Author Archives for IWC_admin

12 writers selected for Irish Writers Centre Evolution Programme 2025-2026

September 17, 2025 12:40 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are thrilled to announce that this year we have awarded 12 writers for the Irish Writers Centre Evolution Programme 2025-2026. They are Christina Collins, Deirdre Barragry, Eamon McGuinness, Elaine Garvey, Juliana Adelman, Leeanne O’Donnell, Orla Mackey, Pallavi Padma-Uday, Rafael Mendes, Shane Tivenan, Sharon Guard and Soula Emmanuel. Evolution is a six-month programme that provides support for 12 published writers to advance their careers. Through providing each writer with a tailored suite of supports, this programme aims to ease the difficult journey for published writers who have one or two books under their belt and need further support at a crucial stage of their careers. The suite of supports includes access to courses, one-to-one mentoring (creative and professional), Irish Writers Centre membership, monthly peer-to-peer knowledge sharing forums and an opportunity to be on a paid teaching residency with the School... Read Moreread more.


Announcing our Cill Rialaig Residencies Awardees 2025

September 17, 2025 12:20 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the seven writers who have been selected for the Cill Rialaig residencies, in partnership with Cill Rialaig Arts Centre. The chosen writers are Cáit Moloney, Caitlyn O’Reilly, Joanne Hayden, Joe Phádraig Ó Fátharta, Kerri Sonnenberg, Róisín Sheehy and Saoirse Morrigan. This iteration marks the eleventh consecutive year of Irish Writers Centre residencies with Cill Rialaig. The awarded writers will spend ten days in Cill Rialaig, locally known as ‘the edge of the world’. Roe McDermott, 2023 Cill Rialaig Residency awardee said this about her experience: “…Getting to slow down, inhale the beauty of the landscape, and spend the dark moonlit evenings reading and thinking felt like a generous gift.” WRITER STUDIOS IN THE VILLAGE OF CILL RIALAIG, CO. KERRY   Cill Rialaig Residencies Awardees: Cáit Moloney is a writer from Co. Limerick. She has a... Read Moreread more.


Agents and Publisher’s Tips & Tricks for Getting Your Work Published

September 8, 2025 11:44 am Published by Leave your thoughts

With just days left until the deadline for entries to the International Debut Novel Competition, we’re encouraging aspiring authors not to miss this life-changing opportunity to get their work noticed by some of the leading figures in publishing. The International Debut Novel Competition is unique in offering 12 winners the chance to pitch their first novel directly to influential publishers and literary agents. This year’s panel includes: • Paul Feldstein, Literary Agent, The Feldstein Agency. • Geraldine Nichols, Literary Agent, The Book Bureau. • Patricia Deevy, Deputy Publisher, Penguin Random House Ireland. • Ivan Mulcahy, Literary Agent, Mulcahy Sweeney Literary Agency. • Sean Farrell, Lilliput Press, Submissions Editor. • Brian Langan, Literary Agent, Storyline Literary Agency. • Faith O’Grady, Literary Agent, Lisa Richards Agency. • Gráinne Fox, Literary Agent, United Talent Agency. • Nicola Barr, Literary Agent, Rye Literary. To... Read Moreread more.


How To Write A Synopsis

August 18, 2025 10:10 am Published by Leave your thoughts

As submissions come flying in for our International Debut Novel Competition, the Irish Writers Centre and previous International Debut Novel Competition winner, Lauren Mackenzie, are here to demystify the application process for first-time novelists. As part of your submission to the Competition, you will be asked to craft a 500-word synopsis of your novel. Below, Lauren Mackenzie offers a helpful step-by-step process for creating your synopsis:   After months, years, centuries of toil, hope and despair, you produce 90,000 odd words in an act of tremendous faith and miraculous creativity and someone wants you to squish it into 300-500 words. What? Why can’t they just read the book?   Well.   First things first. What is a synopsis? A synopsis is a short summary or description of a manuscript focusing on character, setting, plot and tone and almost everyone wants... Read Moreread more.


