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
This has been the year of the novel for me. Back in January, I set myself the task of actually getting a move on and finishing one of three novel projects I’ve been dabbling with for some years. I had a pattern of working on one for a while, becoming disheartened and bailing, only to… Read More A farewell to 2020
I have started 2020 with great writing fervour, dear readers. Ok, that isn’t true. I’ve dragged myself into 2020, frustrated with my lack of concentration and nagging myself to commit to one – just one – project. Things are about to change. Oh, yes. For I am determined to finish one of the novel projects… Read More Book report, week 1: hope and hammers
Unsurprisingly, my most read posts this year have been competition round-ups, short story awards being of particular interest. Everyone likes a list (my annual stats have quadrupled since last year as a result of featuring them), and it’s handy to have chronological guides for the main ones so you don’t have to worry about missing… Read More A farewell to 2019
The absolute highlight of my writing year in 2018 was getting to attend the inaugural five-day Creative Writing Winter School held by the University of Limerick in Doolin, Co Clare. I may have mentioned it once or twice. I was so blown away by the experience that I blogged about it. Daily. With extensive references… Read More UL Winter School 2019: return of the Dooligans
Roller coaster doesn’t begin to cover this year for me. Writing has contributed most of my highs, while the lows have been of a more personal nature. I’m glad of this blog, which reminds me that actually quite a lot has happened since my last end-of-year round up. I even got some writing done. Much… Read More A farewell to 2018
Great news – I returned home elated from the UL winter school with 214 words and having ditched my WIP! On the surface, this might not seem like the best of yields, but in fact I have more than achieved my goal. When I tentatively applied way back in April, I was flummoxed by the… Read More UL winter school, epilogue
Thursday: with such a packed programme this week, I thought that maybe I was being overambitious in also committing to a daily blog diary (bliary? Could that be a thing?), and I would be kicking myself for adding extra homework to the mix. In fact, it has helped me process everything coming at me. Every… Read More UL winter school, day 5
Wednesdayish: it’s a bit like the Big Brother house here. I’m not 100% sure what day it is, or how long I’ve been at the winter school. Because all the guests in Hotel Doolin are winter schoolers, it feels cosy and safe, more like someone’s welcoming country house than a business with public spaces. I… Read More UL winter school, day 4
Tuesday: call me peculiar, but I could get used to being served exquisite meals three times a day, a maid service making my bed and straightening my hung-up towels, not to mention on-tap literary expertise. Day three was a bit difficult for me to get into because I. Can. Not. Sleep. Yesterday and the evening… Read More UL winter school, day 3
Word herding 