Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Plotting

I never outline or plan in the early stages because I love that sense of discovery that comes when writing a first draft. Although this does mean that later drafts involve a lot of rewriting (and cutting) as I try to figure out the plot, once the basics of what happened, and then what happened... are in place- it gets juicy again. I used to dread plotting but shaping a story, identifying its twists and turns can be really enjoyable, this quote from Rikki Ducornet, sums it up for me -

'Plot is not secondary but essential, the heart of the matter, the bright web that connects all of the elements and causes them to throb and shudder.'

Delighted to say that my short story, 'Since I became a Monster,' will be in the next issue of Crannog, (to be launched in The Crane Bar at 6.30 on the 24th February), and also, a poem of mine, 'Sleeping Beauty's Take' will be in the spring edition of The Moth Magazine. The Moth is currently running a short story competition (deadline 31st March) which is open to anyone, living anywhere. Happy Writing. Happy Wednesday:)

Friday, January 20, 2012

Irish Writers' Centre Novel Fair Competition


The 20 winners of the Irish Writers' Centre Novel Fair Competition have been announced. The Centre received over 570 entries.

I'm delighted (understatement!) to say that my novel, The Herbalist, is one of the winning novels. Looking forward to the Novel Fair in March where there will be the opportunity to pitch it to Irish agents and publishers.


Winners Novel Titles
Margaret Biessman Freefall
Helen Blackhurt The Galah Birds
Therese Cox Dear Dirty Dublin
Jennifer Brady What Ghost Burns
Ian Flitcroft The Reluctant Cannibals
Daniel Seery The Glue Sniffer
Kevin Curran Beatsploitation
Mary Murphy The Boy from England
Janet Cameron Next Time the World Ends
Garvan Grant A Piece of Work
Michelle Woods Ire
Susan Stairs The Watching Wall
Delia O'Callaghan Honeysuckle to Handcuffs
Geraldine Shears Shakespeare's Tree
Fran Russell Banks A Spider's Quickness
Edel Moloney What is Unspoken
Alan Timmins The Dogs Came Home
Niamh Boyce The Herbalist
Marie Hannigan Tide Riders
Roderick Maguire The Legal Term





Highly Commended



Novel Titles


Colm O' Shea This Dirty Road

Josephine Hughes Southpaw

Jennifer MacGowan Closing Time

Deirdre Shanahan Birds of Erin

Edel Corrigan Always a Stranger

Andrea Carter Treacherous Strand

Eimear Kelly Followers

Donal O' Sullivan And The Drak Falling

Tara Sparling In June

Léan Ní Chuilleanáin The Living

Tom Tierney The Slipstream O

Brain Kirk Winter Journey

Alan McMonagle Duck Street

H.D. Waterstone Eagle in Winter

Aine Tierney Panacea

Still here...

Yes, I’m still here! And still writing... I decided to reawaken the blog as I miss its old style, slow style - which suits my own at the mom...