September has become a major month on the aspiring Irish novelist’s calendar. That is the window when the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair is open for entries. Described as Dragon’s Den for writers, it allows twelve winners the opportunity to pitch their manuscripts to a large group of agents, publishers and editors. Many have found… Read More The Quiet Whispers Never Stop Q&A with Olivia Fitzsimons
A little bit of writing news to share with you on a grey Monday – my book, Fundamental Things, made the longlist of the Caledonia Novel Award 2022. I’ve been sitting on the news for some time as the longlist was announced in early December, but the competition was being judged anonymously so I was… Read More Caledonia Novel Award 2022 longlist
Just over a year ago, I competed my first book. Then I sent it to a couple of experienced beta readers, and revised it. Sent it to some more, revised it… you get the picture. It’s currently out on submission, and I will someday do a ‘6 things’ post on the whole, complicated agent querying… Read More 6 things I’ve learned about finishing a novel
[UPDATED 6/8/22] High time for a fresh round-up, I feel. Here are the novel competitions currently open for entries, with a wide variety of prizes and judges. They range from established awards like the Bridport Prize to newcomer the Cheshire Novel Prize (which ambitiously promises feedback on every single entry!). Entering competitions like this can… Read More Novel competitions for 2022
Hello fellow writers, I hope you’re all writing away mad, as we say in Cork. I, on the other hand, am mad that I’m not writing away, having hit something of a wall with my current WIP (book 2). It was going great guns. I recently completed an excellent Curtis Brown Creative three-month novel course… Read More Getting unstuck with NaNoWriMo
Hello fellow scribblers. I hope some writing is happening for you, now that there is a slow return to normality and routine. I’ve been quiet because I’ve been busy. I have been working on a new book, outlining and planning and generally being far more ordered than usual. It’s a challenge, but I’m determined to… Read More Arts Council Agility Award
Full disclosure, I’m not impartial in the case of this particular interview. It’s not an exaggeration to say that guest author Laura McKenna is the reason I’m writing today. Back in 2014, I spotted a sign on the noticeboard of the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork. It was for a six-week writing class, using the… Read More Words to Shape My Name author Q&A
[UPDATED 2/9/21] I’ve reached the point where I’m researching agents and trying to find a good match for my recently completed book. For some writers, the way to an agent, and indeed a publishing deal, is by winning or placing in a novel competition. So for my latest round-up, here are some UK and Ireland… Read More Novel competitions 2021
‘How’s the book coming along?’ is a question that writers are asked over and over and over. The answer generally goes along the lines of, “I’m a teeny bit stuck/We’ve decided to consciously uncouple/I hate it more than fascism/Oh look, a pigeon! Sorry, must dash…” Today, I can happily report the book is going well… Read More Book report: Irish Novel Fair runner-up!
I’m at the very final stages of my WIP now – this draft, anyway. The troublesome character has been ironed out a bit more (still not completely there, she’s such a pain) and the MS has had a rigorous read through with various sections moved around. Now I’m back on the laptop, taking in all… Read More Book report: reading, writing and research
Word herding 