North West Words Arts Night Thursday May 29th

Next Thursday is the monthly Arts Night from NWW in Cafe Blend. And this month, there's a book launch and readings by Ted Deppe, and also readings by Annie Deppe. It will be a very enjoyable night once again. See below for more details of the two poets and the musicians.

Limericks in Limerick and the Bard of Armagh festival

Being a county Armagh woman, I have the urge to plug the Bard of Armagh festival. Though I have to admit that I don't write poetry or humorous verse. How and ever, I admire those who do. Anyway, on the tenuous connection of county verse (could there really be such a thing?)... here's a plug for a limerick competition from Limerick, and the Bard of Armagh festival.   

Bring your 'Limericks' to Limerick Competition 2014  - you could win €1,000, deadline see Facebook page  deadline date 31st May 2014.

Bard of Armagh Annual Festival of Humorous Verse - deadline 01st October 2014, max 650 words and 9 minutes performance time, see here

May, and there are lit mags looking for submissions

If you are wondering what publications out there are looking for work currently, here are a few ideas.

The Stinging Fly - not open yet, but you could be getting ready for this one, submissions in June. Takes poetry, fiction, book reviews and essays. See here I've been trying for as long as I've been writing to get a story into this... I will not give up... I will not give up... do you hear...

Wordlegs - seeking submissions for the Autumn 2014 issue, takes poetry, flash and short story. See here

Writing in response to...

I discovered a number of years ago from writing workshops with Denise Blake that I really enjoyed writing from visual prompts. This was a new idea for me at the time. If you also like to write in response to visual or text based prompts here are some ideas.

Poets Meet Painters Competition 2014 - deadline 01st July 2014, from the beautiful Beara Penninsula, Cork, Hungry Hill Writing. Poems must be written in response to exhibits from Mill Cove Gallery. For competition details and a slide show of images see here. What a lovely idea.

Spontaneity Magazine - this is a relatively new online arts journal. It relies on writer response to features from past issues, and takes submissions of poetry, prose and visual arts. See submission details here  - rolling deadline. Latest issue for inspiration Issue 02. 

So, get responding in writing.......

Celebrating the work of Irish children's laureate Niamh Sharkey

There is one week left to see this major exhibition of work featuring and celebrating Niamh Sharkey's role as Laureate na nOg along with other Irish illustrators at the Illustration Cupboard in London. So, if you are out and about in London town pop in and have a look.

Free, Open Access Higher Education Resources and Courses on Creative Writing and Literature

There are a now a number of higher education institutions worldwide that give open and free access  to online course materials. These are made available for use at your own pace, and are largely about downloadable materials. Here are a few from writing and also literature courses that might interest.

Open Learn - from the Open University - creative writing: Start Writing Fiction Looks at character, setting and genre. Writing What You Know  includes reading and writing activities geared to developing the use of memory, observation and the senses.  Start Writing Fiction: Taking it Further   established writers talking about how they go about writing, their methods, approaches and rituals. There are also  activities and exercises, and interviews with writers.

Open Learn - from the Open University - literature: Approaching Poetry  this course aims to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts. Learn about rhythm, alliteration, rhyme, poetic inversion, voice and line lengths and endings. What is Poetry?  this course introduces common techniques underlying free verse and traditional forms of poetry. You are also introduced to the basic terminology and practical elements of poetry.

Open Yale - literature Modern Poetry  This covers the body of modern poetry (characteristic techniques, concerns, and major practitioners). Authors discussed include Yeats, Eliot, and Pound, to Stevens, Moore, Bishop, and Frost, also poetry of World War One.

Open Yale - literature  The American Novel Since 1945   This course traces the formal and thematic developments of the american novel since 1945. It focuses on:  the relationship between writers and readers; the conditions of publishing; innovations in the novel's form; fiction's engagement with history, and the changing place of literature in American culture. 

On the other hand, a MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course with an unlimited number of participants and online access to a range of distance learning materials. Typically video, audio, webinar, and softcopy resources are provided with some online forum support for participants. Again, some very well known higher education insitutions worldwide provide a range of these courses including in creative writing or literature.

Participants can join and participate as a student of lots of these courses free of charge. Feedback on progress is usually provided in some form of large scale basis e.g. use of multiple choice quizzes, peer or collaborative review. So, it can be a way of  gaining education from large and well known institutions, but there is typically little or no individual attention between tutors and students. So, you need to be computer literate and also an independent learner who can manage their time and study without much tutor intervention. Not surprisingly, these courses do tend to have a high non-completion rate, as they are not for all, and there is no selection process. So for example, you may find the time commitment too much, or that the course content is different from you anticipated, or that the level of learning is too high or too low based on your previous experience and knowledge.