Culture Night 2025. Fierce Form on Friday. An Irish Writers Centre Promenade Showcase

August 15, 2025 4:12 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

In June this year, we had our first Writers Showcase at the Centre. The aim was to ensure writers know our rooms are open to them, not just for taking part in in-person courses, mentoring sessions, book launches or, if you are a member, using a room for a few hours during the day to write in, but to let their words live and breathe in the air, here on Parnell Square. It was a resounding success, a celebration of five poets, all Out of Towners, who all recently released new collections. And so, for Culture Night 2025, the Centre will host its second Writers Showcase, this time a promenade tour of the building, Fierce Form on Friday. On Friday 19 September from 6.30pm, come tour the rooms in our Georgian building as we explore literary form. We kick off... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities for Writers: August 2025

August 11, 2025 2:06 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Our monthly list of submission windows, competitions, bursaries, residencies and general literary opportunities is now live. This list offers information on opportunities with August/September deadlines. For information on other upcoming opportunities, see our competitions, submissions and opportunities and bursaries and funding pages. Irish Writers Centre Opportunities DEADLINE: 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 International Debut Novel Competition 2025 The International Debut Novel Competition (previously the Novel Fair) is an annual literary competition that offers first-time novelists the chance to pitch their work to leading agents and publishers. This year, writers are invited to submit 5,000 words of their manuscript (plus a 500-word synopsis) by 14 September to be in with a chance of attending the highly coveted Pitch Days in November 2025. More information here. Opportunities DEADLINE: 15 AUGUST 2025 Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary Awards for Children’s Books Artists in 2025 Children’s Books... Read Moreread more.


Getting It Done with Oisín Fagan

August 6, 2025 11:50 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the third in our series of workshops for emerging writers – Getting It Done with Oisín Fagan. About the workshop To work through and finish a manuscript requires time, faith, discipline, but also ease and relaxation. In this one-day workshop writers will become familiar with several practical tools and mental techniques that will help them achieve and maintain the endurance and balance necessary to see through to completion a long-term project. Although this workshop is aimed at those wishing to complete a work they have already started, or perhaps abandoned, it would also prove useful to anyone hoping to reconnect with the daily practice of writing, overcome writer’s block, or develop their self-confidence. This is the third in a series of intermediate-level workshops to be held at the Irish Writers Centre in 2025. In a... Read Moreread more.


Irish Writers Centre proudly welcomes new board members

July 23, 2025 10:59 am Published by Leave your thoughts

The Irish Writers Centre ushers in a fresh era of literary leadership by welcoming seven new members to its Board of Directors, each bringing a unique blend of creativity, leadership, business acumen and legal insight to the organisation. These appointments come at an energising time for the Irish Writers Centre as it enters a next chapter under new CEO Mags McLoughlin, who joined the organisation last year. The new Board members join at a pivotal moment as the Centre accelerates its ambition to expand and deepen support for writers across the island of Ireland. Their combined experience spans the literary, financial, legal, healthcare, sustainability, publishing and cultural sectors. The new appointees are:     Patrick Barrett is a practising barrister with a strong focus on governance, regulatory compliance, and public service. A graduate of King’s Inns and University College Cork,... Read Moreread more.


Announcing the Annaghmakerrig Residencies Awardees 2025

July 9, 2025 1:20 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

We are excited to announce Emily Cooper, Emer Lyons, Rosa Mäkelä, Afric McGlinchey and Nuala O’Connor as the awardees of the 2025 Irish Writers Centre Annaghmakerrig Residencies. Created in partnership with the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, these residencies will provide each of the awardees with a one-week stay at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre (County Monaghan) in order to develop their writing practice. Read more about the awardees below. Emily Cooper   Emily Cooper is a poet, writer and editor based in Donegal. She has published two books of poetry: Glass with Makina Books in 2021 and The Conversation, a collaborative collection with Jo Burns, published by Doire Press in 2024. Her poetry and prose has been published in The Stinging Fly, Winter Papers, Banshee, London Magazine, Poetry Ireland Review and elsewhere and she is an editor for The Pig’s Back literary journal.... Read Moreread more.


