STINGING FLY NOVEL WORKSHOP

The Stinging Fly lit mag runs this annual workshop and, by all accounts, it's a cracker:

There are only 23 days left to submit applications for The Stinging Fly's innovative novel-writing workshop.

Led by novelist and short story writer, Sean O'Reilly, 'New Way To Fly' is the perfect solution for those in the early stages of writing a novel who feel they will benefit from a relationship with a group of others engaged in the same process.

Under Sean's expert direction, the group will meet once a week in a workshop setting over a six-month period. The ultimate aim is for each participant to complete (yes!) a strong first draft of his/her novel.

Alongside the workshops, there will be a series of specialist talks by guest speakers on several Saturdays over the period. Previous guest speakers have included Chris Binchy, Evelyn Conlon, Mia Gallagher, Michael Harding, Dermot Healy, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Declan Hughes, Emer Martin, Paul Murray, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Mark O’Halloran, Kevin Power, Ed O’Loughlin and Peter Sheridan.

Participants will be selected on the basis of work submitted.

To apply for the workshop, please send 20-30 pages of your novel, along with a cover letter, to The Stinging Fly, PO Box 6016, Dublin 1.

We will take applications up to August 3rd 2012, though early entry is encouraged as places on the workshop will be offered on a rolling basis.

What past participants say about the workshop:

• "This is an excellent workshop – unique in fact and I have recommended it to other aspiring writers. Sean O’Reilly is an outstanding and unconventional teacher."

• “What is outstanding about this course is the generosity, both in terms of time and close attention, with which every submission was discussed by Sean and the rest of the group.”

• “It’s the best writing course I've done, and I've done a few, including a Masters. Without doubt everybody's work improved during the course – and the work was good to start with.”

• “The Saturday sessions were fascinating. To meet and discuss work with one published writer, let alone ten highly respected and interesting published writers, was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The details:

Workshop Starts: Monday, September 24th (introductory session)

Times: Twenty weekly workshops on Monday evenings from 6.30pm – 9.30pm at the Irish Writers’ Centre, Parnell Street, Dublin 1. Plus Saturday dates to be agreed.

Cost of workshop: €1500 (A €200 deposit will be payable once a place on the workshop has been offered and accepted. The balance is to be paid in two instalments in September 2012 and in January 2013. Where necessary, a monthly payment plan can be agreed.)

For further details, please email: stingingfly@gmail.com