Cuirt 2019

I'm delighted that critically acclaimed, poet and novelist, Nessa O'Mahony will launch Her Kind as part of Cuirt on Monday, April 8th at the BiteClub.

retreating...

photo by Sarah Clancy

photo by Sarah Clancy

If its been quiet here for a while, its due to the fact that I've been temporarily living a life miles away from my own. I've been hanging out at the edge of the world, listening to the sea, meeting other writers, quaffing wine, laughing, running, keeping the stove burning, day dreaming, night dreaming and scribbling. I was on a retreat at Cill Rialaig - a restored pre-famine village on Bolus Head at the very end of the Iveragh Peninsula.

Once away from the routine and chores of daily life, work, motherhood etc... I imagined that I'd be writing every second of every day, even through the night, would I even have time to eat? In truth, it took a few days of wrestling with stories that needed endings, poems that needed clear eyes before I could begin to write anything new. And no, I didn't write every minute of every day - I couldn't live somewhere so beautiful and atmospheric and keep my head down. That wouldn't be living. More and more, I'm finding that I need to strike a balance, and surprisingly that means writing less and living more, in order to have a better quality life as a writer. So I wrote early and wrote late, and in between I ran, prepared meals, and met with the other residents who were full of fun, warmth & stories of their own.

The suspicion that my house was slightly haunted has provided fuel for the novel I'm working on at the moment, as has the brutal, beautiful scenery of Cill Rialig itself. I ended the week by travelling to Cork and reading as guest poet at ó' Bheal session, brainchild of the charming and talented Paul Casey.

And, for anyone with a story or poem that needs a home...

The Cúirt New Writing Prize is still (just about) open:

The poetry entries must consist of 3 poems under 50 lines each, and the fiction pieces may be up to 2000 words. Entries in both English and Irish are welcome.Three copies of the work are required and a €10 entry fee applies, which must be a postal order or bank draft. Writers submitting work should not have had a collection published in the category in which they enter.This does not include the publication of single poems, stories or chapbooks. Send to - The Galway Arts Centre,47 Dominick Street.

good news...

The ROPES Team are launching the 20th Issue at the Cúirt International Festival of Literature on 26 April 5 pm in Busker Brownes, Galway. It will be launched by Marina Carr. I'm thrilled that my story, Saving Grace will be published in this issue. If I can wangle my way to Galway I will, I love Marina Carrs writing, the rich midlands Gothic, dark language, and earthy female characters.
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The Hennessy Literary Awards are on Tuesday 24th, and my poem made the Emerging Poetry shortlist! (Cocktail dresses for the women, and suits for the men, I wish it was the other way around, wish I was a man. Please tell me I'm not the only one who had to google 'cocktail dress'! How is a cocktail dress different to any other kind of dress?) Anyway, I'll bring my camera, and a sack and report back :)

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And finally, (I know - me, me, me...) saving the best bit till last - as a result of the Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair I've just signed with The Book Bureau Literary Agency, and am thrilled to be represented by the wonderful Ger Nichols. So thanks to the Irish Writers Centre, and thanks to Ger for taking me on:)

Upcoming Writing Competitions

Some competitions for the coming months. Confession: I now believe in multiple submissions. Send them everywhere!

Strokestown
Poetry
Deadline 24th Jan

Mslexia
Stories: Max wordcount 2,200.
Deadline 24th Jan

Cuirt New Writing Prize
Poetry: 3 poems, each under 50 lines
Fiction: up to 2000 words
Non Fiction/Memoir: up to 2000 words
Deadline: 4th Feb

Bryan Mc Mahon
Short Stories of up to 3,000 words
Deadline 25th Feb

Fish
One Page
300 words or less
Deadline 20 March

Fish
Poetry
Under 200 words
Deadline 30 March

Molly Keane Writing Award
Short story competition.
Up to 2,000 words.
Deadline 24^th Mar

Bridport
SHORT STORIES: 1st prize = £ 5000 (approx. 8000 US$, 5900 € )
POEMS: 1st Prize = £ 5000 (approx. 8000 US$, 5900 €)
FLASH FICTION: 1st Prize =£ 1000 (approx. 1600 US$, 1180 €)
Deadline 30th June

Aesthetica
Up to 2 poems/ max 40 lines.
Stories - max word count 2000 words.
Deadline 31 Aug.

A few things I've learnt about submitting to competitions...

1. If you've just finished your story and it moves you to tears, laughter and/or awe - don't send it. You're not objective yet. Wait at least three to four days to correct errors that you were too misty eyed with genius to notice at first.
2. Before you email your work to the competition, email it to yourself. And edit it again. Then print it out again. And edit it again. Then send.
3. The process of submitting stories and poems is useful even if you don't win or get short listed - it brings your work up to a better standard. It improves your editing skills.
4. Only winners are contacted. You'll have to trawl the net to find out who won. Don't worry, you'll get used to it.
5. Don't just send your brilliant story to one competition and wait for half a year for the results. Send it to a few competitions of equal merit...whats the worst that can happen? If the story wins one you can email the others (if you're lucky enough to be shortlisted more than once)
6. Aways save the first unedited draft, it gives you the freedom to play around with subsequent drafts.
7. Don't spend too much money on competitions or you'll feel like a sucker and you'll be poor. Be selective. Give yourself a limit. Don't overlook a free entry!
8. If you've never heard of the competition, if you've never heard of the judge, if the entry fee is ten euro and the prize is a book token... restrain yourself!
9. We all have blindspots. If a story keeps coming back - get someone else to read it.
10. Switch off from competitions for long periods and just concentrate on your writing.
11. Don't forget why you started writing in the first place!