International Debut Novel Competition 2025

July 8, 2025 3:04 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Are you the next big voice in fiction? On Friday 1 August, the Irish Writers Centre will open its doors to the International Debut Novel Competition, a revamped version of Novel Fair, until Sunday 14 September 2025, whose sole mission is to continue to find the newest voices of literature. The competition has helped launch dozens of writing careers over the past fourteen years as 12 selected winners get to bypass the slush pile and pitch their debut novels directly to top publishers and literary agents, either in person or online during a two-day hybrid event. “It’s changed my life and catapulted me into the literary world in a way that would have taken some time on my own. That’s if I would’ve broken in at all.” Lauren Mackenzie, 2021 winner, author of The Couples After submissions close on the... Read Moreread more.


Our Young Writer Delegates look back on Belfast Book Festival 2025

July 7, 2025 4:10 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Last month, writers, readers and book-lovers from far and wide travelled to Belfast for the Belfast Book Festival 2025. From 5-9 June, attendees were treated to a week full of readings, conversations, film screenings, walking tours, events and special guests, which showcased new voices, diverse writing, Irish and international writing talent. Among the attendees were our Irish Writers Centre/BBF Young Writer Delegates, Joshua Beatty, Beth Healy, Nicole Lee Jiaqi and Sean Rowan. As part of the festival our Young Writer Delegates took part in a showcase event where they got the chance to perform some of their work to a packed audience in the Crescent Arts Centre, along with the awardees of our programme for emerging writers, New Voices: North. Their local writer-mentor Chris Wright was in attendance, along with New Voices: North mentors Jan Carson and Stephen Sexton. Each... Read Moreread more.


Opportunities for Writers: July 2025

July 2, 2025 2:49 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Looking for somewhere to submit your writing? You’re in luck: our monthly bulletin of submission windows, competitions, bursaries, residencies and general literary opportunities is now live. For more upcoming opportunities, see our competitions, submissions and opportunities and bursaries and funding pages. Irish Writers Centre DEADLINE: 9 JULY 2025 Cill Rialaig Residencies 2025 The Irish Writers Centre is delighted to announce the return of the Cill Rialaig Residencies (now in their eleventh consecutive year). This year, the residencies will offer seven writers the opportunity to spend a ten-day period in the beautiful surrounds of Cill Rialaig, Co. Kerry from 15 to 25 October 2025. Each writer will have their own house, provided free of charge. Expenses incurred can include food and travel. Who is it for? Writers working in any genre or form (poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, children’s/YA fiction, etc.), who are... Read Moreread more.


The Irish Writers Centre Roadshow at The West Cork Literary Festival

June 26, 2025 10:23 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Throughout 2025, the Irish Writers Centre is touring the island, bringing an exciting programme of literary events from creative writing workshops, showcases, panel discussions, masterclasses and information sessions to the four provinces, serving an all-island literary community with tuition, peer support and networking opportunities for writers at every stage of their journey. In July, our Roadshow is heading to Bantry for the West Cork Literary Festival, running from 11 – 18 July 2025, with an international lineup of renowned and emerging writers. The festival has been a firm fixture in Ireland’s literary scene for over 25 years and now even features a festival swim! You can see the festival brochure here. We are delighted to offer five events this year comprising of two discussions, a spoken word showcase, a zine workshop and a creative writing seminar. Below are details of... Read Moreread more.


A Roadmap for Plot: Using Character to Develop Story with Tim MacGabhann

June 23, 2025 10:33 am Published by Leave your thoughts

We are delighted to announce the second in our new series of workshops for emerging writers – A Roadmap for Plot: Using Character to Develop Story with Tim MacGabhann. About the workshop Adapted from screenwriting, psychoanalytic theory, and creative writing workshops, this one-day course is intended to help writers figure out what their characters want, and how this can drive – or frustrate – the movement of a piece of plotted fiction (long or short, fiction or nonfiction) from beginning through middle to end. Although suited to realist and genre fiction, some of these ideas and prompts can be turned inside-out, and used to serve an anti-plot or more experimental impulse. Suggestions on how to go in this inverse direction will also be explored. This is the second in a series of intermediate-level workshops to be held at the Irish... Read Moreread more.