Circa Words 2014

Circa Words 2014! is a two-day experimental writing festival taking place over Bloomsday weekend. The Dublin Writers Centre will be paying homage to James Joyce as 'godfather' of experimental fiction by providing a space for contemporary experimental fiction writers, publishers and readers to meet, experience new forms of writing and even share their work.

The experimental savant, the eager-to-learn-more, the experi-curious and the experi-unaware are all equally welcome!

Saturday 14 June

10.30am-12.30pm: The Bloomingle

The festival begins on Saturday morning with a marketplace where teams from progressive journals will meet and 'sell their wares' to interested writers and readers. Budding writers will equally get the chance to pitch to journals in this give and take environment. We're expecting a bustling morning with lots of networking and sharing of information. Prepare to unearth the hive of activity that is the Irish journal scene.

Free event, all welcome.

2-4pm: The Big Ol' Yap 

Moderated by Dave Lordan, experimental fiction writer and teacher, this talk-shop delves into the experimental style; past, present and future. Writers and editors from experimental journals will discuss the viability and the relevance of the style. Does it belong in the mainstream? How has it evolved? Is it weird for weird's sake? 

Expect discussions, disagreements and just a bit of chaos.

Free event, suggested donations: €5. All welcome.

7-8.30pm: Dubliners 100 with John Boyne, Evelyn Conlon and Thomas Morris

Dubliners 100, published by Tramp Press, is a modern re-telling of Dubliners by fifteen contributing writers and celebrates the centenary of its publication. Join us for an in conversation event with authors John Boyne and Evelyn Conlon, and Thomas Morris who devised and edited the collection, as we discuss the challenges of picking apart Joyce's stories and reinventing them as contemporary and individual.

Cost: €7/€5

Sunday 15 June 

 Workshops

Having been informed, enthused and inspired by our Saturday events, we hope to see you for our Sunday workshops where we encourage you to experiment with your own writing.

Writer and gamer Charlene Putney will take participants through their paces on how to produce interactive fiction and experimental fiction writer Dave Lordan will facilitate a fun, Joycean inspired workshop. More details to follow on our site!