[UPDATED 6/12/18] The great thing about annual short story competitions is that they seem to loop back around in no time, so if you’ve had no luck one year you can soon try your hand again. Here’s a list of some interesting ones open for entries over the coming months. As ever, it isn’t a… Read More Winter-spring short story competition round-up
I’m currently working on a book project that feels like wading through mud which has been liberally infused with treacle. And it is wreaking havoc on my fancy lead boots. The one thing that seems to help me focus is a deadline, so I’ve been looking at novel competitions for anything that might be a… Read More The unweekly herding: a list of novel competitions
I’ve been on a sabbatical over the past few months, due to the mentorship bursary I was awarded by the Munster Literature Centre. Though now completed, December totally got away from me, largely taken up with the buying, wrapping and handing over of presents. But I couldn’t let the year finish without a fond look… Read More A farewell to 2017
What an amazing, exhausting, instructive week. I can’t believe it’s over so soon, yet I don’t think my poor brain could handle another day of literary input. I’m back home now, surrounded by the family travel bags that will have to wait until tomorrow to be dealt with. Except for the books I’ve accumulated. Naturally… Read More West Cork Literary Festival: day 5
I had very clear priorities this morning: I also had a lift to the workshop, courtesy of a lovely lady called Clare, which I was most thankful for because the weather has turned in the past 24 hours. Following a spectacular thunderstorm last night, today has been largely damp and muggy – ideal weather for… Read More West Cork Literary Festival: day 3
The day started pretty stressfully when I foolishly accepted the Google Maps assurance that Bantry Community College is a 40-minute walk from where I’m staying. It isn’t, certainly not for someone in my embarrassing state of fitness, puffing uphill for the last leg, toting a laptop full of hopes and dreams. So I arrived hot,… Read More West Cork Literary Festival: day 2
This week I’m in sunny Bantry-on-the-Med for the West Cork Literary Festival, and I thought I’d attempt a daily update as it’s my first venture to a lit fest as a writer, not to mention my first time attending this particular one. My posts will be brief and probably incoherent because I’m exhausted. You have… Read More West Cork Literary Festival: day 1
I’ve been sitting on two brilliant pieces of news recently, mostly because I’m still absorbing them. Why is it easier to handle rejection than acceptance, I wonder? In any case, my head’s been in a spin so it’s taken a while to compile what feels like the braggiest post in all of braggingdom. I apologise… Read More Good news comes in 2s?
A close-up of the week’s prime writing blog posts, rounded up from the green, green grass of t’internet. Am I milking this whole herding thing too much? Time to put it out to pasture, possibly… The mystery of Joanne Clancy and the purloined books I regularly listen to a podcast by three writers who are at a… Read More The weekly herding: give and take
Word herding 