Anyway, mindful of all that, there are a range of these courses online that may interest those of you who can spare the time and want a free course.  Here are a few current examples in creative writing and literature that would be useful for learning about writing process: 

Universtity of IOWA - from their new MOOC series How Writers Write Poetry (28 June - 09 Aug) and How Writers Write Fiction  (27 Sept- 08 Nov 2014). These are both courses on the practice of creative writing.

edX - The Art of Poetry - not a creative writing course, as in you will not be asked to write poetry, it is about looking at the craft of poetry. 

Do look carefully at the syllabus content of the individual course to make sure that you are aware of what it is offering, at what level, and the expected workload and timings.

Happy learning.

Linenhall Library - a Writers' Festival and A Short Story Competition

The Linenhall Library, Belfast is certainly doing its bit for writers with a festival in May and a writing competition currently accepting submissions. Wouldn't it be a treat to walk through these magnificent doors?

See below for more details

Novel and Novella Submission Opportunities

I started writing a novel once, but I lost interest in the whole idea I was working on (not a good sign!). In the process, I also realised the sheer logistical challenge of writing such a large work. I couldn't dip in and out of it, and setting it aside for a while seemed to leave me behind constantly. Eventually I realised that I was trying to write it at the wrong time in my life - maybe someday, but just not now. It didn't fit with the pattern of  time I'd available - nothing changed there... 

Anyway, it did give me a renewed respect for those who persevere and achieve the writing of a novel. So, for those of you out there battling with the novel/novella form, here are some current and upcoming submission opportunities. See below:

The Greenhouse Funny Prize...any funny, funny, funny children's authors out there? Woo-hoo...yes you!

Another competition for you. The Greenhouse Funny Prize is open to unpublished and unagented authors in the UK, Commonwealth (excluding Canada) and Europe. The closing date is 30th June 2014. It's time to get funny...

World Book Night 2014 - Verbal Arts Centre Derry Event 23rd April

Wednesday 23rd April 2014 is World Book Night 2014. Verbal Arts Centre Derry is running a flagship event with Jennifer Johnston, Brian McGilloway, Kenneth Gregory, Carlo Gebler and Bernie McGill 7-10pm. There are free books on offer and they are hosting a 'Book Swap Shop', so bring along books to swap on the night. The event is free. See  website   twitter   facebook 

Looks good to me.

Happy Easter, and some upcoming arts festivals

The sun is shining in Ireland (even in Donegal), and it's a holiday weekend - wow! If you're not outside enjoying the heat, how about exercising the brain on some upcoming festivals in the North to counter all those Easter Egg calories? See below...

Writing to 5K

I began to run when I got fed up walking, and when I discovered that getting up at 6 a.m. to make an hour to write in didn't mean I had any more to say. In the last year I have run a nice loop around where we live and there is no accounting for the entire benefits. I definitely feel fitter, many a lesson plan and idea for the day ahead has formulated itself. Its the peace at that early hour I appreciate most though. Sometimes an idea that is slow burning or stuck resolves itself and I have the best of both worlds.  I compromise now, split the time between writing and running. Here is a poem.

April North West Words - Thursday 24th April 8pm

I didn't get to last month's NWW which is a pity as I always enjoy it immensely. This month the featured writers are the Galway poet Kevin O'Shea, and local writer Finbar Rafferty. Music by Rosie Carney. It should be another good night in Cafe Blend, Letterkenny.

The Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children's Writing

Today I came across The Montegrappa Scholastic Prize for New Children's Writing competition. This is for unpublished authors writing for children aged 7 - 12 years. Full details on the link above...closing date 2nd June 2014! That's quite soon!!!!

Racial diversity in children's books

I came across the topic of racial diversity in children's books listening to this recent radio podcast (the topic starts about 11 mins into the podcast). The podcast follows on from an article published discussing this issue and which in turn prompted me to read an article for the New York Times. The New York Times article in particular has made me think more about the books I read as I child (or didn't read as the case may be) and why. I think relating to the identity of a character and recognition of yourself in their voice or their experiences can make all the difference to an adult reader, but for a child it could be the catalyst for a lifetime enjoyment of reading which is priceless.

April, and lit mags looking for submissions

Gee, the daffodils have made an appearance in my garden. That makes it sound semi-cultivated, but truth be told my Dad kindly planted them once upon a time and they've survived the Donegal climate despite my neglect.

Anyway, time for a Spring motivator maybe - on writing that is, not gardening. So, what's new or pending on the writing front. Here are some ideas for submissions for all those Spring cleaned writings.

