Books Ireland Short Story Competition

Books Ireland invite you to enter their inaugural short story competition.

It is open to all writers of any nationality writing in English, with no restriction on style or theme.

The maximum number of words allowed is 2,600. The winning story will be published in a future issue of Books Ireland.

Adjudicator: Niall Williams

• 1st Prize: €400 and a place on the Kiltumper Writing Workshop facilitated by author Niall Williams. The winning story will be published in Books Ireland magazine.
• 2nd Prize €200
• 3rd Prize €100

Closing date: 30 June 2015

Fee for each entry is €18 but only €8 for subscribers to Books Ireland magazine and Concession rate of €8 available for creative writing groups and book clubs. Please include name of group on entry form.

To enter, simply click on the following link >> DOWNLOAD THE COMPETITION FORM HERE

Penny Dreadful open for Submissions

  

Submissions for Issue 6 are now open and will remain so till midnight on May 10th.

We will accept the following:

• Stories = Up to 2 of up to 3000 words each.
• Poetry = Up to 6, any length. (Note: Please include all submitted poems in the same file, or they may not be considered for publication)

Bio = Please include a short bio (100 words max) and any internet website linking things which are suitable for good, Christian eye-balls.

What we do want: Ball-grabbing, punch-in-the-face writing from nice, courteous ladies and gents.

What we do not want: Funny fonts.

If you are sending simultaneous submissions, tell us in your cover letter and if a work becomes unavailable, contact us immediately. Submissions are accepted via Submittable.

(If you are curious what manner of scribbling they enjoy, or want to support the publisher, buy one here.)

Patrick Kavanagh Student Poetry Awards 2015

For Second-level Students

Competition is open to second-level students throughout the thirty two Counties of Ireland.

Each student may enter one poem, of any length. 

 The competition will be divided into two sections.
         SECTION A - UNDER 15 YEARS (JUNIOR)
         SECTION B - 15 YEARS AND OVER (SENIOR)

Themes suggested for 2015 but no subject is excluded:

       (a)  Childhood - Memories - Growing Up
       (b)  Seasons – Environment –Nature
       (c)  Home - Family – Friendship
       (d) Celebrity – Fashion - Pop Culture - Politics
       (e)  Happiness - Hope – Laughter
       (f)  Warmth - Smiles - Fun

Deadline: Friday 29th May 2015 at 4 p.m. 

Prizes:

         Section A - 1st.   €75            2nd   €50        3rd   €35 (each with certificate).
         Section B - 1st.   €100         2nd   €75        3rd   €50 (each with certificate).

Each entry must be accompanied by an entry form signed by the student and countersigned by his/her English teacher.  No personal details (name, age, school, etc. should appear on the same page as the poem.

More here

Dedalus Book Launches

There are four books in this launch. I'm not sure myself if it's a good idea to launch so many together. Not many people will have the readies to buy more than a couple. And the room will be overflowing. But what do I know? Anyway, support this press if you can.

Book Launch: Dedalus Press launch four titles 

All welcome

• Clasp by Doireann Ní Ghríofa
• Muse by Gerry Murphy
• Wrong Side of Town by Aidan Murphy
• Them’s Your Mammy’s Pills by Leland Bardwell

Monday 27 April 6.30pm

There will be readings from Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Gerry Murphy and Aidan Murphy, on the night, and Leland Bardwell's son will make a brief appearance on her behalf.

More details here.

Mindshift: The Connected Writer - Getting the Gig, Putting it On (ILFD)

This sounds interesting as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin (formerly known as the Dublin Writers festival)

Are you looking to take part in more literary events and festivals? Or maybe you want to improve your skillset for readings, panel discussions and interviews. This professional development day as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin, supported by WORDS Ireland, is aimed at established writers. It will inform you on how to get the gig and how to connect with – and even wow – an audience.

Hear from Sarah Webb (writer and Children’s Curator of Mountains to Sea Book Festival), Martin Colthorpe (International Literature Festival, Dublin and formerly of the Southbank Centre) and Keith Acheson (Belfast Book Festival & Crescent Arts Centre) as they discuss knowing your USPs as a writer, connecting with relevant curators and organisers, and the etiquette of ‘getting out there’. Doireann Ni Bhriain will tackle how to prepare for the gig, your presence onstage, public speaking and the dos and don’ts of literary performances. Martina Devlin will also look at maintaining momentum both in the run-up to and the aftermath of the event.

Starts: Sat 23 May

Time: 10.30am – 4.15pm
Duration: 1 Day
Cost: €60/€50 Members

At the Irish Writers Centre

Prizegiving of the Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize

All four shortlisted poets will be there for the evening of the presentation of this big poetry prize. The shortlist was announced last month.

The shortlisted poems are: ‘Disco Jesus and the Wavering Virgins in Berlin, 2011’ by Jude Nutter, ‘Eidolon’ by Lisa Bickmore, ‘Fantasia on a Theme by Elvis’ by Kathryn Simmonds and ‘Saratoga Passage, August 2014’ by Matt Hohner.

Details and judge's comments here. 

Irish Writers Centre 23rd April at 7pm.

The overall winner (€10,000) will be announced at a special event in Dublin on 23 April 2015 hosted by Darina Allen and the publishers of The Moth. The three remaining shortlisted poets will each receive €1,000. 

All welcome. Wine!

The Runt - Open for Submissions

i haven't seen a copy of the Runt but check them out on Youtube. Refreshing. And you can't go wrong with this kind of of artwork I think.

Our 8th issue will focus on the dual themes of historical fiction & alternate history. We welcome submissions on either theme in any artistic or literary medium your creative brains can concoct.

Historical fiction constitutes any piece of work (be it poem, story, essay or whatever) focused on a historical setting. A heartbreaking romance written from the point of view of the horse Caligula made a senator? A rumination on the personal life of Genghis Kahn? An account of the life of some poor Joe Schmo 6 caught up in the crossfire of the 1916 Rising? It's entirely up to you!

Alternate history is a genre which is based on those tantalising 'what ifs.' A story set in a 21st century America still under British control? A poem about JFK's disgrace after he survived assassination but was exposed as an adulterer? A neat bit of photoshop showing Attila the Hun firing off a text on his Android? These are but a few options available to you!

Fiction Guidelines:
Maximum wordcount: 2,500

Art Guidelines:
B&W
Portrait dimensions

Deadline: May 8th

Send your submissions to theruntzine@gmail.com