This Sunday sees the return of Cork literary salon Fiction at the Friary for a one-off event as part of Cork World Book Fest. Rapid Fire Fiction will see 20 emerging writers (including yours truly) read from their work for two minutes – no longer! – then move to a laptop to contribute to a… Read More Cork World Book Fest
Hello regular readers, I hope you’re getting those words down and that they bear some resemblance to the magnificent ideas in your mind. I have been struggling to write because of family health issues that made it hard to have any bandwidth. Things are settling down again slightly so I’m hoping to get back to… Read More ChipLitFest Short Story Competition shortlist
[Updated 5/4] There’s something very satisfying about flash fiction – really good flash can give you a tantalising glimpse of a whole world in miniature and leave you thinking about it long after reading. If this is an area you excel in, there are plenty of opportunities for you to send out your work. Here’s… Read More Flash fiction competitions 2023
[UPDATED 4/5] Is your novel finally finished, or as good as? Wondering what on earth to do with it next? One way of throwing it out into the world is to enter a novel competition. Even if you don’t win (it’s hard to), you may place and get some feedback on your entry, or a… Read More Novel competitions 2023
[UPDATED 28/5/23] It’s that time again, when writers everywhere are filled with a fresh New Yearsy resolve to polish up those unfinished short stories and put work out into the world. Besides inspiration, determination and a decent supply of snacks, you also need some idea of where to aim for when ready. And so I… Read More Short story competitions 2023
Hello reader, I hope your year has been a good one, or at least tolerable. The world feels like a strange place at the moment, partly back to normal, partly going to hell in a handcart. Everyone I know seems to be finishing out the year struck down by cold/respiratory virus/not-Covid-thing and writing paralysis, though… Read More A farewell to 2022
In all honesty, I have found this year an absolute slog, writing-wise. From talking to writer friends I know I’m not alone in this – perhaps there’s a collective post-pandemic weariness, or taking stock, or recalibration going on. Whatever the reason, I’ve had to give myself permission to not worry about writing and editing book… Read More Flash 500 Novel Opening Competition shortlist!
A few years ago, I stumbled across Limerick writer Rose Servitova’s debut novel The Longbourn Letters. It was an imagining of the correspondence between Pride and Prejudice’s most eccentric gentlemen, Mr Bennet and Mr Collins. As a fervent Jane Austen fan, I was curious but trepidatious, having read various poor pastiches over the years. But… Read More A Season at Sanditon Q&A with Rose Servitova
I first came across Cork writer Gráinne Murphy’s evocative writing thanks to the wonderful Madeleine D’Arcy and Danielle McLaughlin, who run Fiction at the Friary. It was the tail end of the lockdowns, and the Cork literary salon was being conducted online. Gráinne was interviewed about her second novel, The Ghostlights, which ties together a… Read More Winter People Q&A with Gráinne Murphy
[Updated 31/10/22] It’s been a while since my last novel list so I thought I’d do a quick update covering what’s left of the year. My own WIP is slightly MIA – it’s been a tough year in terms of writing fortitude. But I’ve picked myself up, dusted off book two and am in the… Read More Novel competitions 2022/2023
Word herding 