Man Booker Prize Winner 2016

Congratulations to Paul Beatty winner of this years Man Booker Prize for his novel The Sellout.  He is the first American to win this prestigious fiction award. Last night in London's Guildhall he was presented with his prize by the Duchess of Cornwall. Paul was quoted as saying "writing has given me a life..." a great quote for all emerging writers!

                                 

Dromineer Literary Festival 2016

The Dromineer Literary Festival takes place from Thurs. October 6th - Sun. October 9th.

This years speakers include Anne Enright, Anthony Glavin, Danielle McLoughlin and Aideen Henry. The weekend includes  poetry workshops, short story workshops, music recitals and concludes with a festival photographic exhibition. 

For further information and details check out www.dromineerliteraryfestival.ie   

                   

    

Bedford International Writing Competition

The Bedford International Writing Competition is now open for submissions. Story length is 3000 words and poems are up to 40 lines. First prize is £200, second prize £100 and third prize £50 with an extra Bedford local prize of £50. Closing date is 30th September 2016 and this years judges are Toby Litt, Margaret Norwich and Ian McEwen.

For further information check out bedfordwritingcompetition.co.uk.

Good Luck!

                         

Writers Walking Tour of Dalkey

Every Friday from now until September the Maeve Binchy and Irish Writers Walk takes place in Dalkey. Savour snippets from the work of Maeve Binchy, James Joyce, Hugh Leonard and Flann O'Brien, to name a few, while enjoying some of the sights of Dalkey. 

It starts at 1.30p.m. at the Writers' Gallery at Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre.

Booking in advance is essential contact margaret@dalkeycastle.com. or check out www.ilovedalkey.com

                                 

West Cork Literary Festival

The West Cork Literary Festival takes place from 17 - 23 July 2016 at various venues in Bantry.

This years line up includes John Banville, Kevin Barry, Carol Drinkwater, Theo Dorgan, Maji Gibson, Claire Kilroy, Lisa McInerney and Danielle McLaughlin to name but a few.

Editor Hannah Griffiths and literary agent Carol Blake will also be in attendance with lots of helpful advice on the publishing industry.

Check out www.westcorkliteraryfestival.ie for further information and bookings!

                                        West Cork Literary Festival 2016

                                  

                                 

                 

Listowel Writers Week 2016

Listowel Writers Week takes place from 1st June - 5th June 2016. This years line up includes names such as Danielle McLoughlin, Anthony Glavin, Martina Devlin, Alan McMonagle, Patricia O'Reilly and Nessa O'Mahony to name but a few. 

The Irish Novel of the Year award 2016 will be announced at the festival. The shortlist includes The Blue Guitar, by John Banville, Beatlebone by Kevin Barry, The Green Road by Anne Enright, This Living and Immortal Thing by Austin Duffy and The Little Red Chain by Edna O'Brien.

Friday the 3rd June sees the unveiling of the Maeve Binchy Plaque in Ballybunion town at 11.00a.m. by Irish Times journalist and author Hilary Fannin.

Sounds like a wonderful week in Listowel. Check out www.writersweek.ie for further information and to book your workshop!

                                                      

Cúirt International Festival of Literature

The Cúirt International Festival of Literature takes place in Galway City from April 17th - 24th. Guest speakers during the week include Kevin Barry, Rob Doyle, Jennifer Johnston, Louise O'Neill and Donal Ryan to name but a few! The Festival includes an Editing Fiction workshop with Declan Meade and a Fiction workshop with Simon Van Booy. For further details and information check out www.cuirt.ie!

                                       

The Bridport Prize

The Bridport Prize encourages emerging writers and this competition is open to all nationalities of sixteen years and over. The closing date is 31st May 2016. Categories include poetry, short stories, flash fiction and a novel award. With a prize fund of over £16,000 check out www.bridportprize.org.uk for further information and submission guidelines!

                                

Over the Edge Writing Competition

The 2016 Over The Edge Writing Competition is now open for submissions. This competition is open to both poets and fiction writers in Ireland and internationally. This years judge is Niamh Boyce and closing date is Wednesday 3rd August 2016. Total prize money is €1000.

Check out further details on www.overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com. 

                                

                      

Fish Publishing Poetry Competition

The Fish Publishing Poetry Competition is now open for submissions. Max length is three hundred words and this years judge is Dave Lordan. The entry fee for online submissions is €14 for one entry, subsequent entry €8 and postal entry is €16 and then €10. The winner will receive €1000 and ten poems will be published in the Fish Anthology 2016. Closing date for entries is 31st March 2016. For further information check out www.fishpublishing.com/poetry-contest-competition.php or write to Fish Poetry Prize, Durrus, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland.

                             

                                 

World Book Day

Today the 3rd March 2016 we celebrate World Book Day. A day when we take time out to visit our local bookstore and allow ourselves to browse and find that special book. A day when we celebrate the joy of reading and when we encourage our kids to read.

Check out www.worldbookday.com/world-book-day-ireland for further information and events listing!

                                         

                                                           

Women's Short Story Competition 2016

The closing date for the Mslexia Women's Short Story Competition 2016 is the 14th March.

First prize £2000 plus two optional extra's - a week's writing retreat at Anam Cara and a day with an editor at Virago Press. Second Prize £500. Third Prize £250. Three other finalists each receive £100 and all six winning stories will be published in Mslexia. This years judge is Michéle Roberts.

Check out www.mslexia.co.uk/shortstory for competition rules and further information!

                           

Harper Lee 1926 - 2016

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Harper Lee author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Nelle Harper Lee was born 28th April 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, youngest of four children. To Kill a Mockingbird published in 1960 won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and became a classic of modern American Literature. Her follow up novel Go Set a Watchman was published to much acclaim in July 2015.  

George W. Bush awarded her the presidential medal of freedom in 2007. 

                                   

New Year New Writing Goals

Today is the fourteenth of January, two weeks into a beautiful New Year. Time to take stock of our writing goals and plan for the future. We face the blank page, word by word, line by line the page fills and we are once again anchored in our writing life. We check out closing dates of competitions and possibility opens. We dream, we allow our minds to wander, excitement fills us and we begin to create in our own unique way. 

Start your writing year today and may 2016 be a wonderful year of writing for you!