Workshops!

Well, my two-day short story workshop in Mitchelstown went well; there was great enthusiasm among the group and we had some good discussions on writing in general and topics including language use and style, in particular.

Alyn Fenn from Schull, County Cork – the winner of this year’s William Trevor Short Story Award – joined us on the Sunday and it was great to hear about her writing experiences. It took her four years to complete her winning story, The Wire Road, a story based on inter-racial marriage, set in America. Four years! Patience is one of the great virtues a writer must learn to succeed.

I also read one of my own stories Juno Out of Yellow on the Saturday night, standing in for one festival participant who failed to show up. So that was a bonus. For me at least!
We attended the unveiling of a plaque on the house where William Trevor was born on Upper Cork Street also and helped to drink the bar in the hotel dry. I’m officially in recovery since. God, these lit fests take it out of you.

Onward to Mountshannon on Friday where I’m teaching another two day workshop. And, I’m told, there are discounts available on the advertised price.

See previous post below & their site: Iniscealtra Festival