Writing vivid description is not my strong point. The children I teach can often produce better descriptions of setting than I do. I prefer working on dialogue, pacing and action. However this year I tackled this deficiency in my writing when I was awarded a bursary of €300 from the Irish Writers’ Union. I could do with the money exactly as I wished – as long as it helped develop …
A Wonderful Writing Week
We had a very special time at Listowel Writers’ Week from 28th May – 1st June. I was lucky enough to spend time with one of my favourite writers, Douglas Kennedy. I learned a lot from him about writing and about life. My wonderful students Ciara Hogan and Sarah McKenna collected their prizes at the awards ceremony and saw their work published alongside top Irish writers Donal McCann, Deirdre Madden …
Writing Students Win Listowel Writers’ Week Literary Competitons 2014 !
I am delighted to announce that two of the children who attend my creative writing classes have won first place in the Listowel Writers’ Week Literary Writing competition for youth. This is a great honour and I am absolutely delighted for them. Sarah McKenna, who attends my writing classes in Skerries, has won first place in the under twelves category and Ciara Hogan, who attends my classes in Malahide, has …
More Good News!
This morning I received a very welcome letter in the post: I was informed that my short story ‘The Secret’ has been placed amongst the top five entries for Listowel Writers’ Week Originals, Short Story Competition; the adjudicator highly commended my work. I an delighted! Thank you very much to Eilish Wren, and the team at Listowel Writers’ Week, for taking the time to let me know that you my …
Summer is Coming!
This summer Skerries Mills have given me their gorgeous art gallery for the month of July and a week at the end of August to run teenage and children’s summer camps, and adult week-long courses. In the Mills there is an excellent Cafe (where adults can natter over cappuccinos) and outside there is lots of green space for younger writers to run around; during the breaks I organise games to …
Lovely News!
Last week I was delighted to hear that my short story ‘The Runaway Wife’ has been shortlisted for the ‘From the Well’ short story writing competition run by Cork County Council Arts Office. It will be published in an anthology in May. ‘The Runaway Wife’ is about a woman who leaves her abusive husband to go and live in Tuscany. I have always held the dream to do the same …
