Hewitt Society from 2013 – 2019, where she ran the John Hewitt International Summer School and established the Hillsborough Festival... Read Moreread more.


Introducing the Anam Cara / IWC Irish Language Bursary writers 2019

June 12, 2019 10:05 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are very pleased to introduce Máire Dinny Wren and Dave Duggan as the selected writers for the Anam Cara / IWC Irish Language Bursary 2019. They will be going on a week-long residency to the Anam Cara Writer’s & Artist’s Retreat to give them time and space to write or develop their work in Irish.   As Gaoth Dobhair i dTír Chonaill don fhile agus gearrscéalaí Máire Dinny Wren. D’fhoilsigh Coiscéim a céad bailiúchán filíochta, Ó Bhile go Bile, in 2011. In 2016, d’fhoilsigh Éabhlóid a céad cnuasacht gearrscéalta, Go mbeinnse choíche saor. Tá saothair léi foilsithe in irisí ar nós Duillí Éireann, Comhar, an tUltach, Feasta, Poblachd nam Bàrd The Bramley, Strokestown Poetry Anthology 3  agus tá ceithre scéal dá cuid sa chnuasacht Go dtí an lá bán a d’fhoilsigh Éabhlóid in 2012. Tá go leor duaiseanna liteartha bronnta ar Mháire... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the Cavan Writer-in-Residence

June 5, 2019 1:32 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are thrilled to introduce Anthony J. Quinn: the newly appointed Cavan Writer-in-Residence. Anthony J Quinn lives in County Tyrone with his wife Clare and their four children. He is the author of eight novels, and currently teaches creative writing at Queen’s University Belfast. His debut, Disappeared, was picked by The Times and the Daily Mail as one of the best novels of the year, and was shortlisted for a Strand Literary Award in the US.   The Cavan WIR is a new initiative, delivered in partnership with Cavan County Council Arts Office. read more.


Haiku as Gaeilge

June 5, 2019 1:23 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We have a little treat for you!  Funded by Foras na Gaeilge, the Irish Writers Centre is proud to present an introduction to the art of Haiku and Haiku in Irish presented by writer Gabriel Rosenstock. Gabriel and videographer George Hooker worked hard to bring you three excellent videos in Irish. Don’t worry if your Irish is not up to scratch: they all have English subtitles too. If you want to know more about the (Irish language) Haiku, search no more – these are the videos you’ve been longing for. Watch the videos here: video one, video two and video three.  read more.


We’re looking for an Acting Director/CEO of the Irish Writers Centre (50 weeks from July 2019)

April 16, 2019 9:32 am Published by Leave your thoughts

A vacancy for the position of Acting Director of the Irish Writers Centre will arise in July 2019 for a fixed term period of 50 weeks.  The Board of the IWC therefore wishes to appoint an Acting Director to lead, manage and develop the work of the organisation, building on the success and achievements of the last 28 years. This full-time temporary position will be based at 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Ireland.  It is an important cultural leadership role, reporting to the Board, encompassing responsibility for the overall management of the IWC’s full range of operations and its resources and finances, its premises and management of the team in Parnell Square.  The role will involve maintaining current sources of funding to service the regular programmes as well as finding new opportunities for both funding and new programming, within the existing... Read Moreread more.


It is with great regret that we heard of the death of Frank Buckley

April 10, 2019 11:35 am Published by Leave your thoughts

It is with great regret that we heard of the death of Frank Buckley, who passed away on Thursday March 28th, 2019. Frank has been a longstanding friend of the Irish Writers Centre since its founding, and he was a man whose love of the arts made a considerable contribution to the life of the Centre both as a former Board member and as a patron of the arts. His generosity is evident in the fine collection of works that grace its rooms. We will miss his extraordinary talks about each and every painting on Culture Nights – they became a tradition with the tours booked out long in advance.  Frank has been an inspiration to all of us who knew him. He will be remembered for his charm and kindness and, with his passing, all of us at the... Read Moreread more.