From The Messy Middle to The End

If you are, as I am, in the messy middle of a novel, check out this course.

When: this coming Sunday 12th June

Where: Glasthule

A one-day writing course from Writing Train
Course Fee: €100

Once the initial enthusiasm of beginning has worn off (and believe me, it will wear off!) the middle of your novel can be the most difficult place to be. As characters emerge, themes develop and your writing voice becomes more distinct, you find yourself pulled in many different directions.

This one day masterclass aims to give you a set of tools and strategies to help you move beyond this tricky stage and get your novel out of your head and down onto the page. Through a series of practical exercises, workshopping and lively discussion, by the end of the day we hope you’ll feel inspired and motivated and that you’ve had some fun along the way as well!

(Course numbers limited to 8 participants).

Tutors: Yvonnes Cassidy and Cullen

Participants are asked to submit up to 2,500 words of their novel in progress in advance of the masterclass to yvonne@yvonnecassidy.com and yvonnesworkshops@gmail.com In addition to personalised feedback, your work will be workshopped with the group throughout the day.

Submitting in advance will ensure you get the most in-depth and individual feedback from us but don’t worry if you don’t get a chance. If you are bringing work on the day that we haven’t seen, please can you bring some extra copies (6 should do it) to ensure that everyone has a chance to input properly on your work.

June Events at The Gutter Bookshop

Book Launch for Down These Green Streets Edited by Declan Burke
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop      Date: Tuesday 7th June – 6pm until 7.30pm

‘Down These Green Streets’ is an outstanding collection of short fiction, essays and interviews that brings together 28 of Ireland’s most talented crime writers including Arlene Hunt, Brian McGilloway, Declan Hughes, Gene Kerrigan, John Banville, John Connolly, Stuart Neville and Tana French . We are delighted to be hosting the launch party where many of the contributors will be signing copies of both a paperback and a limited edition hardback. It would be criminal to miss this one! Free and everyone welcome.


You Can Heal Your Life: The Teachings of Louise L. Hay – a talk by Grainne O’Kane
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop      Date: Wednesday 8th June – 6pm until 7pm

Louise L. Hay is one of the world’s most popular practitioners of self-empowerment. Grainne O’Kane is a licensed teacher of the Heal Your Life workshops and has offered to give a free introductory talk at The Gutter Bookshop to explain how learning this method has enriched her life. This event is free but places are limited so please contact us to book a seat.


Book Launch for The Brothers Lot by Kevin Holohan
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop      Date: Wednesday 15th June – 6.30pm until 8pm

We are thrilled to be launching the debut novel from Brooklyn-based Irish writer Kevin Holohan. Already described as ‘unforgettable’ and ‘wonderfully dark’ this satirical novel explores the hypocrisy of old-school Catholic education in a down-at-heel Dublin school.  Free and everyone welcome.


Poetry Night
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop      Date: Thursday 16th June - 6pm until 7.15pm

If you enjoy reading, listening to, or writing your own poetry come along to our Poetry Night. Attendees can read from their own work, or from poets they admire or if you prefer you can simple come along to listen.  Free and everyone welcome.


Independent Bookseller’s Week – Saturday 18th to Saturday 25th June

We are proud to be an independent bookshop and we’ll be celebrating this year’s Independent Bookseller’s Week. See www.independentbooksellersweek.org.uk for more information on this annual event.


Book Launch for Sustenance by Elizabeth Wassell
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop      Date: Tuesday 21st June – 6pm until 7.30pm

We are delighted to welcome Elizabeth Wassell back to The Gutter Bookshop following our launch for her last book ‘Dangerous Pity’ in 2010. Her new novel centres on Lily, an American food critic living in Dublin, whose tumultuous past threatens to catch up and overwhelm her present. Free and everyone welcome.


Temple Bar Cultural Trust Get Active Book Club for the Over 55s
Venue: The Gutter Bookshop      Date: Thursday 23rd June – 11am until 12.15pm

‘Cutting for Stone’ is the Get Active book choice for June. This bookclub is organized by the Temple Bar Cultural Trust as part of their Get Active programme for the active retired. If you are interested in joining please see www.templebar.ie for full details.

