Get an agent - PEN club

Finding an Agent and How to Get Published is a panel discussion at the United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2 with Literary agent Sheila Crowley, Editor Mary Webb and Publisher Eoin McHugh.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday 11th September

How to book: Email irishpen@ireland.com or phone 087 966 0770

Cost: €3 members & €5 non-members

If you haven't been to a similar discussion before, these are worth going to. They do tend to cover the same ground over and over though so I wouldn't bother if you've been before.

What they will say:
- It's really difficult to get published
- It's really difficult to get an agent
- Polish your novel to a high shine befor sending out
- it can take ages to get a response. Start on your next book
- don't give up the day job
- take a lot of care over presentation
- write a synopsis to show you can/have finished the book
- finish the book before you send it
- send first 3 chapters and synopsis
- Make your covering letter brief and pertinent (not impertinent)
- multiple submissions are OK
- don't send bribes
- don't handwrite in green ink or print on pink paper in the hope of standing out
- don't call after a week to ask for the contract

Creative Writing in the National Gallery

This Wednesday 10th September at 3pm, get down to the National Gallery for a workshop as part of the 'Arts for All Ages' programme they run for free. Responding to Art in ROom 42 - the lovely Caravaggio Room. Now there's a great role model for a troubled artist. He burst onto the Roman arts scene about 1600, lived hard and fast and had to run away from the city when he killed someone in a brawl about a game. He died young of a fever, just days before a papal pardon came through for him. Anyway this workshop will get your creative juices flowing responding to his painting and other painters influenced by him.
As advertised in the Dublin Event Guide , a weekly email about free events in and around Dublin.
The National Gallery do lots of free events, paid for in your taxes, so make the most of it. Check our their website. IMMA also does quite a few. But both have a long way to go before they match the events put on in the main London or Edinburgh galleries and museums.

Kings and Heroes Reading in aid of Save Tara Campaign

When: Sunday 7th September 3pm
Where: Cassidy's of Westmoreland St, Dublin 2

Seven Towers Agency organise a Save Tara Fundraiser: There will be a €3 charge into this event and all money raised will go to the Save Tara Campaign
Readers will be Noel Ó Briain, Catherine Ann Cullen, Ross Hattaway, the wonderful Barbara Smith and Eamonn Lynskey.

Do Chapters and Verse ever do a reading that doesn't feature Noel Ó Briain and/or
Ross Hattaway? They may be seasoned readers but it's a bit repetative, don't you think?
I might make it down there for the second half.

Electric Picnic 2008

Here are some of my photos from Electric Picnic. What a great festival, repositioned as a music and arts festival. There was music for all tastes and so much going on, you hadn't a hope of seeing everything that intrigued you from the programme. And one of the joys of the festival was stumbling upon things you would never have seen if you were following a schedule.

The spoken word arena was great (though they could have publicised the times a bit better beforehand and not changed them at the last minute.) I saw some poetry, performance and more considered, if that is the word. I saw some of the comedy tent. This tent will have to be a whole lot bigger next year. Some theatre, debate. I didn't see any of the workshops. The Lyons Tea tent was a boon.

There were art works all around the site which were delightful and though provoking. My favourite area though was Body and Soul. Loads of mini events, cookery demonstrations, drumming, poetry, music, massage, tarot and chai.

Rejection and Results

Very down now. Two rejections from competitions in a very short time. Will I ever emerge? Will there be a book with my name on the spine.

Sean O'Faolain Short Story Competition had 700 entries. The shortlist has a very international flavour. Results at the Frank O'Connor Short Story Festival in Cork on Saturday 20th September.

Elizabeth Costello of Dublin, Ireland.
Natalie Diaz of Surprise AZ USA
Benjamin Arda Doty of Minneapolis USA
Colm Keegan of Dublin, Ireland
Genine Lentine of San Francisco USA
Anna May Mangan of Wembly UK
Terese Svoboda of New York USA
Cathy Sweeney of Bray, Ireland
Michelle Tandoc-Pichereau of Cotes C'Armor, France
Julia Van Middlesworth of New Jersey USA

Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' shortlist. Some well known names here:

Megan Buckley, Galway
Fiona Clark Echlin, Tipperary
Denise Garvey, Galway
Eamonn Harrigan, Galway
Brian Kirk, Dublin
Tom Lavelle, Galway
Wes Lee, New Zealand
Mary Madec, Galway
Donny Mahoney, Dublin
Alan McMonagle, Galway
Brendan Murphy, Galway
Mairin O'Grady, Kildare
Aiden O'Reilly, Dublin
Hans-Joachim Quade, Galway
Evelyn Walsh, Dublin

Winners will be announced by competion judge, Celeste Augé, at the Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library on Thursday, September 25th, 6.30-8pm, when the Featured Readers will by Colette Bryce, Des Kavanagh & Orla Higgins. The reading is sponsored by Poetry Ireland.

Children's Books in the Park

The lovely people at Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown have another free event in Marlay Park, Rathfarnham.

Saturday 13th September 1 - 5 pm.

1.00 to 1.20 Children’s Entertainment – Clowns, stilt walkers, face painting, balloons

1.20 to 1.40 Niamh Sharkey The Ravenous Beast and Other Tall Tales - Age 0 to 5

1.40 to 2.10 Children’s entertainment (with the Fanzini Bros) - All Ages

2.10 to 2.30 Judi Curtin Author of the Alice and Megan Stories - Age 7+

2.30 to 3.00 Marita Conlon McKenna, Ireland’s much loved storyteller - Age 7+

3.00 to 3.30 Children’s entertainment – the Fanzini Bros All Ages

3.30 to 4.00 Andy Stanton of the Mr Gum books fame - Age 7+

4.00 to 4.30 Derek Landy The Skeleton Detective is back! Age 8+

4.30 to 5.00 Authors will be signing at the Bookshop – bring your book to be signed or buy a new one!

Also if you're an Artemis Fowl Fan (who isn't?) Dubray books presents
When: Saturday 27th September 2pm
Cost: 4 Euro
Where: Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire

Join the hysterically funny Eoin Colfer, bestselling author of Artemis Fowl, in an adrenaline fueled interview with Kathryn McKiernan from The Den.

North Beach Poetry Nights Slam

Just back from Electric Picnic so still gathering my wits. Meanwhile info on a poetry slam in Galway

Monday 15th September at 9pm
New Venue: The Crane Bar, Sea Road, Galway

Guest readers are Elaine Feeney, the 2008 Cuirt Festival Poetry Grand Slam Champion, and Neil McCarthy.