The Irish Literary Review - poetry, flash and short story, submissions until May 1st. See here
 
New Irish Writing - this one pays, and publishes work monthly in the final Saturday edition of The Independent, and then leads to the Hennessy awards. I managed to achieve this once in 2004/5 when it was in The Sunday Tribune, and I've tried a number of times unsuccessfully since. Poetry and short stories (2,200 word max.) chosen by Ciaran Carty see here   

The Moth - open submission of poetry or short story (2,000 word max.) see here

The Caterpillar - sister publication of The Moth - for children's writers see here

The Linnet's Wings - Short story (7,000 word max.), micro, flash, poetry, essay, creative non-fiction - reading period for summer issue 1st-14th May see here

Number Eleven - short story (3,000 word max.) and flash - open submissions see here

The Weary Blues - poetry, short story (3,000 word max.), visual arts and photography - open submission see here

The Bohemyth - an ezine that publishes poetry, short story (2,000 word max), flash fiction, and photography monthly. It issues on 7th of each month and  takes submissions 1st-23rd of the previous month see here  

Burning Bush 2 - a twice yearly ezine that publishes flash fiction (500 word max) and poetry. Deadline 1st May 2014 see here 

Sunday Miscellany - open submission of short scripts (700-750 max) see here  This pays also.

The View From Here - currently open to fiction submissions (5,000 word max.) see here

So no excuses now, and lots of choice - happy writing. But, if you still really want more see Tania Hershman's fab list of lit mags at ShortStops


And, here are my hardy daffodils..... hmm

Damn it, in Donegal the whins win hands down...

Launch of Boyne Berries Issue 15

This Thursday 27th March is the launch of Boyne Berries issue 15 in the Castle Arch Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath. And, I'm proud to say that I've a story included in it called The Visitor - the visitor being a very large, but portable, statue of the Virgin Mary. I'd love to attend the launch and read, but I'm working late and then early Thursday and Friday, so no go I'm afraid. Sometimes Donegal does seem very far from everywhere - though it has it's compensations too.

This issue of Boyne Berries marks the end of Michael Farry's editorship. He is handing over the role to Orla Fay who like Michael is a member of the Boyne Writers Group 

I met Michael recently at the Christmas Arts Night for North West Words in Cafe Blend, Letterkenny. He was the featured reader that night, and by his own account  it was a thoroughly enjoyable night for all. I was delighted to meet and spend time with him, and to listen to his poetry reading. Like all change I suppose there's some sadness that a particular contribution has ended, but I'm sure Michael has plenty of projects in mind to keep him occupied - keep an eye on his blog for details and other writing based news. 

But, it also means that there's a new editor on the Irish literary magazine scene - Orla Fay. All the best to Orla in her new and exciting venture. I read at the same event as Orla in the Irish Writers' Centre - what seems now like a very long time ago. We had both been chosen to read a short story in the Lonely Voice Short Story Competition that used to run monthly in IWC. It was nerve wracking for me to read on such an occasion, but really ejoyable too, and wonderful to hear the other three readers that evening. On that occasion, Orla was being recognised for a short story, but she has also published many poems, and a chapbook of poetry. I look forward to reading the new issues under her care. 

 Meanwhile issue 15 is available to buy after the launch on the Boyne Writers Group website here

     

NWW Arts Night Thursday 27th March 2014

Next Thursday is NWW Arts night again in Cafe Blend, Letterkenny. As usual there's a great line up of talent. Here are the details.

Some thoughts on reading at Over the Edge next week- and a poem

In ten day's time I will drive to Galway and join Breda Spaight and Afric McGlinchey as featured readers at the Over the Edge reading in the city library. I am thrilled and rightly nervous at the thought of this reading. Moreover, I am  proud to be doing it and glad of the validation of my writing. There is always this nagging question with me, how much of a writer am I really? Do I spend enough time and energy at writing to justify a claim to the title poet? On good days I see the progress I've made, other days I only see the rejection emails.
I don't have this kind of insecurity about my job, I'm good at it and I can say so. I know how to gauge that, how to up-skill and reinvent, reinterpret, keep fresh. I am inspired by my students and my colleagues in the English department and rarely too tired or otherwise turned off to make most days a good day at the office. There is an element of  performance in teaching and of course a script in the form of a syllabus and prescribed texts.

Some writing competitions for children - deadlines soon

There are a few writing competitions for children and teenagers running currently. So, if you have willing and talented relatives, friends, or maybe pupils, you might be interested in these under 18 competitions. They are three poetry and one short story award with different age categories listed. Prizes seem to mostly involve kindles, book tokens, or money - and the glory of winning!

Trocaire Poetry Ireland Poetry Competition 2014 - see here  Theme: It's Up to Us! Primary and secondary school categories (and there's an adult category too). Deadline 28th March  (extended to 07th April) 2014 . 

RTE Guide Puffin Children's Short Story Competition 2014 - see here  - three different age categories with different word lengths. Deadline 11th April 2014. 

Windows Publications 22nd National Poetry Competition 2014 - see here Primary and secondary school categories, and an Irish language category. Deadline 18th April 2014.

And another - this is a very big UK competition (7,478 entries last year).

Foyle Young Poets Award 2014 - deadline 31st July 2014. Ages 11-17, more details here  

So, write under 18's, write....