Poem for Poetry Jam

I haven't been in the Poetry Jam since it's inauguration but I've a few pieces about swimming, mainly composed with my head in the water so this week's prompt here sent me scurrying back.

Update: Removed for reworking

Ó Bhéal - Guest Poets in June and July

Ó Bhéal in Cork is well worth a look see.

Robyn Rowland and Lynn Saoirse – 6th June
Jennifer Militello – 13th June
in association with Foras na Gaeilge MC Mupéad agus Jimmy Penguin – 20th June
Luca Artioli, Andrea Garbin, Fabio Barcellandi and Dave Lordan – 27th June
Bicycles with Umbrellas – 4th July
with an earlier wordshop from 7pm Ailbhe Darcy – 11th July
Paul Maddern – 18th July
in association with Foras na Gaeilge Pádraig Breandán Ó Laighin – 25th July

Entrance is free. Readings will last between 30-45 minutes after which there will be the usual open-mic session. Be sure to come early to get good seats. Full bar available.

The night begins with a Poetry Challenge starting between 9.00pm and 9.30pm. Guest poets begin around 10.00pm

Life Writing

Apparently this is writing about your life or someone else's.

THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS & JOURNALISTS is delighted to announce its INTERNATIONAL ONLINE ‘LIFE WRITING’ COMPETITION

Judges: Sophie King and Katie Fforde
Word Count - 3000 words maximum

Deadline: 30 September 2011

Entry by email only via website

‘Life Writing’ is a fluid term used to describe the recording of experiences and memories, whether one’s own or another’s. It covers biography, memoir, diaries, letters and personal essays etc., and, more recently, digital forms such as blogs and email. It can also be linked with genealogical study - when recording your own life, it is common to become curious about the lives of others, and if they have not recorded their own life, to start doing it for them.

RULES OF ENTRY - PLEASE READ

The Competition is open to any writer world-wide of 20 years old and over.

There are two categories: 20 - 40 years old, and Over 40s

Prizes in EACH category: 1st £3000. 2nd £1000. 3rd £500.

The entry fee is £7 (seven pounds sterling) payable via Paypal on our submissions page
Judges: Sophie King for Category 1 - 20/40 year olds and Katie Fforde for Category 2 - over 40s

Phizzfest Poetry Award

Entries are being accepted for the inaugural Phizzfest Poetry Award.

Phizzfest is a community arts festival, based in Phibsborough in Dublin.

The competition is for unpublished short poems, up to 36 lines.

Entry is open to residents of Ireland.

A first prize of €400 will be awarded, and At least two runner-up prizes of €50 will also be awarded.

The winning poem will be announced during Phizzfest in September.

Deadline: Friday 1st July.

The competition entry form and rules are (will be) available at www.Phizzfest.ie.

Entry fee €5
Snailmail only.

A pamphlet of poems selected from the body of material entered in the competition may be published by Phizzfest. By entering the competition, you consent to your poem(s) being reproduced in this way and/or on the Phizzfest website. A small fee will be paid to authors (other than the prize winners) of poems reproduced in the pamphlet. You also consent to reading your poem(s), if invited, during Phizzfest 2011 in September, or if unable to read yourself, having them read on your behalf by a reader nominated by Phizzfest. Phizzfest will not be in a position to pay expenses to entrants invited to read during the festival.

The Hare With Amber Eyes

As part of Year of Craft and the visit by the World Crafts Council to Dublin, world renowned potter and author of 'The Hare With Amber Eyes' Edmund de Waal will give a public reading and interview.

Where: City Hall, Dublin
When: Wednesday 8th June at 6.30pm.

Tickets including a glass of wine are €10. Booking details are at
here

The event will be chaired by Eileen Battersby, literary correspondent with The Irish Times.

Wish I could go (but I can't)