Sean O'Faolain International Short Story Competition

The Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition is an annual short story competition open to writers from around the world. It is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most accomplished story writers and theorists, sponsored by the Munster Literature Centre.

If the winner comes to Cork to collect their prize, we will lavish them with hotel accommodation, meals, drinks and VIP access to the literary stars at the Cork International Short Story Festival (18 - 22 September 2013).

• First Prize: €2,000 (*approx $2602.11/£1700.04), publication in the literary journal Southword, AND a week-long residency at Anam Cara Writer's and Artist's Retreat. 
• Second Prize: €500 and publication in Southword. 
• Four other shortlisted entries will be selected for publication in Southword and receive a publication fee of €120.

Deadline: 31 July 2013.

• original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer

entry fee of €15, US $20 or £15.

Judge: Joyce Russell

Link for more info here

I Slam Therefore I Am

Wexford Arts Centre

Saturday 1 June

8pm

FREE, Advance booking is essential

boxoffice@wexfordartscentre.ie

053 9123764

A night of poetic performance; an interactive literary experience; humour, politics, social commentary, tragedy and competition.

Come and join four Irish and four Welsh poets as they engage in cultural battle to celebrate the launch of the Wales Ireland Spoken-word and Poetry Alliance (WISPA). Compered by Dominic Williams of write4word; who will be wearing a shirt chosen by Wexford's finest fashion critics; among the poets will be Clare Ferguson-Walker, Grace Wells, Joe Neil and Dave Urwin. A musical interlude will be provided by our friends from the Caca Milis Cabaret.
 
Caca Milis Cabaret are proud to announce that Corner Boy will be playing the musical interlude at the Poetry Slam

WISPA has been established by Coracle - Connecting Creativity between South East Ireland and South West Wales and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Interreg 4a Programme.

Stinging Fly Submissions

For the Spring 2014 issue, the Stinging Fly are accepting submissions in June only.

Nuala Ní Chonchúir is the guest fiction editor for this issue.

As part of her guest editorship Nuala will include a flash fiction showcase. Submissions for the showcase (stories up to 500 words, only one story to be submitted per writer) will be accepted by e-mail only and on one day only: Saturday June 22nd, which is international flash fiction day. We will give further instructions on how to make your submission closer to the time.

All other submissions — poetry, short stories — must be submitted by post in the usual way, following the guidelines below. Please read them.
No more than one story and/or four poems should be submitted during any one submission period.

Writers may submit a story for the flash fiction showcase and submit a second longer story by post.

See link here

And see what rocks Nuala's boat here and what doesn't!

Dalkey Book Festival

14-16 June get down to Dalkey

Kevin Barry - Carl Bernstein - John Boyne - Stuart Carolan - David Coleman - Eoin Colfer - Gary Cooke - John Colleary - Jonathan Dee - Roddy Doyle - Anne Enright - Robert Fisk - Selina Guinness - Sarah Harte - Declan Kiberd - Oisín McGann - Frank McGuinness - Bernard McLaverty - Pauline McLynn - Midnight Poe - Eamon Morrissey - Barry Murphy - Edna O'Brien - Dawn O'Porter - Colm O'Regan - Uri Orlev - Donal Ryan - Sarah Webb

- and many more

I like the Maeve Binchy retrospectives.  And there's an event in a graveyard that's sold out slready. Perhaps they'll put it on a second night?

No poetry though and No Poetry Diva magic!

Booking on line now - very reasonable prices

Kylemore Writing Retreat

PEN TO PAPER HEART TO PAGE

Kylemore Writing Retreat July 11-14th, 2013

Led by Mary Madec and Conall O'Cuinn SJ

So you’ve always had a penchant for words and long to discover what it would be like to really put pen to paper. Then this writing experience is for you. Discover the freedom that comes with creative expression as we gently guide you in the art of putting heart to page and discovering for yourself your true voice as you begin to put words on the stories and poems inside you.

The practice of writing can change your life no matter where you are on the page. The peaceful setting and the solidarity of other like-minded people will inspire you and rejuvenate your confidence. Our job will be to provide a safe and encouraging space for you to discover the
wonders of your heart and the written word.

Places limited to 12 

Cost: €400 (accommodation, food and workshops)
Contact : Mary Madec 086-8140980

RTÉ Guide / Puffin Children’s Short Story Competition 2013

There are four categories to enter and the story can be about whatever they want to write about: funny, serious, scary or an adventure.

* 10 yrs old and younger – up to 300 words (with an illustration or picture, if you want!)
* 11-13 yrs old – up to 500 words
* 14-16 yrs old– up to 750 words
* 17 yrs old+ – up to 1000 words

There are some great prizes to be won for the Winners and Runners up!

• Each category winner will have their story published in and issue of the RTÉ Guide
• The winners will also receive a Kindle E- Reader and a hamper of books worth €50.
• And as an added bonus, the Winner of the under-10 category will be recorded by a TRTÉ presenter for broadcast!
• The two runners Up in each category will receive their own hamper of books worth €50.
• The winners and runners up, along with their parents, will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in RTÉ, getting to meet some of the RTÉjr and TRTÉ presenters and take a tour of some of our sets!  

Closing date for all entries is 5.00pm on Friday, June 7, 2013
 
There's a link here to the RTE Guide Facebook page

Roscommon Open Mic

Jessamine O'Connor is launching her poetry chapbook, Hellsteeth with an open mic.

Roscommon Womens Network
The Old Mill
CastleRea

Wednesday 29th May 7.30pm

Poetry and Short Stories.

All welcome