Workshops and how to use them

I'm going to be contentious now so please don't take it personally. This is a general whinge.

I went to a writing workshop/group meeting the other and read out a piece, a works in progress. By which I mean, I know it's not ready yet. even reading it out loud to an audience showed up deficiances for me.

But the group, who I don't know very well, all said how lovely and which bits they liked particularly and was I going to send it out.

No, I'm not. I know it's not good enough yet. I know there's clunky words, the wrong title, iffy line endings, unnecessary repetition, laziness, wishy-washy sentiments etc etc.

The same happened with the other group members pieces as they read. I could see problems, possible areas to look at again. No one gets a poem or short story or prose piece right first time. But sometimes you're too close to a piece to see what to look at.

Isn't that what workshops are for? What's the point of saying lovely, lovely, next please?

Performing in Belfast

This sounds like an opportunity for Belfast writers and poets.

Platform Performances at the Grand Opera House, Belfast

The Grand Opera House is delighted to announce a new exciting opportunity for local artistes to become involved with the theatre, enhancing the community aspect to the entertainment programme.

Platform Performances will take place in Luciano’s Café Bar and expressions of interest from local artistes are being sought.

Aine Dolan, Education & Programme Manager at the theatre explains;

“We want to hear from anyone who’s interested in bringing their work to new audiences. The performances are open to local singers, musicians, playwrights, theatre companies, schools, colleges, literally anyone, who wants an opportunity to perform to a small audience. This could also include any type of performance art (space permitting!)”

The time of performances will be scheduled at a later date and will include daytime and evening performances. There is a small budget to cover some costs.

If you are interested in putting yourself or your group forward to perform, please send a CV, image and performance proposal to outreach@goh.co.uk. The programme will be selected from these applications. Further information is available from Aine Dolan, Education & Programme Manager, Tel: 028 9027 7735.

Guest Post from Nollaig Rowan - Dublin Book Festival

Despite great intentions I only got to Sunday's sessions at the Dublin Book Festival. But that was good. An injection of creativity into my sluggish brain. So, which injection gave me the highest high?

I'd have to say it was Pol O'Muiri ... and he's not someone I'd have rushed into town to see. But there you go. That's what's great about festivals. What I liked about O'Muire was his poems about language and him reading in both English and Irish with a smidgin of German.

Now what a pity that the only 'foreigner' on the podium - Enrique Juncosa - did not read in Spanish. I was looking forward to hearing his poems in his native
language (then spoken in English by himself or another) but no, he chose to write and read in English. That did nothing for me.

Nessa O'Mahony read from her verse novel about emigration, written from the point of view of three women. Interesting, lovely sounds "sags and zig-zags ..." I'd like to hear / read more.

Ciaran Carson was perhaps the most unusal reader of the afternoon. Well, he was more than a 'reader'. He played the tin whistle to introduce the idea of "aisling" as in dream and muse. And he sang part of his novel called "The Penfriend" - a love story. It sounded just right for a love story to be partly sung, partly read. If I bought the book would I sing myself to sleep with it at night?

7th March 2010

Poem for the TFE Poetry bus

Here's one for TFE's Poetry bus, theme is trains. This is a Work in Progress and I'll be taking it down later to rework.

(It's taken down for rework)

Reading Over the Edge, Galway.

Galway audiences come and see me as part of the Over The Edge. I'd love to see a familiar face or two. haven't been to Galway for years.

Over The Edge presents readings by Orla Higgins, Cahal Dallat, Moya Roddy & Kate Dempsey at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, March 12^th, 8pm. 

More details here.

Ignite at The Science Gallery

Come down to the Science Gallery for a bit of something different.

Ignite is a world wide phenomenon, started in Seattle. Each speaker gets 5 minutes, 20 slides each 15 seconds, to talk about something they are passionate about. All in an informal atmosphere. So if you're not interested in one presentation, you don't have to wait long until the next. 5 minutes is usually time enough to work out  if you are interested in something.

This is the third time it's happened in Dublin. You can see some of the presentations from Ignite Dublin #1 and #2 on YouTube to give you a flavour but no one night is like the next. And this month, Ignite #3 they've asked me to read some poetry. Do come along. It should be a great event. Lineup here includes

me - fantastic poet!
Mark Conguista -  Interface Designer
Ciara Gogarty - The National Leprechaun Museum
George Higgs - Creator of Evolvaphone as well as composer, artist and scientist
Ian Robertson - Professor of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin and  founding Director of Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience
Will St. Ledger - Artivist

Ignite Dublin is on facebook and twitter.

When: Thursday 11 March 2010 6:30pm
Where: Science Gallery, Dublin
Entrance: €10 (€5 concession with student ID)

First two people who email me, I should be able to get you on the guest list.

Links for your elucidation

Every day for 365 days @blondergan gives $100 to causes + people that are making the world a better place. See the blog at What Gives.

Top 10 Query mistakes from Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent. Don't screw up at the first hurdle. 

Ten confessions of an aspiring writer .... includes a definition of the difference between an aspiring and an emerging writer... from Overland.

Carry a Poem in Edinburgh. Great idea. We should do it here.

Good Idea/Bad Idea from Pimp My Novel 

What they ate at the Theatre in Shakespeare's time. 

Book Swap at Wimbledon Station. We should get this at our major commuter stations. 

Rather wonderful rant from Julian Gough, an Irish Writer in Berlin about the State of Irish Literature. Some things ring true, some clank like a broken bell.